Day Twelve
Scripture: Mark 5:25-34
25 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. 26 She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 for she said, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.’ 29 Immediately her haemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ 31 And his disciples said to him, ‘You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, “Who touched me?”’ 32 He looked all round to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’
Observation:
Jesus looked around and searched for the person who touched his clothes, as if he were looking for a pickpocket. “Who touched my clothes?” Should we think Jesus had no idea about what happened and was genuinely curious about the person to whom his power had gone forth?
Maybe. However, it’s more likely that Jesus knew exactly who touched his clothes and wanted to reveal the person to the public. But why? Why didn’t he just let go of this poor lady in peace but make her come to him with fear and trembling?
Perhaps it’s because she not only needed personal and physical healing but also social and spiritual healing. The woman was suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. According to Moses’ law at that time, a running sore made a person unclean. She was declared ceremonially unclean, and everything she touched was considered contaminated. Since she was not allowed to enter any holy place or public space, people must have thought she was cursed by God. Therefore, even if she was physically healed, no one would have believed her or accepted her.
“Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease,” Jesus declared, so that her healing would be complete. She became whole again.
Application:
Is there something that has been troubling you for a very long time?
“Your faith has made you well.” What does this mean to you today?
Prayer / Reflection:
Song of Reflection: He Is Our Peace