A Desperate Woman - Part 1

And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. (Mark 5:21-29 ESV). Twelve years. In twelve years, most people complete their primary schooling. Twelve years is a long time for most of us. It is about one-seventh of the average life. Imagine suffering from the same illness, with no relief, for twelve years. Some of you know that type of long-term suffering. In the days before health insurance, this woman, believed to have great wealth, had spent all she had trying to get better. Nothing worked. She was a desperate woman. Then, willing to try anything, she hears about Jesus. By this time Jesus had developed quite a reputation. He had called His disciples and had exhibited His power to the people. Water had been turned into wine. Evil spirits had been exhumed from those cast away by society. Jesus had even calmed the mighty storm! This Jesus person just may be the answer she was looking for! Can you sense the anticipation? Can you feel the passion? Can you imagine the sense of urgency? As thousands gathered around Jesus, pushing and shoving to get His attention, this now poor woman, who would have been a social outcast, knows she must make her way to Jesus. He is her only hope! It would not be an easy task, however, getting to Jesus. But, she must, what choice did she have? Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you have exhausted all your resources, nothing has worked, and now you don’t know where else to turn but to Jesus? On the other side, after Jesus works His ways, I often wish I had started with Him first. Can you imagine if this poor woman had found Jesus twelve years earlier? Wouldn’t her life have been a lot different? She didn’t have that choice. You and I do. Jesus is available to you today! He wants to help you through the trial. He is waiting for us to turn our problems over to Him; and, to do that we must wade through our own crowds. He’s the answer that we need.