The Woman with the Issue of Blood

Matthew 9:20-22
And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

The incident of the woman with the issue of blood is recorded thrice in the gospels viz., Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-22 and Luke 8:43-48. Matthew has it recorded concisely whereas in Mark and Luke it is recorded in full detail. This woman had a disease with the issue of blood for twelve years. She must have been worn out and debilitated for this many years. Mark 5:26 says, “And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse”. This woman had consulted many physicians and spent all that she had but the situation did not get any better but rather grew worse. Physicians need the wisdom while treating their patients and remember even physicians need a physician and therefore operate only under the limitation of their knowledge and understanding. But the physician of all the physicians is Jesus Christ. Commit your sicknesses unto this super physician and by saying this I am not asking you to refrain from consulting a doctor. You commit your sickness unto Him and believe that He will bring healing your way. Psalm 37:5 says, “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” This woman after trying everything and exhausting herself of all possibilities has come to a state where she trusted that only this super physician can heal her. Her problem is not the kind that she can discuss openly and therefore she approached Jesus stealthily. She only wanted to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. Matthew 9:21 says, “For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.”

Mark 5:29 says, “And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.” The woman’s only desire at this point was fulfilled. She felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. In an instant the issue of blood that she had for a dozen years stopped. She approached Jesus furtively and received the healing as well. Can this testimony so great be restricted for her alone? No!

Luke 8:45 says, “And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?” The self same moment the Lord sensed that somebody touched him. He questioned as to who touched Him. Peter and the other disciples that were with Jesus were puzzled by this question for the multitude thronged Him. They wondered at His question because so many pressed Him. While their question had a meaning based on something they witnessed, the Lord’s question had a superior meaning for He sensed what his disciples and all others did not. Luke 8:46 says, “And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.” Jesus perceived that virtue is gone out of Him. This virtue was a celestial merit that had the potential to heal the physical body much like the divine merit to cleanse a sinner from all sins. This woman sought the virtue of this superior quality for she knew that a virtue any lesser had no power to heal her. Are you longing for this celestial merit from Lord Jesus Christ today? Are you tired of trying everything possible here on earth? Then, you are blessed with this virtue. Turn to Jesus Christ who owns this virtue and has the sole authority to pass it on to you. Just seek Him and ask Him and you shall have it. Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”. This woman did exactly what Matthew says and it was given unto her and it will be given unto you too!

Mark 5:32-33 says, “And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.” Here the Lord knew who touched Him and turned to see her directly. She feared and trembled for she perceived what was done in her. She received this mighty healing clandestinely and is now subject to see the one from whom she received the healing. She came and fell before Jesus Christ and told Him all the truth. This gave her the opportunity to share her testimony to all the people around Jesus.

Matthew 9:33 says, “He (Jesus) said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.” The woman who was trembling with fear was sincerely comforted by the divine physician. And the woman was made whole from that hour! When this great a tempest surrounds us and there is nobody to share our sufferings, there is only one who will walk us through victoriously. Trust the one who can walk us through and can even lift up a storm so severe. May God grant you the comfort and heal you by passing on His virtue to you. Just desire to touch the hem aof His garment and this garment is His robe of righteousness that can wash away our sins and our sicknesses; Just believe and you will be healed!

Tomorrow: Jairus’ Daughter Raised from the Dead