“And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, who had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any” (Lk. 8:43).
“And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, who had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any” (Lk. 8:43).
The phrase, “And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years,” probably referred to a female disorder, which seemed to rupture constantly.
Due to this sickness, this woman was ceremonially unclean according to Leviticus 15:19.
It is worthy of note that the daughter of Jairus of the previous chapter was 12 years old, while the woman of our subject had been sick 12 years.
While the sameness of these numbers may be mere coincidence, still, 12 represents God’s order of government. If His government had been clung to instead of what man presently had, the girl would not have been at the point of death or the woman sick, for there would have been no death or sickness.
In the coming Kingdom Age and forever, God’s government will once again be supreme, guaranteeing prosperity in every capacity such as man has never known before.
NO HELP FROM THE MEDICAL PROFESSION
The phrase, “Who had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,” was recorded by Luke, a physician himself (Col. 4:14).
Mark implies that these particular physicians knew they could not help her, but treated her solely for the money.
There is even the intimation that whatever type of treatment they gave her not only did not help her but also made the situation worse (Mk. 5:26).
At any rate, as there was no earthly remedy for her sickness, there is no earthly remedy for sin. However, there is a remedy, as we soon shall see!
TOUCH THE BORDER OF HIS GARMENT
“Came behind Him, and touched the border of His garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched” (Lk. 8:44).
The phrase, “Came behind Him,” was probably for several reasons. The crowd was large and if she had desired to personally speak with Jesus about her sickness, this had now become virtually impossible due to the press of the people.
However, while the throng definitely was a factor, due to her being ceremonially unclean, she was not even supposed to be in this crowd, for “Whosoever touched her, or that she touched, would be unclean until nightfall” (Lev. 15:19). So, she was faced with a dilemma, and what was she to do?
Tradition says that she lived out of town, and this may be the last time she would have the opportunity to be in the presence of Jesus.
So, she evidently reasoned within her mind that she must take her chances and do whatever possible to receive healing, irrespective of the consequences. She was dying anyway, and she had nothing to lose by what she was about to do.
She had already reasoned in her heart, which was, no doubt, instigated by the Holy Spirit, that if she could but touch Him, even the end of the blue tassels which hung upon the shawl thrown over His shoulder, she would be immediately whole.
Furthermore, if she was behind Him, quite possibly, He would not know it, and she would be healed without her infraction being noticed.
JESUS
There is also evidence from Mark 5:27-28 that she had not even heard of Jesus before this time. This seems difficult to comprehend; however, we are told that the Greek text bears it out.
Upon her arriving in Capernaum, for whatever reason, the talk seemed to be of nothing but Jesus. Consequently, in a short time, she would have known of His healing power.
Therefore, the moment the news came that He was expected shortly, as quickly as possible, she went to His expected place of arrival, and so did hundreds, if not thousands, of others.
Even though the text does not bear it out, the presence of God must have emanated from Him to such an extent that faith instantly detected it. Quite possibly, others were being healed as well. At any rate, faith built within her heart, and, irrespective of the difficulties, faith will always find a way.
The phrase, “And touched the border of His garment,” pertained to one of the four tassels which formed part of the Jewish mantle, one of these so arranged as to hang down over the shoulder at the back. It was this one which the sufferer’s fingers grasped. The blue of the tassel, which was worn by most men, reminded Israel that their help came from above and of their duty to keep the Law (Num. 15:28-41; Deut. 22:12).
Some have claimed that she was a Gentile and lived in Caesarea Philippi and that her name was Veronica. However, every indication is that she was Jewish, especially considering that she seemed to understand the spiritual value of this blue tassel.
The phrase, “And immediately her issue of blood stanched,” is stated by Mark that “she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague” (Mk. 5:29).
Whatever it was, she knew she was healed, and beyond the shadow of a doubt. Mark also said, “And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up,” meaning that the flow did not merely stop, but rather what was causing it was completely healed (Mk. 5:29). In other words, it was a permanent cure, something she would never be troubled with again.
Of all the physicians she had come to, she had now come to the right One.
WHO TOUCHED ME?
“And Jesus said, Who touched Me? When all denied, Peter and they who were with him said, Master, the multitude throng You and press You, and You say, Who touched Me?” (Lk. 8:45).
The question, “And Jesus said, Who touched Me?” startled Peter because many were touching Jesus; however, He was not speaking of the many but of this lone individual.
How could He distinguish her touch from all the others? As well, what was different about her touch than the others? For Him to have noticed it in particular, there had to be something different. The difference was faith!
While there were scores touching Him out of curiosity and with others not really knowing why they touched Him, this one was different because of the faith she exhibited.
This means that one can literally feel faith! It also means that faith literally pulls from God that which is needed. In fact, I think one could say without fear of contradiction that it is the only commodity to which our Lord responds.
If one cannot please Him without faith, then everything displeases Him which is faithless (Heb. 11:6).
HEALING
As well, we learn from this that what Jesus did for the people in the realm of healing was not without price. To fully explain it I think would be impossible; however, with each healing, there must have been a drain on Him in the physical, emotional, and spiritual sense. We do know that at certain times He was so physically exhausted from healing the sick that He could hardly stand. The Greek text in Mark 4:36 bears that out.
The phrase, “When all denied,” refers to whoever was standing close to Jesus. It seems they did not exactly know what He was talking about.
The question, “Peter and they who were with Him said, Master, the multitude throng You and press You, and You say, Who touched Me?” is actually as much an exclamation as it is a question.
Peter affirms that scores are “thronging and pressing” Jesus, with them, it seems, having difficulty keeping any semblance of order. Consequently, Jesus’ question perplexed them.
VIRTUE IS GONE OUT OF ME
“And Jesus said, Somebody has touched Me: for I perceive that virtue has gone out of Me” (Lk. 8:46).
The phrase, “And Jesus said, Somebody has touched Me,” speaks of a distinct type of touch other than the grabbing, striking type.
The phrase, “For I perceive that virtue has gone out of Me,” speaks of power.
In other words, power went out of Him the moment the woman touched Him in faith. Several things can be learned from this:
It is possible for people to touch the Lord even though He has not touched them.
What do we mean by that?
Jesus did not touch this woman; she touched Him. In that, we are given a very valuable lesson.
As an example, whenever individuals go forward for prayer in church (or wherever), if healing comes, or whatever, that is the same as the Lord touching us. However, if we do not receive what we have gone for following that course, there remains, as this woman of old, another alternative; we can touch the Lord.
This speaks of going before Him in intercessory prayer and continuing until the need is met. Admittedly, it may take time, as it often does.
However, we have His promise that if we truly need certain things, in whatever capacity, if we will persist, He will do it. Luke, Chapter 11, especially bears this out. You may check that chapter for more extended commentary; however, in brief, it tells us to knock until the answer comes. To be sure, this takes a greater degree of faith than the Lord touching us; however, the spiritual benefits derived from such an excursion are of inestimable value, to say the least!
FAITH IN GOD
Jesus, in the incarnate state as a human being, although never ceasing to be God, still did not know this woman was in the crowd or even that she existed. And yet, by touching Him, she received her healing.
This tells us that faith in God is such a powerful factor that it could effect a tremendous result even though Jesus did not even know she was there.
Many believers do not understand exactly how God looks at faith. Our association with Him is based entirely on faith. One could say without fear of contradiction that no other attribute is held so highly by God. Actually, every single thing that comes into notion in our relationship with the Lord is activated by faith.
However, when we speak of faith, we are not speaking of presumption. Many have mistaken the two. Faith in God is not a credit card to purchase anything we so desire but, in effect, the things He desires. The idea is that our relationship with Him is to be so close that we will only desire what He desires.
We learn from this scenario that true faith in God, even though faced with terrible obstacles exactly as this woman of old, will not allow those circumstances or difficulties to hinder. Such faith in God refuses to look at the obstacles, but rather keeps its eyes fastened on the object, which should always be Jesus (Heb. 12:2).
THE WOMAN
“And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before Him, she declared unto Him before all the people for what cause she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately” (Lk. 8:47).
The phrase, “And when the woman saw that she was not hid,” means that she evidently was trying to hide.
The phrase, “She came trembling,” was probably for several reasons.
First of all, it must have startled her that Jesus would stop, in essence, calling for her. Mark said, “He looked round about to see her who had done this thing,” meaning that He knew it was a woman who touched Him (Mk. 5:32).
Consequently, I think her fear was normal and something to which any of us would have responded in a similar manner.
As well, she knew that according to Levitical Law, she was unclean and as a consequence, was not supposed to be in this crowd, much less touching Him.
She knew that the Levitical Law stated that not only was she unclean, but all who touched her were unclean. Consequently, her fear, which caused the trembling, could well have been caused by this knowledge.
SHE FELL DOWN BEFORE HIM
The phrase, “And falling down before Him,” proclaims her stepping out from the crowd, falling on her knees at His feet.
The phrase, “She declared unto Him before all the people for what cause she had touched Him,” meant that she explained her sickness, and to the extent that all knew she had been ceremonially unclean. She withheld nothing!
The phrase, “And how she was healed immediately,” relates what she told Jesus, which was heard by all, how that “she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague” (Mk. 5:29).
She may have been greatly concerned, which she, no doubt, was, regarding her being unclean due to her sickness, but she also knew that she was healed. So, in effect, she was no longer unclean because of her contact with Jesus.
YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WHOLE
“And He said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: your faith has made you whole; go in peace” (Lk. 8:48).
The phrase, “And He said unto her, Daughter,” proclaims a wonderful and beautiful statement.
At first, she was referred to as “a woman” (Vs. 43), and now she is referred to as “Daughter,” drawing our attention to several things:
He now claims her as His own.
He makes her a part of the family of God.
She is not only healed physically but spiritually as well.
As someone has said, “Yesterday, she was one of the Devil’s nobodies, and now she is one of Heaven’s somebodies!”
The phrase, “Be of good comfort,” addresses itself to her fear concerning her previous uncleanliness. She need have no fear that anyone would judge her unclean now because all evidence of her uncleanness was gone. This is a perfect picture of the redemption in Christ.
The phrase, “Your faith has made you whole; go in peace,” refers to the pipeline which brought her healing from the Lord.
As well, it must be hurriedly said that if her faith made her whole, it will do the same for all who will believe. God is no respecter of persons; what He did for her, He will do for all (Acts 10:34).
The peace here given means that not only was the woman healed, but she was saved also! There is a beautiful spiritual application in this illustration. It is as follows.
THE WOMAN WAS CHAINED
This speaks of being chained by sickness and, from the context, sin as well! She is typical of all the world that is chained by the maladies of darkness. In effect, all unbelievers are in a spiritual prison, which spills over into every facet of their lives.
Even though these were chains on this woman which could not be seen by the physical eye, nevertheless, they were chains.
As well, the entirety of the world is chained by alcohol, drugs, jealousy, envy, immorality, sickness, disease, fear, religion, etc.
Only Jesus, as here, can break those chains.
THE WOMAN WAS CHANGED
This was done by the miracle-working power of God.
Regrettably, the world turns to its own sources, which, in effect, can change nothing. The church follows suit far too often. Psychology has become the great change agent at the present; however, it cannot really change anything.
Only faith in God and the miracle-working power of Christ can truly change a person. It is done by the person placing his or her faith entirely in Christ and the Cross, which then gives the Holy Spirit latitude to work within his or her life. As this woman was instantly changed by touching Jesus, so have multiple millions of others been changed.
The testimonies we have received into our office over the years number into the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, and are so remarkable that they defy description.
That and that alone, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is the answer.
THE WOMAN WAS CLAIMED
She was not only changed but was claimed into the family of God. She was given a new life and even a new status. She was now a child of God and, consequently, a member of the greatest family on earth.
Incidentally, tradition says the name of this woman was Veronica.
Eusebius, who lived about 350 years after Christ, is said to have seen the house in which this woman lived.
It was at Caesarea Philippi or Paneas, as it was sometimes called, and had at its door on a stone pedestal two brazen statues. One represented a woman kneeling, and the other, a man with his cloak over his shoulder and his hand stretched out toward the kneeling woman, representing Jesus.
It is also stated that this same woman gave the handkerchief to wipe the face of Jesus as He carried the Cross up to Calvary.
This message was taken from the book: “Great Women of the Bible, New Testament.”
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