25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
Mark 5:25-34
Have you been anxiously awaiting your miracle, that long-awaited healing that unfortunately seems to be out of grasp? Then you’re not alone. Just imagine, this extraordinary woman endured the torment of persistent menstrual bleeding for a staggering twelve years. Yes, you read that right – TWELVE years! It seems unimaginable, although I’m sure for some of you have got her beat.
During a time when medical knowledge was relatively limited, she embarked on a challenging journey, seeking a solution to her debilitating condition. Going from one doctor to another in desperation, hoping for a breakthrough despite the scant understanding of the human body at that point. The medical treatments she tried, though well-intentioned, only exacerbated her condition, leaving her feeling even worse off than before.
Fast forward to today, and it becomes clear that there are numerous potential diagnoses that might be attributed to her enduring suffering. Medical conditions such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, polyps, or even the ominous possibility of cancer could be potential factors contributing to her prolonged ordeal.
During this time period of Jewish culture women were seen as ceremonially unclean while on their periods. They were not to go out in public and they were not to touch other people. In the book of Leviticus, it is written in verse 15:19,
19 “Whenever a woman has her menstrual period, she will be ceremonially unclean for seven days. Anyone who touches her during that time will be unclean until evening. 20 Anything on which the woman lies or sits during the time of her period will be unclean.
So not only is this women dealing with the physical ramifications of her disease such as fatigue, weakness, and pelvic/abdominal pain, but she was also an outcast in society too? Unable to get close to her family and friends for fear of making them unclean too? Soon, I’m sure she lost all family and friends she had.
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Out of shear desperation, she PUSHED her way through the crowd when Jesus showed up. She didn’t need to touch him or to be touched by him. She didn’t need to speak to him or be spoken to by him. It’s clear to see it was never her plan to meet him at all by the way she cowered down when Jesus asked who touched him. All she needed was the hem of his garment. Now that is faith.
Sometimes, when I read these incredible stories of the bible, I can get disheartened, wishing that I was there so that Jesus could heal me too. But listen, I will tell you again that this woman didn’t even need to meet him to be healed as it was the woman’s FAITH that made her well. Where is your faith right now, where is your hope? Is there any left?
Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 17:20
I want to encourage you today dear friend, that no matter where your faith is today regarding your healing, God knows and understands. This woman displayed incredible faith and we can all use this story and testimony to help grow our own faith. But if you don’t have that amount of faith today, do you have at least have a mustard seed’s worth? Because that’s all it takes.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank you for this time today in your word and I thank you for speaking to my heart on faith. I pray that my faith grows just as strong and big as the faith this woman demonstrated when she touched your cloak. I believe that I don’t need to touch you or see you for you to be able to heal me. I believe you can still heal and perform miracles today just like you did thousands of years ago when you walked this earth. I am believing you at your word that it was the woman’s faith which made her well. So father, today I reach out my hand to you in faith by prayer and am believing for my healing.
I pray these things in Jesus’ name,
Amen
Twelve Years Ministry 