Luke 8:40-48
40 And as Jesus was returning, the people welcomed Him, for they had all been waiting for Him.
41 And a man named Jairus came, and he was an official of the synagogue; and he fell at Jesus’ feet, and began urging Him to come to his house;
42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. But as He went, the crowds were pressing against Him.
43 And a woman who had suffered a chronic flow of blood for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone,
44 came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
45 And Jesus said, “Who is the one who touched Me?” And while they were all denying it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing in on You.”
46 But Jesus said, “Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had left Me.”
47 Now when the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and admitted in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed.
48 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
The Healing of a Woman with Chronic Flow of Blood
The longing of a woman with chronic flow of blood
On the way to Jairus’s house, the healing of the woman who suffered a chronic flow of blood took place. This time, let us reflect on the faith of this woman. First, let us note how tragic her condition was: (1) She had been suffering from a flow of blood for twelve years. (2) No one was able to heal her. (3) Because the flow of blood was regarded as unclean (ref. Levi. 15:25-33), she was in a state of social and emotional isolation. Seeing Jesus being pressed on every side as He walked along the narrow road, she came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak. Immediately, her bleeding stopped. The “fringe” refers to the tassels attached to the four corners of a garment, called “tzitziot” in Hebrew. In Numbers 15:38-39 and following, it is written: “Speak to the sons of Israel and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a violet thread. It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, so that you will do them…” In other words, the tassel (tzitziot) was a symbolic representation of the word of God. Put in modern terms, it would be like wearing a pendant shaped like a Bible around one’s neck. The woman, in faith, touched the fringe of Jesus’ garment (the word of God). Are you approaching the Bible, the word of God, in faith? Faith is the very channel through which we receive God’s healing power.
What Jesus gave
Jesus said, “Who is the one who touched Me?” Of course, Jesus knew who had touched Him in faith. The woman was afraid. Yet Jesus kept asking. That was because He wanted to give her something 100 percent good. When she came forward trembling, Jesus said, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” (1) She was set free from a superstitious kind of faith. (2) She was set free from the sense of guilt for having secretly touched Jesus. In the address “Daughter,” the love of Jesus is contained. (3) Because her healing was made public, she was restored to society. Do you sometimes feel fear about expressing your faith before others? Let us believe that Jesus does only what is 100 percent good and let us bear witness to our faith.
Today's prayer
Gracious God, although I read the Bible daily, please forgive me for the times I have not read Your word with faith. Now, I draw near in faith to Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Heal me, fill me, and cleanse me. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.