Touching the Hem of His Garment

Mark 5:25-34

New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁵ A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. ²⁶ She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse.

What was her issue?

She had a physical manifestation of what the enemy wants to do to husbands, wives and families all around the world:  To drain the life blood out of us spiritually so that our descendants will be left open for him to reign havoc on their lives. That's a pretty strong opening statement, I know, but its true nonetheless.

Because of Jewish law, no matter what the source of her bleeding was; no one could touch her – for any reason – or they too would be considered “unclean.”

Though I can understand the pain and desolation that her illness could bring, I can not fathom is the pain that she went through because of the place and time that she lived in.

*A Mother has a natural desire to show love to her children.  As they get older, she still desires to give an affectionate hug, even to touch their hand or shoulder to encourage or console. – She could not.

*She had to live with the humiliation that no one could touch her, Ever.  So that meant everyone around her knew of the issue to protect them, but that came with shame and isolation for her.  Not ever measuring up.

* She had to live in a home with a man whom she could never satisfy his needs, and which back then was a huge part of how they viewed her worth.  Even if by chance her husband was kind and supportive, Affection could not be given or received.  She would always be less than and always have less than.  Everyone knew that too.

But there was something inside of her that must be inside of us.

*She believed that God would cause something to change her situation; something would present itself….. so she kept trying, kept believing – She had Faith.

* She let the issue make her stronger instead of taking her under.  Because of the Jewish Traditions, Celebrations and Scriptures, she knew that God had performed miracles in the past.  She chose to draw strength from these truths, and she was determined that one day she was going to be the Mother and wife that she knew she could be.  (Her faith kept her Determination alive)

*She had a Relationship with God  Because through all of the pain that happened to her, all of the isolation, fear, depression- she kept on believing and didn’t let those things change her, not letting those thought processes become who she was.

* When she heard that Jesus was coming by, she was desperate enough to face the ridicule and even punishment for daring to be in the crowd and yet still daring to reach Jesus.

Despite the truth of what could happen to her; her faith cued her spirit that now was the time to act.  She pressed through the crowd.  She was hungry and thirsty for a change in her life.  (The Faith she had inside of her fed this)

When she ventured out afraid but bravely through the crowd, the people were like the world is today with a superstar; everyone was pushing in while the disciples tried to keep them at bay.  

When she lunged forward, it might have looked like she might not even reach him; but her hand touched the hem of HIS garment….

²⁷ She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. ²⁸ For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” ²⁹ Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition.

³⁰ Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?”

³¹ His disciples said to him, “Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”

³² But he kept on looking around to see who had done it. ³³ Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of him and told him what she had done. 

³⁴ And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.”

When she had nothing but her Faith, she risked it all to reach out and touch the hem of His garment, and suddenly her life was changed.  and He will do the same for us.  Whatever your need or your "issue" is, step out and believe in Jesus and His finished work of the cross.  The Bible says that when we come to Him is Faith Believing, He is faithful to answer.  Abba  is waiting on you.  Dare to believe Him and see what He will do for you.

Blessings to you Friend,
Have a Great Day!