Women of the Bible // Bleeding Woman

As I mentioned back in this post, the story of the woman with an issue of blood in the gospels is one of my favorite stories from the Bible.  I don’t exactly know why; maybe it’s because she had a serious health issue like I once did.  I’m not sure.  But this particular miracle of Jesus’ has always touched me in a special way.

I’m sure you know the story well, but for a refresher, here is Mark’s stunning record of what happened. (You can find this story in Mark 5:25-34.)

²⁵ And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

²⁶ And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

²⁷ When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

²⁸ For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

²⁹ And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

³⁰ And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

³¹ And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

³² And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

³³ But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

³⁴ And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

One thing that really stood out to me while pondering this miracle was the evident display of Christ’s power here.  And then I chuckle.  The truth is, I’m not really writing about women in this series.  I’m writing about our Lord.  Everything in Scripture points solely to our Lord Jesus Christ and what He has done for us.

We really don’t know much about this “bleeding woman” aside from a few key facts.  We know that she had been infected for 12 years with an issue of blood and her search for help had left her in square one, both financially and physically.  She was desperate for answers and had faith that Jesus could work a miracle in her life.  Christ granted her healing.

My favorite part of this story is Jesus’s question, “Who touched me?”  I can just see the woman standing frozen there, her heart having skipped a beat.  Petrified, feeling the strength in her body and knowing that she had been healed miraculously, she flung herself down at Jesus’ feet in sheer humility.  She had been exposed.  What’s more, Jesus, the Messiah and Christ, was talking to her!

I’m going to do something different than I did with Ruth and Dorcas.  Instead of listing out key character traits from this woman, I’m going to list two key character traits we see in Christ here.

Omniscience

On first glance, it looks like Jesus was totally oblivious to the facts of the situation.  We see that he asked “Who touched me?” and then proceeded to look around.  But in reality, Jesus was very much aware.  We have seen the consistency of His character throughout the Word, and our findings confirm that Jesus absolutely knew what was going on.

“Shall not God search this out?  For he knoweth the secrets of the heart.” – Psalm 44:21

“O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.” – Psalm 139:1

“For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous…” – Psalm 1:6

“The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man…” – Psalm 24:11

“Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.”  – Psalm 147:5

We see many times in Scripture where Jesus questions people on their actions, calling them to step up and answer honestly.  In some situations, such as this one, His questions give opportunity for others to proclaim His wondrous deeds and give testimony to the power of putting faith in Him.

Jesus knew who had touched Him.  He knew why.  And He knew that she had touched Him in faith.

Omnipotence

The familiar hymn “Are You Washed in the Blood?” begins, “Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?  Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?”

It was through Jesus’s power that the bleeding woman experienced a powerful miracle.  It was because of Him shedding His blood that she could receive healing in her own blood.

Song: Are You Washed in the Blood? by the Bontrager Family Singers.

And what do we see from the bleeding woman?  We see extreme faith.  It was by faith that she saw the hand of God in her life.  By faith she touched His garment.  By faith she was healed.  In her time of desperation, her only hope was Jesus Christ.  This is a reminder to us that Jesus is the one and only answer to our desperation.  He is our only hope.

Here are some further suggestions of resources that may help your study on this passage of Scripture:

Blog post: When I Reached for Him, He Had Already Reached for Me from Truly Beautiful.

Song: Only God by Mary McDonald.

Song: By Faith by the Galkin Evangelistic Team.

*This post was supposed to be posted on Saturday.  Please excuse my forgetfulness!