A Healing Touch

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. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” (Mark 5:24-34 ESV). It has been a long time since I have been able to wake to a pain free day. I don’t say that to gain a sympathetic word, it’s just the way that it is. It also helps to see the perspective of the principle character in our reading today. The truth is some people just seem to enjoy good health, while others don’t. The woman in our reading had a recurring hemorrhage. I am told that this is one of the most painful conditions a woman could endure. It certainly is not a problem anyone would want to have for 12 hours, much less the 12 years she had endured. I like to think I’m the kind of person who takes responsibility for my health. She certainly was such a person. She had spent all her money seeing every physician she could find to help her cure her condition. I can imagine she had tried every recommended treatment as well as all the home remedies she had been given by various well-meaning people. Had Web-MD been a part of her culture and experience she would have exhausted every possible diagnosis and treatment! She now hears of one more possibility. There is a young rabbi who has been traveling through the area. His teaching has been revolutionary; and, he has been reported to have worked many miracles, healing some and even raising others from the dead. It may have been a last resort for her; however, she would not be deterred from trying to reach Jesus. She finds where Jesus would next be and makes her way through the pressing crowds to get close enough to touch him. Notice that the woman doesn’t ask Jesus’ permission. She doesn’t tell him what she is going to do, nor did she plan on telling him about it afterwards. I am convinced this is not an example of false humility or deviant behavior. She simply believes that if she can get close enough to just touch the hem of his garment, she would be healed. Jesus seems to acknowledge this when he speaks to her, saying: “Your faith has made you well.” Of course it was a complete work of Jesus. It was his power that healed her; however, she was participating with her faith. I wonder how many times I’ve missed his power just because I thought it was too hard to reach out to him. How about you? He has the comfort we all need. Reach to him today!