The Woman Who Told the Whole Truth

Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, summoned Jesus to come to his home and heal his twelve-year-old daughter (Mark 5:22-23). As Jesus was making His way to Jairus' home, He sensed a surge of power go out of Him (v. 30a). But before we continue, let me set the stage for this miracle by describing the very painful ailment of this woman.

"Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years" (v. 25). This is something that I know very little about. It involves the monthly cycle of a woman's menstrual period. In the case of this woman, her monthly flow of blood would not stop, but continually flowed in her "for twelve years" (v. 25). It was extremely painful, and also quite embarrassing. She had been ostracized by society and treated much the same as a leper. She had seen multiple physicians, "spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse" (v. 26).

"When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, 'If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well'" (vv. 27-28). She believed in Jesus. She believed all she had heard and had faith in Him. "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well" (v. 28).

"Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction" (v. 29). She was trying to be very stealth-like so as not to be noticed, but of course, Jesus knew what had happened: "And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, 'Who touched My clothes?' But His disciples said to Him, 'You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, "Who touched Me?"'" (vv. 30-31).

Then Jesus "looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth" (vv. 32-33). And how did Jesus respond? "He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction'" (v. 34).

Jesus recognized her faith, her great faith, and He confirmed her healing. If we believe in Jesus and have faith in Him, even a little faith, we can come to Him and be healed. Even if we are not healed, many were in the throng of people crowding around Him and even touching Him, yet they were not healed; still we know that Jesus will give us strength for the day and guide us through anything. Just trust in Jesus every day. Amen.