by Terri Webster
I’ve been thinking a lot about the woman who was “subject to
bleeding” (Mark 5:25) for 12 long years. She suffered so much that she
spent all she had on many doctors, with no improvement. As a matter of fact,
she became worse.
Her story hits home with me, to my very core. Especially the
way the Gospel of Mark tells it.
We don’t know her name or anything else about
her aside from her physical suffering. We’re not really sure what the issue of
bleeding was. I assume it had something to do with her female reproductive
system.
Without going into any details, I can imagine what she had endured.
Perhaps it caused her to be barren, unable to have children.
Chronic physical suffering impacts mental, emotional and
spiritual health. She was desperate.
Is this you? It’s me.
It seems that the majority of women I know suffer from some
type of chronic illness. There are too many to name them all, but they have a
common base name: AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE. This encompasses everything from every form
of painful arthritis, depression and fibromyalgia to Lupus, Sjogren’s Disease,
thyroid and many more.
Is this you? It’s me.
Our unnamed friend we meet in Mark 5:25-34, suffered too,
with a chronic illness. She was desperate enough to spend all her money on doctors,
only to become sicker.
Is that you? It’s me.
News about Jesus had spread and she knew He was passing through
her town. She believed all she’d heard about Him. While a large crowd
surrounded Jesus, she put feet to her faith and became part of the large crowd
following Him through the town...
...while thinking to herself, If I just touch his clothes, I will be
healed. She must have been stretching her arms out, reaching and groping while
being pushed and shoved in the crowd.
Then, finally, she made contact with His
clothes. One hand, both hands, it didn’t matter. She touched his clothes.
Immediately her bleeding stopped
and she felt in her body
that she was freed
from her suffering. Mark 5:29
Jesus felt it too. He stopped walking. Turned around and
asked, Who touched my clothes? Mark 5:30
I imagine her eyes became big as saucers or as we say in the
south, “like a deer caught in headlights”. What she thought would go unnoticed
in a large, noisy crowd, caught Jesus’ attention.
His disciples even said to Jesus, You see the people
crowding against you and yet you ask,‘Who touched me?' Mark 5:31
She stood silently, while Jesus kept looking around, insisting
someone had touched Him because He felt the power leave His body.
Finally, our fellow sufferer came forward. Falling at His
feet in fear, she admitted it was her, explaining the whole truth.
His response?
Daughter,
your faith has healed you.
Go in peace
and be
freed from your suffering. Mark 5:34
Healed. Peace. Free from suffering.
Is this what you want? Need?
I do.
I’ve spent a lot of money on different doctors. Educated
myself. Tried everything. I’ve found some relief. But managing chronic pain,
while pushing through it every single day is exhausting. It affects my mental,
emotional and spiritual health.
You too?
What else is there left to do? How can we “touch His clothes”
today?
I believe in His unhindered, healing power. I know Him and
His matchless, saving love. He bore all my sin, suffering and pain hanging
there on the cross. He was buried, perhaps in the same clothes, our friend
touched the day her suffering ended.
Those clothes were divided among His killers.
I can’t stop thinking about this woman and her faith. She
was able to physically touch Him. Their eyes met as He spoke directly to her.
Today, we have His very spirit and life living inside us as
Believers.
The same power she experienced that day by touching His
clothes, lives inside us!
So, how can we touch His clothes today?
It’s a lot to wrap our minds around. I’m not going to suggest a "pat" answer, but stop
here. I'll continue next week, while I am still reaching out to Him, putting my
feet to my faith.
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to share in the
comments area below or email me directly by filing out the form on the right.
Staying the course,
Terri
