With all hope lost, she heard of a man who healed people and was determined to see him even though it was forbidden for those afflicted with a disease or blood ailment to be permitted in public. She knew it was against the law, but took the chance that she would have an encounter with the Healer called Jesus.
We need to take a closer look at the whole situation. From what we can tell, it is obvious that she had a desire to be healed, because she was willing to spend every “dollar” she had to receive help. Another thing we notice is that the woman was persistent! She did not give up seeking her healing, even after she received one bad report after another.
If we read the story only from Luke’s perspective, we do not know what she said, however, in Mark’s account of the gospels, we know exactly what she thought, said, and did.
“When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him (Jesus) in the crowd and touched His garment (the hem). For she said, if only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” (Mark 5:27-28 NKJV)
This woman faced being punished or even put to death for breaking the law, yet she still followed her belief. She believed so strongly that touching the hem of Jesus’ clothing would result in the healing she had pursued for twelve long and painful years.
Although we are never told the number of people gathered in that place, we do know that it was so crowded that they could not help but literally touch one another while moving through the street.
At some point in their journey Jesus noticed something different in the way He was “touched” while making His way through the crowd, so much so, that He felt the need to inquire if His disciples saw who specifically touched Him.
Thinking this was an absurd question to ask considering the circumstances, they shared their feelings.
“When Jesus asked who had touched Him, the disciples were dumb founded as to why He would even ask such a thing knowing the situation." They replied, “You see the crowd pressing hard around You from all sides, and You ask, who touched Me?” (Mark 5:31 AMPC)
Why would Jesus ask such a question if He really was the Son of God? It was not the specific physical touch that got His attention but something else!
Whose Faith?
When the woman with the issue of blood touched Jesus from behind, He could not tell who it was, but felt anointing power from the Holy Spirit leave His body. It was faith in believing who Jesus was, that touched the anointing of Jesus. The result for believing was favor (grace, mercy) for healing.
Maybe this will make it clearer … Her faith touched His heart because she totally believed in Jesus and trusted His word on healing to be true. Her faith in the power of God caused anointing favor for healing. It was her faith in Jesus, not His faith that manifested immediate healing. Jesus, the Son of God, did not need faith; He knew He could heal. He felt that she (her faith) knew it as well.
When she saw Jesus looking around questioning who touched Him, she fell to her knees before Him and confessed. Jesus said to her, “Daughter (as a child of God’s), your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
When Jesus said “your faith has made you well,” He was
referring to her faithfulness. The
original Greek meaning of the word includes confidence in being faithful. She was persuaded to what was trustworthy. He literally said, your faith saved you (made
you well), Now go (depart) and live in peace being healed (soundly, healthy,
and whole) without any sickness!
Don’t Stop Believing
It would be great if the story ended here, but it did not. Do you remember the beginning of the lesson and where Jesus was headed in the first place? He was on His way to Jairus’ house to lay hands on a dying girl when He was interrupted by another pressing matter.
You might think that Jesus would have pushed through the crowd and hurried to get to the girl, but that was not the case. Can you imagine how Jairus must have felt? He was leading the way when he saw Jesus talking to some lady! Who knows if he was silently thinking, “Come on Jesus, my daughter is dying. This lady is alive and can get healed anytime, my girl needs you now!”
Well, it did not matter anymore. Jesus might as well stay there according to those who just came from Jairus’ house. They interrupted Jesus while He was speaking and blurted out, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further.” How cruel was that?
I can picture the look of terror that came on Jairus’ face and how quickly Jesus wanted to squash fear from destroying what the ruler believed when he first asked Jesus to come to his house. The Bible tells us that as soon as Jesus heard what the people said about the girl, He spoke hope into Jarius by telling him not to listen to what they said, but stick to your faith in believing on the power of God to heal.
“As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, do not be afraid; only believe!” (Mark 5:36)
By the time Jesus arrived at the house it was filled with people crying and making a loud commotion. After He went inside, He asked them why they were crying when the girl was just sleeping.
When He made the statement that she was not dead but only asleep, they began to ridicule Him. No worries ... Jesus made them all leave. He took the parents of the twelve-year-old child and three of the disciples (Peter, James, and John) into the room where the girl was lying.
Taking her by the hand Jesus spoke, “Talitha, cumi, which is translated, little girl, I say to you, arise.” Immediately she got up and walked. Her parents were amazed and overcome with joy in what transpired. Their remaining faithful to their belief in Jesus gave them the hoped for miracle.
The delay in Jesus coming, the people saying she was already dead so why ask anymore, a house full of wailing people and witnessing a lifeless body did not stop Jarius and his wife from believing. No obstacle can prevent the hand of God from moving to where faith resides. It never will.
Stay in Faith – Regardless to How Things Look
I have a sign in my hall directly outside my bedroom door that is a reminder of who God is and what He can do even when things are not going as planned. This passage of scripture is a direct message from God to Jeremiah who had doubts of what God could do through him.
It states who He is, what He has done in creation and what He can do. It reassures me that I am a child of a mighty, all-powerful God who can do anything!
“Behold, I am the LORD (Yahweh, the God of Israel), the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27)
That declaration from the Lord is all we should ever need to keep us focused on the faithfulness of God, yet we often let surrounding circumstances lead us to believe otherwise. I am so thankful that we are given examples of individuals who did not let circumstance(s) get in the way of their faith to believe in God’s favor for a miracle to happen.
When the enemy tries to tell you that things are impossible and there is no way the situation will work out, fight those lies with the Word of God! Declare out loud that nothing is too hard for the Lord and that God is working things out for your good. No matter how long it takes, do not stop believing that there will be favor in your journey if you remain in faith and keep believing that God is able to do more than you could ask or think.
“Now to Him who is able to do more exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.” (Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV)
The words God spoke to Jeremiah, the woman with the issue of blood or all who believe in Jesus Christ are part of this “generation forever and ever.” When the writer of this letter, Apostle Paul. spoke this to the Ephesians, he referred to the “power that works in us.” This power is the favor of God through the Holy Spirit to do what God has ordained for His children.
Every solution (or miracle) will come to pass because God has already lined up all the details, people, places, or things needed for the solution to be manifested through the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay in faith knowing good things are about to happen, because you remained faithful in believing God.
Keep these four things in mind as you faithfully trust God to answer your prayer requests:
1 - God already has a favor plan.
2 - God’s plan is prearranged and prepared for your good.
3 - God’s plan includes a future of success.
4 - God’s plan provides a place of peace in knowing,
While you wait on God, honor Him by doing everything you know to do with integrity and excellence. Remember, He is waiting for your faith to touch His garment … His anointing favor.
There are times in our life when we do not understand what is taking God so long in answering our prayers, because we do not know the whole story. Just like that young girl who needed a miracle, there were others whose needs were just as great. The difference is only those who remained faithful in believing received favor from the Lord.
When we stay in faith God will open doors of favor that no one can shut.
“What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open. I know your deeds (I have seen your faith). See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept My word (through believing) and have not denied my name.” (Revelation 3:7-8 NIV)
Although prayer is the key to heaven, only your faith will open doors of favor! Without faith God is not pleased nor does He reward unbelief.
“… without faith it is impossible to please Him (God), for he who comes to God must believe that He is (able) and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him,” (Hebrews 11:6)
Both the woman with the issue of blood and Jarius pleased God with their unwavering faith, even when things looked impossible. They believed He is and was able to do all they asked and more!
An open door often comes after your faith is
stretched through testing. Jesus knew that Jarius' faith was being tested and spoke for him to remain faithful to what he believed when he originally asked Jesus to come heal his child.
Friend, may I ask, when was the last time your faith touched the hem of Jesus' garment? Has it ever? Did the door to the favor of God close because faith collided with fear and won?
God wants to strengthen your faith, not weaken it through tests and trials. He wants you to believe that with God all things are possible, even the impossible!
I want to encourage you just as Jesus did to Jarius to keep believing and do not give into fear. Jesus is watching your faith. He is waiting for that believing touch of faith that will open doors for His favor!
For those who trust in Jesus Christ, God gives the promise of life here but also the gift of eternal life (in Heaven; a Kingdom that cannot be shaken) as an inheritance of being His child. If you would like to have this gift also, click here to learn more.
Until next time, favored
blessings!
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Unless noted, scripture reference in series was taken from the New King James Bible Version provided by Bible Gateway. Image Creative Common License if not specified. Image
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