4. THE WOMAN WITH AN ISSUE OF BLOOD HEALED Mark 5:25-34 (Matthew 9:18-26; Luke 8:41-56) 25 And a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, --This woman had an incurable disease so far as human skill was concerned. She was able to walk, and was among the multitude that followed Jesus. She had a chronic disease, which according to the law rendered her unclean. (Leviticus 15:25.) It was of a long continuance, twelve years. This was a hemorrhage of some kind, which for these long years had been a source of much suffering. A remarkable case of wasting disease. She really, by rabbinical law, had no right in a Jewish crowd. How many, many reasons women have to love the Lord Jesus Christ! Even this very disease illustrates it. In Oriental nations where Christianity has not gone, the unfortunate victim has, added to her physical sufferings, social contempt and partial ostracism. Christianity has done this away under its sway. 26 and had suffered many things of many physicians,--The practice of physics in those days was in a very crude condition and no doubt most of it, as perhaps some of it is now, guesswork. The knowledge of the human body and its functions was exceedingly crude. The absurdest ideas passed current as medical knowledge. The most ridiculous experiments were made in the hope of lighting accidentally, as it were, upon efficient remedies. One with a baffling, long-continued disease, if he put himself in their hands at all, was tolerably sure to "suffer many things" of the physicians, including the pocketbook. The remedies that do not cure are likely to aggravate the disease. The many physicians, with their varied remedies, if there had been no malpractice, could scarcely avoid the result here mentioned, she "rather grew worse." and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,--Imperfect as was their knowledge and practice, they had carried one act to perfection--that of charging. But all that a man hath he will give for his life, and she had kept on, lured by one new, but equally false, hope after another till all her wealth was gone. When one recalls the kind of physicians and their methods of cure in those days, we do not wonder that she suffered, and that they failed to cure her, although she "spent all that she had" in the vain endeavor. How many things does the sinsick soul suffer from the quack physicians of the soul! Dr. Morality, Dr. Atheism, Dr. Deism, Dr. Spiritualism, etc. But it grows no better; rather grows worse. Miserable comforters are they all 27 having heard the things concerning Jesus, came in the crowd behind,--She had doubtless heard of his power over fever, and paralysis and unclean spirits, and her faith reached up to the hope that such a one might have power over even her apparently incurable malady. When Jairus came to Jesus he (Jesus) was surrounded by a great concourse of people, who followed him. Weak as she was, she pushed in among them. She saw now was her opportunity. The healer was near, and on the way to cure another person. She puts forth her supreme effort. Probably she came in the crowd behind to avoid being noticed. It was an act of faith. She was full of confidence that Jesus was able to heal;but she trembled on account of her conscious unworthiness. and touched his garment.--[Matthew says: "She said within herself, If I do but touch his garment, I shall be made whole." This showed her faith in his power and willingness to heal. She acted on this faith when, in her weak and enfeebled condition, she pressed through the throng of people that followed and jostled one another against him, and touched the hem of his garment. In response to this touch of faith healing virtue went forth from him, and her blood ceased to flow. Others in the throng that pressed upon him touched him, but no virtue or power to bless or heal went forth from him. It was only the touch of faith that could draw the blessings. She felt the healing power through her whole system giving vigor and strength to her body.] . There is only one who can heal the soul's malady, only one who can stop this everflowing fount of sin. 28 For she said, If I touch but his garments, I shall be made whole.--Healed of my disease. Matthew and Luke both say that she touched "the border of his garment." This woman's experience with "many physicians" was enough to destroy all confidence in the healing art, at least for her case; but not withstanding all these failures and discouragements, she comes to Christ in great faith, not as a physician, but as a being in whom there was virtue and power to heal aside from any remedies. 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up and she felt in her body that she was healed of her plague. --The hemorrhage instantly ceased. The deep-rooted disease of twelve years standing was thoroughly cured. She perceived by the peculiar sensations she experienced in her body that health was restored and that she was healed. Thus, after twelve years of suffering, when all the skill of the physicians had failed, she finds relief in the healing power of Jesus. She felt it, she knew it. How? The fountain of blood was dried up. So we, when we have given ourselves unreservedly to Christ, when we have abandoned our sins, when through obedience to the gospel the fountain of sin, the rebellious will, is dried up, know we are saved. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." (Mark 16:16.) 30 And straightway Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power proceeding from him had gone forth,--He realized now this particular instance of transfer. Others touched him but felt no healing influence, because theirs was not in faith. Her cure was the result and answer of her touch of faith, which reached beyond the hem of his garment to his divine nature. turned him about in the crowd, and said, Who touched my garments?--This question raises the question whether the healing was conscious or unconscious on his part--that is, whether he was only made conscious by feeling the abstraction of healing power through the woman's touch, or whether, knowing supernaturally her approach, he voluntarily permitted the power to go forth. Most orthodox commentators agree with Trent, who says: "We cannot for an instant suppose that this healing power went forth without the full consent of his will. He did not ask the question to obtain information, for he had healed the woman, and must have known on whom the blessing was conferred; hut he did it that the woman might herself make a confession of the whole matter, by which the power of her faith and the greatness of the miracle might be manifested to the praise of God. "By grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8.) The healing virtue comes from Christ. Everything was voluntary on the woman's part in being healed bodily; so on ours in being healed spiritually. But at the critical moment the power from Jesus goes forth; so with us. In either case this power is a gift. It cannot be bought. It is not for sale. The human and divine so overlap that we cannot separate them. The soul of the woman was not healed, only her body. She was healed physically, not spiritually. 31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?--Peter and his companions knew not yet the difference between mere contact and the believing touch, between thronging Christ and touching Christ. Many had brushed against him and were none the better; she had touched him and rejoiced. Jesus responded, according to Luke: "Somebody did touch me: for I perceive that power had gone forth from me." As the people were in a dense crowd, "thronging" the Savior at the time, the disciples thought it a singular question to ask under the circumstances, but he knew what had taken place and they knew nothing of it. 32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.--Jesus was not in doubt as to the party who had touched him. He knew from the beginning the gender; "to see her" implies his knowledge as to her identity. Luke (Luke 8:47) also confirms this knowledge when he says: "When the woman saw that she was not hid." 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.--She revealed her heart. Not in a secret whisper, for Luke (Luke 8:47) says she "declared in the presence of all the people for what cause she touched him, and how she was healed immediately." Thus this magnificent cure became public property, and was added to the flowing tide of Christ's fame, ever rolling on with fuller volume and to further shores. The woman was now in proper mental condition to receive the confirmation of her cure, to be disabused of all ideas of mere magical contact with Jesus, and to receive spiritual influence to go with her future life. It was her intention to keep the matter secret, but it was the will of the Savior that she should make it known. So she "told him all the truth" concerning the matter. 34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole;--Not faith of itself, for the touch which faith actuated evidently had an important part, from the question in the thirtieth verse. Midway between the faith and touch was the purpose which the faith caused her to form, and the touch executed. go in peace,--All her self-reproach and self-questioning were now at an end. The Master had proclaimed peace, and what peace it was, after these twelve years of sickness, and shame, and pain, and contempt! and be whole of thy plague.--Continue whole! It shall be to thee a permanent possession, this gracious healing. Probably this woman became a spiritual follower of Jesus Christ, and was saved at last. However, the Bible is silent on this point. Her faith was not a passive or inactive one; had it been, she never would have been made whole. It moved her and filled her with courage to press through the crowd and to touch the body of Jesus.