The setting was the city of Capernaum. Jesus had just returned with His Disciples from their excursion across the Sea of Galilee to the country of the Gadarenes where He delivered the Maniac of Gadara from demon possession. Having now returned back to the city of His Ministry headquarters, the people who had been eagerly awaiting His return gladly received Him. Multitudes began to surround Him as He departed from the ship and began to re-enter the city. The first person to draw the attention of the Master was a ruler of the Synagogue in Capernaum named Jairus. Jesus' absence for the last 24 hours had no doubt made Jairus even more desperate about his daughter's condition that was probably worsening by the hour. His little girl was now at the point of death being only twelve years of age. Jairus fell at Jesus feet in desperation asking Him to please come to his home to heal her in Person.
Luke 8:43-48
As Jesus went forward to Jairus' home along with Peter, James, John and other of the Disciples, many in the city continued to throng Him more and more. The powerful scene was one that would be repeated many times during the 3-1/2 years of Jesus Earthly Ministry. Among the enormous crowd, now doubt multitudes had various types of needs. Many needed physical healing for themselves or their loved ones. Others needed deliverance from the powers of darkness that sought to keep the people in all types of bondage. All were pressing in upon Him to be close and to touch Him, for by this time His power to heal and to deliver were widely known. As many continued to surround Him, seeking to touch Him and compete for His attention, the scene momentarily shifts focus upon one woman in particular.
A Woman Chained
The Text begins by stating, "A woman having an issue of blood twelve years, who had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any" (vs. 43). This description probably refers to a particular type of female disorder or sickness that resulted in a continuous rupturing of blood for which there was no cure and that she suffered with for the last 12 years. The difficulties, problems and emotional distress that this sickness had caused her these many years were no doubt heavy to endure. Week after week, month after month extending into year after year, she was inhibited and robbed by this awful physical bondage. More than likely the length of time dealing with this malady had worn her down for the worse, with the years of strain and shame reflected upon her countenance.
Along with the physical distress that she underwent for so long, there was also a spiritual shame attached to her disease. According to Leviticus, under the Law she was ceremonially unclean and therefore anything she touched was also unclean (Lev. 15:19-28). As a woman in Israel she no doubt knew this and so she suffered with this ongoing social and religious stigma for many years. In the purification ceremony under the Law, the solution for her uncleanness was found in the Sacrifice of two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a Sin Offering and the other for a Trespass Offering, both representing the death of Christ (Lev 15:29-33). After a woman's issue of blood was stopped she was to wait seven days and on the eighth day offer these sacrifices for her cleansing. But this woman's issue of blood never stopped so even an opportunity for her to participate in this ceremonial cleansing probably evaded her many times during these 12 long years. A woman who had an issue of blood which referred to the common monthly menstrual period did not mean that she was sinning but denoted the impurity transferred down from the original Fall. The only temporary remedy under the Old Covenant was a continual application of these Sacrifices at the appropriate times. However, with the Cross of Christ now as a historical fact, the Blood of Jesus has taken away this impurity completely and forever.
During these long years of seeking help to receive a cure or at least some form of relief from the effects of her illness, Luke says that she "spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any" (vs. 44). She tried every option available to her to receive help, but her problem never grew better but only worse (Mark 5:26). Not only did she suffer physically, emotionally and socially, but according to the account given by Mark, the inference is that the many physicians who treated her knew they could not help her but took her money anyway. All her living and resources were spent in vain trying to find a cure or at least some type of respite. During these previous 12 years and at this moment in time she was a woman chained.
A Woman Changed
The turning point of this woman's life was about to occur. Whatever her reason for being in Capernaum at this time - it was ordained of God that she be there this day. The talk in Capernaum was all about Jesus and so she had surely become familiar with the knowledge of His healing power. As many others this day, she goes to the place where He is expected to soon return into the city.
As she is but one of hundreds and possibly thousands in the crowd this day she finds it difficult to get near to Jesus. Many in the crowd are pressing close to Him as He travels forward on a mission from Heaven to raise a little girl from the dead. Only the strongest ones and those the most persistent eventually find their way to where His attention can be captured. She may have thought due to the press that there would be no way to speak to Him of her problem. As well she may have been fearful to expose herself and her condition to anyone since she was unclean under Jewish Law and was forbidden from having physical contact with anyone. Tradition states that she lived outside of Capernaum so she may have little opportunity to ever see Him again. There is some evidence from the Mark account that she may have never even heard of Jesus before her time in Capernaum. But regardless, once she hears of Him Faith begins to rise within her heart that this Man Jesus is her only hope. Her moment has now come - Jesus is passing by her way. One can imagine her being jostled around and possibly losing her footing several times as she seeks to get near Jesus amidst the press of the crowd. However she will get up again and not lose hope. Nothing will stop her - for she has nothing to lose and everything to gain. But how can she even get close to Him when there seems to be no way. Faith somehow energizes her to believe that if she can only touch His clothes she will be instantly made whole. The Holy Spirit gently draws her attention to the border of His garment, which probably referred to the hem of the Jewish shawl that the men of Israel wore which was draped over the shoulders and hung over the back. Upon this hem were sown beautiful blue tassels. The color blue was a representation of the blue sky and was a color used in various places of the Temple's furnishings and priestly robes and garments symbolizing that the help of Israel came only from Heaven above. It was to one of these blue tassels that the trembling fingers of this woman touched. Luke states that she "came behind Him, and touched the border of His garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched" (vs.44). Mark also says that "she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague" (Mark 5:29).
Immediately, "Jesus said, Who touched me?" (vs. 45). Evidently the Holy Spirit chose not to inform Jesus of who the woman was that touched Him. Peter and the others with him did not understand Jesus asking such a question considering that many were pressing in and touching Him constantly. However Jesus was speaking of a different kind of touch, the kind energized by Faith. He said, "Somebody has touched Me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of Me" (vs. 46). This unequivocally states that Jesus is the Source of all Healing Power. Others may have been healed during this episode (we don't know), but the healing of this woman stands out purposefully and is the only instance recorded during this journey where Jesus felt Healing Power leave His body. This woman's Faith pulled power from the very Person of Jesus to meet her need. When thought of for a moment, this woman's Faith represents a very powerful example because it did not require Him to address her personally or for Him to touch her or to even know that she was there - it only required her to touch Him by Faith and at that, just a tassel of His garment.
Jesus immediately turned around to see who the woman was that touched Him (Mark 5:32). Luke says that "when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before Him, she declared unto Him before all the people for what cause she had touched Him, and how she was healed immediately" (vs. 47). She was probably attempting to hide for several reasons. First, the fear of being discovered regarding her state of uncleanness and her presence among the crowd - she did not know what the reaction would be. Also, the fact that Jesus turned around and in essence sought her out must have surprised her somewhat. Thus, her attempt to hide herself may be regarded as quite normal considering the circumstances. As Jesus turned about to seek who the woman was who touched Him, she stepped out from the crowd and revealed herself unto Him and those around her. At this moment she fell down on her knees and declared to Him before the assembled crowd why she had touched Him and how she was instantly healed at that moment. She was now permanently cured. This debilitating illness would never rob her again of her health, dignity and future. Her ceremonial uncleanness was also gone because she touched the Source of all Life, Who is Jesus. Her shame was a thing of the past. At this moment and forever she was a woman changed.
A Daughter Claimed
The reward of this woman's Faith now extended beyond the healing of her malady. Once she finished declaring what happened to her, Jesus immediately elevated her status from merely a woman to a beloved daughter of the King. Jesus said unto her "Daughter, be of good comfort: your Faith has made you whole; go in peace" (vs. 48). The Lord allayed her fears of the stigma concerning her previous condition. She was now free from her sickness and all of her past shame. This is what only Jesus can do! He gave her peace and told her that her Faith had made her whole. As a woman who believed on Jesus she received healing for her body and as a daughter of the King she inherited eternal life. She was now and would forever be a daughter claimed.
There is evidence that the story of this woman and her Faith spread throughout Capernaum. Matthew records another moment in time separate and apart from this woman's experience where the residents of Capernaum "sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto Him all who were diseased; And they besought Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole" (Matthew 14:36). Others desired to do the same thing as did this woman and rightly so! During this time all were healed who touched Him.
The experience of this woman is truly the story of everyone who has ever come to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The chains of sin rob the life of dignity and peace, wasting precious resources while death ever draws closer. These chains cannot be broken by higher education, clever philosophies or man's good works and pious deeds. They are only broken by the blood of Jesus Christ. In just a few days Jesus would give his Life for this woman paying the price for her healing and eternal Salvation. And her Faith in Him was the only requirement to ensure her position as an eternal jewel in His Crown.
Today, Faith in Jesus and His Blood guarantees what has already been provided for you as it was for her - the power to be set free and become a son or daughter of God (John 1:12). As the old song says, "His Blood still sets men free". Jesus is passing by the door of your heart this very moment. His power is flowing to supply your every need. Only reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by.
Reach Out And Touch The Lord
If your heart is sad and lonely, there's no joy anywhere.
If there's no one left to comfort, and there's no one left to care.
Just cast your cares on Jesus and upon His arms rely,
And reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by.
Though a stranger to the Master and His wonderful grace.
If you've never had the pleasure in beholding His face.
Would you lay aside earth's treasures for a home in the sky,
Then, reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by.
Reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by.
You will find He's not too busy to hear your heart's cry.
He's passing by this moment, your needs He'll supply,
Just reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by.
All along a dusty roadside, on His way to raise the dead.
Mighty was the crowd that followed, hungry for that Living Bread.
"I must touch Him", cried a woman, "I must touch Him or I'll die."
So, she reached and touched His garment as he passed by.
Reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by.
You will find He's not too busy to hear your heart's cry.
He's passing by this moment, your needs He'll supply,
So, reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by.
Reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by.
His Grace and Blessings to you,
Chris
