Mark 5:24b-34
“And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from a flow of blood for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians and had spent all that she had, and she was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, ‘If I but touch his cloak, I will be made well.’ Immediately her flow of blood stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my cloak?’ And his disciples said to him, ‘You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’’ He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’”
A Metamorphosis of the Mind…where change begins.
During times of long-suffering, those fallow periods in life that can be profoundly disorienting - times of illness, heartbreak, depression, loss, unwanted change, grief. You feel cut off from the world, benched, stuck, cast in a role you never wanted, moved to the margin, overlooked, forced to slow down. We desperately long for healing. Society doesn’t know what to do with us when we are not “together.” Our response is to isolate and mentally numb out, despite what we have to offer and how our world still needs us.
The woman in this passage was plagued by her own body. Twelve years of being stuck in the mire, trying everything to get free, yet still clinging to hope. After years of persevering, she was left with poverty, loss of status, and a defective body, yet she willed herself to bold action. She approaches Jesus as a manifestation of her faith because she thought, “If I can just touch the hem of his robe, I will be healed.” This was an action that was countercultural for a ritualistically unclean woman who was not to touch or be touched by others. In her forced humility, she stays low and connects herself to this Holy Man of God, a prophet and a healer. One who brings life and life abundantly (John 10:10).
Her faith, united with Jesus’ power, heals her instantly. Jesus feels the healing power leave him, and it stops him. He wants to take time to acknowledge this unexpected transaction. He asked, “Who touched me?” She trembled at his feet, admitting it was her. He transforms her status - from outcast to family, sick to healed, stained to cleansed, unknown to known saying, “Daughter, your faith has healed you.”
Twelve years of dreaming transformed into reality in an instant by faith. This change all started with a faith-based thought in her mind that steered her to act. Transformation begins with our thoughts. This story reminds me, as I reflect on my own long suffering, to trust the slow work of God and be faithful in how I think about my circumstances. What areas in your life do you need to bend your thoughts toward faith? Like the woman, may we draw near to God for our healing. Our faith invites God to act; it’s this human-divine connection that evokes the healing we seek. May you persevere in your faith and touch Jesus, the one who honors our persistent faith, with the belief that He will heal. In His mighty power, He can. For those in the desert, the wilderness, the valley. Think. Believe. Connect.
Holy Spirit who empowered Jesus such that even the hem of his garment had the power to heal the bleeding woman, please heal me.