Touching Jesus (Mark 5:25-34)

Mark 5:25-34  25 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years.  26 She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse.  27 She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,  28 for she said, "If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well."  29 Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.  30 Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, "Who touched my clothes?"  31 And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, 'Who touched me?'"  32 He looked all around to see who had done it.  33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth.  34 He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease."  


I picture this woman sitting alone in a dark lonely place where she has sat many times considering her options. She has heard that Jesus is in town. She has heard that he can heal. Finally, she decides not  to ask Jesus to heal her. I wonder why she wanted to remain anonymous? According to Jewish law, her disease made her unclean so she shouldn't have even been in the crowd. Had she learned how to hide her disease so that "the rule keepers" wouldn't shun her and so she could live a normal life? Did she not want to be exposed? Or was she just too shy to bother Jesus. Was she afraid that she might not get his attention? And what if he said no?

So she comes up with a plan... she is going to get close enough to Jesus to touch his clothes. She believes that his power will have rubbed off on his clothes and that by touching them, she will be healed. She doesn't ask his permission. She doesn't say word. She just sneaks up from behind and reaches out and touches his cloak.

And she is healed.


But she is not anonymous.  Jesus knows.  And Jesus calls her out - not to rebuke her, but to express that he wants her to be at peace, as well as, to be healed.  He offers her shalom which means "to be whole" physically and spiritually.  Jesus offers shalom to all of us.  Have enough faith to seek him out - and then reach out and touch him.  It will change your life.

*****

The other gospels weigh in...

Matthew 9:20-22   20 Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak,  21 for she said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well."  22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well.  


Luke 8:40-56 43 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her.  44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped.  45 Then Jesus asked, "Who touched me?" When all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the crowds surround you and press in on you."  46 But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me."  47 When the woman saw that she could not remain hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him, she declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.  48 He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."