“Deeper Faith”

Mark 5: 34 “And He said unto her, ‘Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.’”

The woman has been suffering from a bleeding disorder for 12 years. She was desperate to find healing of her sickness. She resorted to many doctors only to come to no avail—she wasn’t healed and instead her sickness got worse. It says that she spent all her money for her healing but only to her disappointment (Mark 5: 26). In the middle of the story,  the Bible says that the woman heard of Jesus coming to her place (by that time she heard many things about Jesus—His miracle-doings, teachings, etc.).

She was very eager and earnest to meet Jesus to touch even just the hem His clothes and she “will be healed” (Mark 5: 28). After she touched the clothes of Jesus Christ, immediately, healing took  place. She felt the unusual bleeding she was experiencing for 12 years stopped, and that the disorder had been healed (Mark 5: 29). Jesus in turn, feeling that a source of power came out from Him turned His back to the crowd and asked “Who touched my clothes?” (Mark 5: 30) A study explains that the reason why Jesus asked who touched His clothes was  because He wanted to know who had drawn upon His power with such firm confidence in Him. The woman in turn was found and trembled and feared (Mark 5: 32-33) of what might be done to her. School of thoughts say that the woman might have been fearful and trembling because she was considered “unclean” in the society and that touching the Teacher made Him unclean too. She was wary of her social standing. (Trivia: The Mosaic Law in Leviticus 15:19 says that a woman was considered “unclean” every month during the “regular discharge of her body” -a woman’s regular menstrual cycle). As to the account of this woman we’re talking about, she was bleeding for 12 years! Thus, Israelites’ Law states, in  addition, “If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, not at the time of her impurity, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her impurity, all the days of the discharge she shall continue in uncleanness; as in the days of her impurity, she shall be unclean. Every bed on which she lies, all the days of her discharge, shall be to her as the bed of her impurity; and everything on which she sits shall be unclean, as in the uncleanness of her impurity. And whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.” Leviticus 15:25-27) But Jesus in His compassion and grace accepted the woman and declared her healed (Mark 5: 34). Studies say too she was restored of her social standing.

What are the points we can get from this story?

First is faith. We can access Jesus only through FAITH. The Word of God says “ But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for He that cometh to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11: 6

Second is perseverance. James 1:2-4 says “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

The story, in my perspective, is showing a piece of large ground heavily dug: I am wondering why it is heavily dug. Then I found out that a building is to be built there—a high-end, state-of-the-art infrastructure or something. The ground is being excavated DEEPER and DEEPER to make the establishment that will be erected there, strong and sturdy.

Have you been in a severe problem? It may not be like that of the woman’s bleeding problem. It may be personal, financial or material, relational, mental or yeah, physical. Is it “excavating” your innermost self that leaves you feeling desperate? There’s only ONE lesson we can get from the story of the woman of faith. Jesus allows us to go through challenges in our lives, bringing us to desperate moments sometimes, for us to draw near to Him -until all you’ve got is Him. You’ll find the solutions then to your problems. The Word says, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” James 4: 8

#Throwback Thursday

Date Published: Apr 4, 2013