"There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned and asked, 'Who has touched my clothes?' She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth." (Mark 5:25-30, 33)
Have you ever felt that God doesn't realize your suffering? Sometimes when praying the Scriptures, you encounter stories that leave you thinking, "How random…" or "Seriously, that happened?" or (even) "Eeewwww, that's gross!".
If you've ever lost hope or allowed suffering to consume you – reach out to Jesus. For me, the above account of the woman with a hemorrhage was one of those stories…because I'm a guy and because I have an aversion to any blood that is not my own. (Basically, I don't mind the emergency room, as long as it is due to my own stupidity).
Most Biblical scholars agree that the "woman with a hemorrhage" was experiencing severe menstrual bleeding. Far more than her monthly period or an irregular menstrual cycle, the woman was suffering greatly. Possibly she had an infection or a severe hormone imbalance. She may have had fibroid tumors or some other internal ailment that was almost impossible to detect or treat in that time period.
Due to its subject matter, this is one of those Gospel stories that can sometimes get written off as "just another nice healing" by Jesus. Due to our own cultural misunderstandings and ignorance, the story doesn't leap off the page quite like it should. As a result of both, we don't encounter the beauty of this story or its modern relevance quite like we should. But there is far more going on here than meets the eye upon a quick reading of the encounter.
What is amazing is not the uniqueness of the woman's problem, or the fact that several doctors were unable to "solve" her problem. What is amazing about this Scriptural encounter goes far deeper than physical healing. To truly appreciate what happened, we need to take a broader look, at social norms, cultural constraints and the basic attitude of the time toward things like a woman's cycle.
In the time of Christ, as prescribed in the Book of Leviticus 15:25-27, not only is the woman "unclean" for seven days (the perceived length of her monthly cycle) but anything or anyone that she touches is unclean. That means whatever she wears – unclean. Wherever she sits – unclean. Whomever she touches – unclean.
Then, take note, it says she suffered this way for twelve years. She had spent every penny on doctors who were unable to help, while her physical bleeding persisted, she was being figuratively "bled dry" by "healers", some real, others just charletains taking advantage of a woman in pain. She, no doubt, would have been very frail and weak due to the blood loss. She most likely lived as a social outcast, unable to interact with or touch anyone. Her home would have been "unclean". She most likely had few friends, a reputation for her ailment, a loss of hope for a life of joy or normalcy and no true intimacy of which to speak.
Then, along comes this Jesus… She had left her house, that day, upon hearing that He was in the area. Perhaps, for the first time, the people from the town didn't notice her "out" because of their excitement for the Rabbi from Nazareth. Jesus was in the middle of a plea from Jairus (the synagogue official) to help his daughter, when the woman reached out to touch the tassel…the hem, of Jesus' garment.
So, what's the big deal about that, you might ask? Remember that due to her condition, anyone she touches becomes unclean. Not only did she risk "defiling" the Lord (in the eyes of the culture) in their encounter, but consider what it took for her emotionally, to act in such a way. Doctors had been unable to heal her. She was shunned by everyone else. She was weak and frail and without hope. Undoubtedly, over time, her self esteem had taken a hit, her self worth must have plummeted. Perhaps she had even stopped believing in God's love for her.
And (as I said before) along comes Jesus… Consider the courage it took for her to reach out to Him… Imagine the renewal of hope that must have surged through her when she drew near to Him… Dwell on the power that must have moved through her when she touched His garment… Think about the faith it took for her, an unclean outcast, not only to "ask" the Lord for His healing, but to believe enough in His ability and His love, to break every social constraint and forget every cultural bias she endured, to reach out and "risk" making her Healer (and Savior) "unclean".
All of the sudden, this story is a story of heroic virtue, hope and faith, not just of bleeding, healing and warm fuzzies.
How does this relate to you (and I) regardless of gender or sickness in the technologically savvy 21st century, you might ask?
If you've ever felt like a social outcast, on the outside looking in – reach out to Jesus.
If you've ever felt unclean, sinful, unworthy of His love – reach out to Jesus.
If you've ever lost hope or allowed suffering to consume you – reach out to Jesus.
If you have begun to believe that God doesn't care about your pain – reach out to Jesus.
If you think you're all alone in this world and no one notices you reaching out – reach out (again) to Jesus.
And if you are afraid at how He will react when you do reach out… read and pray this passage again and take faith, the Lord is never outdone in generosity. Christ is ready and willing to heal you, to make you whole, again, in every way. And once you've reached out to Jesus as healer, it will be easier for you to embrace Christ as your Savior.
If you've ever lost hope or allowed suffering to consume you – reach out to Jesus. For me, the above account of the woman with a hemorrhage was one of those stories…because I'm a guy and because I have an aversion to any blood that is not my own. (Basically, I don't mind the emergency room, as long as it is due to my own stupidity).
Most Biblical scholars agree that the "woman with a hemorrhage" was experiencing severe menstrual bleeding. Far more than her monthly period or an irregular menstrual cycle, the woman was suffering greatly. Possibly she had an infection or a severe hormone imbalance. She may have had fibroid tumors or some other internal ailment that was almost impossible to detect or treat in that time period.
Due to its subject matter, this is one of those Gospel stories that can sometimes get written off as "just another nice healing" by Jesus. Due to our own cultural misunderstandings and ignorance, the story doesn't leap off the page quite like it should. As a result of both, we don't encounter the beauty of this story or its modern relevance quite like we should. But there is far more going on here than meets the eye upon a quick reading of the encounter.
What is amazing is not the uniqueness of the woman's problem, or the fact that several doctors were unable to "solve" her problem. What is amazing about this Scriptural encounter goes far deeper than physical healing. To truly appreciate what happened, we need to take a broader look, at social norms, cultural constraints and the basic attitude of the time toward things like a woman's cycle.
In the time of Christ, as prescribed in the Book of Leviticus 15:25-27, not only is the woman "unclean" for seven days (the perceived length of her monthly cycle) but anything or anyone that she touches is unclean. That means whatever she wears – unclean. Wherever she sits – unclean. Whomever she touches – unclean.
Then, take note, it says she suffered this way for twelve years. She had spent every penny on doctors who were unable to help, while her physical bleeding persisted, she was being figuratively "bled dry" by "healers", some real, others just charletains taking advantage of a woman in pain. She, no doubt, would have been very frail and weak due to the blood loss. She most likely lived as a social outcast, unable to interact with or touch anyone. Her home would have been "unclean". She most likely had few friends, a reputation for her ailment, a loss of hope for a life of joy or normalcy and no true intimacy of which to speak.
Then, along comes this Jesus… She had left her house, that day, upon hearing that He was in the area. Perhaps, for the first time, the people from the town didn't notice her "out" because of their excitement for the Rabbi from Nazareth. Jesus was in the middle of a plea from Jairus (the synagogue official) to help his daughter, when the woman reached out to touch the tassel…the hem, of Jesus' garment.
So, what's the big deal about that, you might ask? Remember that due to her condition, anyone she touches becomes unclean. Not only did she risk "defiling" the Lord (in the eyes of the culture) in their encounter, but consider what it took for her emotionally, to act in such a way. Doctors had been unable to heal her. She was shunned by everyone else. She was weak and frail and without hope. Undoubtedly, over time, her self esteem had taken a hit, her self worth must have plummeted. Perhaps she had even stopped believing in God's love for her.
And (as I said before) along comes Jesus… Consider the courage it took for her to reach out to Him… Imagine the renewal of hope that must have surged through her when she drew near to Him… Dwell on the power that must have moved through her when she touched His garment… Think about the faith it took for her, an unclean outcast, not only to "ask" the Lord for His healing, but to believe enough in His ability and His love, to break every social constraint and forget every cultural bias she endured, to reach out and "risk" making her Healer (and Savior) "unclean".
All of the sudden, this story is a story of heroic virtue, hope and faith, not just of bleeding, healing and warm fuzzies.
How does this relate to you (and I) regardless of gender or sickness in the technologically savvy 21st century, you might ask?
If you've ever felt like a social outcast, on the outside looking in – reach out to Jesus.
If you've ever felt unclean, sinful, unworthy of His love – reach out to Jesus.
If you've ever lost hope or allowed suffering to consume you – reach out to Jesus.
If you have begun to believe that God doesn't care about your pain – reach out to Jesus.
If you think you're all alone in this world and no one notices you reaching out – reach out (again) to Jesus.
And if you are afraid at how He will react when you do reach out… read and pray this passage again and take faith, the Lord is never outdone in generosity. Christ is ready and willing to heal you, to make you whole, again, in every way. And once you've reached out to Jesus as healer, it will be easier for you to embrace Christ as your Savior.
Just open your hand and extend it. Soon, you too will feel the healing power of God.
Finding hope in suffering by Mark Hart at lifeteen.com
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