Last month we focused on the men who came to Jesus with a paralysed man and were not put off by the crowd but found a way through. As the word said Jesus “saw their faith”

This month I want to take a look at the woman who had a haemorrhage of blood for 12 years in Mark 5.

She was in a desperate situation having wasted all her money on many physicians who had not been able to cure her. Then she heard about Jesus. She obviously heard stories of healing and something registered deep inside her that this man was the answer she needed. Faith rose up in her and she made the connection with Jesus.

In her case that connection was expressed differently. In verse 28 she said ”If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well”. Now she may not have realised the significance of making that declaration but it was absolutely in line with what Jesus shared with his disciples in Mark 11:23 when he told his disciples to speak to the mountain do not doubt and it will be cast into the sea. She spoke to the mountain in her life and believed that touching Jesus clothes would heal her.

Then guess what, she did what she said. Now that is an important lesson for us in our own walk of faith. We can say it all we like. We can believe in our hearts but making that faith connection with corresponding action is vital. That action may not be easy. It certainly wasn’t for this woman. She was terribly ill. She should not even have been in the crowd in her condition. Jairus the ruler of the synagogue was in the crowd and could have had her stoned for being there. So she took a big risk. Then she had to battle through the crowd, not an easy task in her condition. Finally she reached out and touched Jesus making that faith connection.

The bible says immediately the flow of blood dried up and she could feel she was healed. However, what happens next is remarkable because Jesus stops, turns around and asks who touched Him. He knew there had been a pull on the spiritual power within Him.

The disciples were taken aback because the crowd had clearly been pushing and shoving trying to get close to Jesus. Despite that not one of them were pulling on His power. Some commentators suggest that Jesus said this, knowing what had happened, because He wanted to increase Jairus’ faith. Others say He said it because He wanted to give the woman an opportunity to declare her testimony.Whatever the reason she humbled herself, came forward and revealed all to Jesus.

I was always taught that there was a 4 stage process to this woman’s healing-she heard-she said-she felt-she told. She spoke the results in faith before she received the healing she needed. Then she told everyone around what had happened.

The conclusion of her story provokes a reaction from Jesus, which provides us with a wonderful sense of His compassion  for her. He says “daughter(an affectionate word in those days) your faith has made you well”

Notice this, He said it was her faith that did it. He did not refer to the power that was released from Him at all. It is almost as if He saw that as a side issue, an inevitable consequence that would always happen if someone released their faith in that way. That is a challenge to us over how our faith operates. It is also great confirmation of the potential within us if we can make that same faith connection in our own circumstances.

Jesus then told her to go in peace. Shalom, the Hebrew word carries a sense of wholeness, nothing missing, nothing broken.
This is the blessing and hope for the future that Jesus confers upon her. We can develop that some hope for our future by applying our faith and making the faith connection with Jesus.
Healing is possible, breakthrough is just round the corner. Jesus is waiting for you to release your faith and make that connection. Then He can release His power and change your life. Reach out and go for it.