Imagine bleeding. For years. Without a discernible cause.
All the local doctors can’t figure it out. You’ve spent your life savings trying to find someone who had an answer.
And nothing.
You’re broken.
You’re exhausted.
You’re rejected.
But, there’s this Man. One Man who comes as a Savior for all. It’s your last bit of hope.
You feel worthless. You don’t mean anything to the community around you anymore because of your ailment.
Why would this Man even want to look at you, much less heal you?
But you know His power. And you think, “If I could only touch His cloak. I know I’d be healed. Because I have hope of who He is” (expounding of Matthew 9:21)
And you receive more than you even expected. Instantly.
Courageous Faith, Graceful Healing
The women subject to bleeding (Luke 8:40-48, Matthew 9:18-26, Mark 5:22-43) endured this circumstance. Another nameless woman, her story even occurs in the middle of someone else’s story.
Almost as an aside: “…And a woman was there…” (Luke 8:43)
Much of our own stories are in the middle of others’, aren’t they? But that doesn’t leave our own stories worthless.
This woman didn’t even want to be seen. Perhaps she feared she would be deemed unworthy and rejected once again. Or maybe told nothing could be done for her as other doctors had for twelve years.
But with one touch, she was “immediately” healed (Luke 8:44).
Would you expect instant healing? I wouldn’t. And yet it was so dramatic within her and so instant, she felt the change.
But, just as instant, Christ felt the change, too.
He asked who touched him.
You can almost hear the disciples smirk. Of course people touched Him. They were surrounded by pressing masses of people.
I imagine Christ didn’t really need to ask who touched Him. He knew. But, He gave the opportunity for our nameless woman in this story to come forward on her own.
And come forward she did… trembling (Luke 8:47).
Would Christ take this healing away? Because she touched Him without asking, would she be punished? Because, by touching Him, she ceremonially defiled Him because she was unclean herself?
I would think questions like these.
Who am I to think I’d be worth Christ’s healing?
But that’s grace. It’s undeserved, as is any of the love Christ gives. And all the more beautiful.
Maybe this woman trembled because of fear of how Christ would respond or because of the ramifications of an ostracized, unclean person touching Someone so great. Instead, He told her to “Go in peace” (Luke 8:48) and continue with the courageous faith that carried her to Him.
Maybe she also trembled because of the amazing gift she had just been given. She believed, she knew He could heal her. And He did. Instantly. She was freed from suffering (Mark 5:29).
I would tremble, too.
I pray to have this woman’s faith and trust in a God who gives.
“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” – Mark 9:24
How have you persevered in your faith over long-standing trials? How does this woman’s story, and Christ’s reaction, inspire you?
I love your take on this story, Caroline. This: “Much of our own stories are in the middle of others’, aren’t they? But that doesn’t leave our own stories worthless.” Thank you. There’s grace in the middle too!
Oh, yes. Grace all around! Thanks for your willingness to always look for it, friend.
Beautiful, Caroline! I am particularly struck by the line, Much of our own stories are in the middle of of others'”. Sometimes it’s ears to feel overlooked in the most of the “bigger” stories going on around us. But there is no small story, no unimportant life, no second place with our Jesus. Thank you for this.
That’s supposed to say “easy to feel overlooked in the midst”. Autocorrect isn’t always my friend!
Love this! –> “But there is no small story, no unimportant life, no second place with our Jesus.” Glad to have your voice here today, Sandy.
I am loving this entire series! Loved your vision of the story Caroline! May we each find grace in our own trembling..
Yes! Grace with that faith in the trembling. Thanks for your thoughts, Julie.
Caroline, I enjoyed reading your post today. My husband and I just read about that woman in our devotions we do together in the evenings. I was impressed then, as I was once again when reading your post, how Jesus knew immediately when the power had left Him, and that He wanted to know who it was that had touched Him. He was surrounded by people on every side…and yet, He made the statement in order to give this woman the opportunity to step up and admit her need and how He had met the need.
After studying this passage, I was reminded again how beneficial it is to spend time in one place and really break down each phrase. I learn so much more that way!
Love that you and your husband are studying together!
I too like the point made about how our own stories are in the middle of others, and that they are not worthless. Sometimes I think what is going on in my life or what I have to say is unimportant. So many times I think my circumstance is not as important and I don’t even discuss or ask for prayer, so thank you for pointing out that everyone’s story is important and matters to God.
I pray too to have such faith.
Oh, I get this: “So many times I think my circumstance is not as important and I don’t even discuss or ask for prayer…” I do that, too. Praying together for that faith!
It was really great reading the story once again with new lenses and understanding How God loves us. And I was personally inspired by the story and wrote a blog post on same lines please read it here.
Forgot to mention the link : http://shushantsjourneyoffaith.blogspot.in/2013/10/holy-unholy.html