Mark 5:25-33

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.

Spiritual and Social Implications

On account of her condition, she is ceremonially unclean (cf. Lev. 15:25–28) and is not permitted to enter the temple section reserved for women; nor is she permitted to be in public without making people aware that she is unclean. She had no place to turn for spiritual nourishment. She had no friends and family, socially she was all alone.

She Suffered at the hands of the doctors

According to Adam Clarke Commentary, there are a few things a typical jewish physician would ask anyone with her condition to do:

• Take of gum Alexandria, of alum, and of crocus hortensis, the weight of a zuzee each; let them be bruised together, and given in wine to the woman that hath an issue of blood. But if this fail,
• Take of Persian onions nine logs, boil them in wine, and give it to her to drink: and say, Arise from thy flux. But should this fail,
• Set her in a place where two ways meet, and let her hold a cup of wine in her hand; and let somebody come behind and affright her, and say, Arise from thy flux. But should this do no good,
• Take a handful of cummin and a handful of crocus, and a handful of faenu-greek; let these be boiled, and given her to drink, and say, Arise from thy flux. But should this also fail,
• Dig seven trenches, and burn in them some cuttings of vines not yet circumcised (vines not four years old;) and let her take in her hand a cup of wine, and let her be led from this trench and set down over that, and let her be removed from that, and set down over another: and in each removal say unto her, Arise from thy flux.

Life Changing Moment

You can tell from her story that she was desperate a woman. She needed a savior, a friend, a pastor, someone to call family. She needed a miracle to happen in her life. One simply act of faith would changed her life forever. The bible says,

• She heard reports about Jesus
• She believed the reports about Him
• She stepped out in faith to what she heard

One simple act of faith, she reached though the crowd, touched the hem of His garment and was instantly healed. I am sure you’ve heard about this Jesus I’m talking about, haven’t you? Well, you are hearing now about him now. He has power to heal, set free and deliver. Press through the crowds today – would you? The crowd could mean the doubt and fear and unbelief surrounding you. Just stretch out your hand and let Him do the rest.

If it’s for healing – reach for it!

If it’s for deliverance – reach for it!

If it’s for provision – reach for it!

Whatever it is that you need today reach for it – He is waiting.