Mark 5:25–34 (ESV) — 25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
Jesus drew crowds. People had heard the reports of the mighty things he had done and the unusual things he had been saying. They wanted to see these things for themselves. Some also went to Jesus to be healed. One such woman knew that if she could just touch him, he would heal her. So, while the crowds pushed and pulled around Jesus, she inched her way close to him and reached out her hand and was able to touch his clothing. She was healed instantly!
Jesus was aware of her touch and turned to see who she was. The woman, who had been labeled “unclean” for all of those years, appeared before Jesus fearful and ashamed of what she had done. An unclean woman touching Jesus would not be welcomed, would it? To her amazement, Jesus was not angry and did not scold her. Instead, he said, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” In Jesus’ eyes, she was not an outcast to be avoided. She mattered and he had healed her.
All who go to Jesus find the healing they are looking for. He does not reject us based on our past. He welcomes those who come in faith and tells us the same as he told this woman: “Go in peace.”
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