And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” Mark 5: 34, NKJV
Dear God there are some of us with health challenges to whom this message will mean a lot. Please allow us to receive the message of hope that You have for us. Amen
She started following Jesus from beside the sea where He was teaching. She reached out and tried to touch Him, but the press of the crowd did not allow her. She followed Him to the home of Levi-Matthew, but again, her efforts to touch Jesus failed. She is weak and tired. She has been very sick for the past twelve years with a flow of blood. She has spent all the money she had on the best physicians, but instead of getting better, her condition worsens.
The nature of her sickness has made her an outcast of society. According to their laws she is unclean. Every bed or chair she sits upon is declared unclean until the evening. Everyone and everything she touches is pronounced unclean. But one day she heard about a Healer who could make anybody well! Hallelujah! She would soon learn that when all seems lost, that Someone knows everything about us, and cares.
Jesus is on His way to Jairus’ home to heal his daughter. But He is aware of this woman’s situation. He sees her need. He has seen her efforts. He knows that she is on the verge of giving up. She is too weak to get to the Savior but He will put Himself where she can touch Him. Blessed Redeemer! Compassionate and loving Lord!
The Savior is walking in close proximity to her now. She realizes that it is now or never! With every ounce of faith that she possesses, with her last drop of strength, she reaches out and lays hold upon His garment! Immediately, she recognizes that she has been healed! She never thought she would ever feel this way again! Now she must remove herself before anyone notices. You see, she has learned to accept being a non-person. Banished from society because of her uncleanness, she knows how to be neither seen nor heard. But all of this is about to change!
Jesus turns to the crowd and asks: “Who touched Me?” In response to Peter’s objection to His question, Jesus insists, “Somebody touched Me.” No one is a nobody in Jesus’ presence! Everybody is somebody! Jesus is ensuring several things: the superstitious belief that there was power in Jesus’ garment must not be harbored. It was her faith in the Savior that had brought about her healing. God must receive the glory, and she must leave the Savior’s presence a whole person. Another meaning of the word used for peace in this verse is harmony. In other words, “Go in harmony.” Health results from the harmonious blending of body, mind, and spirit. She must walk away with the assurance that she is seen, heard, and felt. So in the presence of everyone she bears testimony to the glory of God. God is glorified and she is restored to her personhood. She can now go in peace; she has been made whole! And He will do the same for you and me.