Welcome to Day 14 of 20 Women in Scripture You Need to Know! I am excited about this series and hope it is an encouragement to both women and men to spend time studying the women in the Bible. We can learn much from them about how to live for the glory of God.
Bleeding Woman: Desperate Belief
Leaning against the hospital wall with tears streaming down my face, I prayed, “Lord, if there’s any other way, please, do it.” I was desperate for an answer from the Lord, for a miracle.
I imagine that’s exactly how the woman we’re considering today felt as well. Her story may be familiar to you, but it’s one that really challenges us and our faith.
Sandwiched in between the beginning and the ending of another story about healing, the woman with the issue of blood is a beautiful picture of desperation and faith.
Desperation Moved Her
While he was going, the crowds were nearly crushing him. A woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years, who had spent all she had on doctors and yet could not be healed by any,
Luke 8:42b-43 CSB
Jesus was on the way to help Jairus’ daughter. The little girl was dying and He could help her. As He moved toward her home, the crowd moved with Him.
Can you imagine all the jostling? It makes me think of being in the Metro in Paris a couple of summers ago. You couldn’t move without touching someone. Jesus was being pressed up by all sides.
And, in the crowd was a woman. While we don’t know exactly what caused the bleeding she was experiencing, we do know this — she was desperate. Her bleeding would have rendered her unclean by Jewish standards, eliminating her ability to participate fully in worship. Her bleeding had social consequences as she would have been required to keep herself separate in the community. Her bleeding had physical ramifications. No doubt she didn’t feel good. She’d been dealing with this issue for twelve years. Her body had to be depleted and exhausted.
But the biblical accounts don’t speak to any of those consequences, instead, Scripture tells us she had spent everything she had and still had not received healing. She’d been to every doctor, checked out every option she had available. She’d spent every bit of money she had and nothing had helped.
Truly, she had no options left. Except she’d heard of this man, this one who had healed the sick and cast out the demons. And He was in her town.
Faith in Action
[She] approached from behind and touched the end of his robe. Instantly her bleeding stopped.
Luke 8:44 CSB
She touched His robe. That’s all. And INSTANTLY her bleeding stopped.
Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are hemming you in and pressing against you.”
Luke 8:45-47 CSB
“Someone did touch me,” said Jesus. “I know that power has gone out from me.” When the woman saw that she was discovered, she came trembling and fell down before him. In the presence of all the people, she declared the reason she had touched him and how she was instantly healed.
Jesus knew something had happened. He knew exactly who had touched Him and why. But He wanted her to come forward. Why?
I believe it was so He could affirm her. So He could look her in the eyes and speak encouragement to her. Read what He said …
“Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Luke 8:48 CSB
Your faith has saved you.
What a beautiful word. She believed He was able. She reached out. And her faith in Him healed her. And now, she could live in peace.
While we were in the Holy Land, we visited the Magdala Center in Magdala. In the prayer room is a beautiful mural of this scene. You can’t see Jesus’ face nor the woman’s. All the image shows is her fingers on the tip of HIs robe. It’s a stunning piece of art and a beautiful reminder of His power moved by our faith.
A Lesson for Us
Have you ever felt desperate? Been on the floor begging God for answers or help? What a beautiful thing to know that in our desperation, when everything seems to be falling apart, we can reach out to the One who holds is all together.
And that our faith, even as weak as it can be, is enough to stir His heart toward us, to have His power work in us, to experience His peace over us.
Let’s remember that, shall we?
Our faith, even as weak as it can be, is enough to stir His heart toward us, to have His power work in us, and to experience His peace over us. Share on XA Prayer for Us
Lord, we come with trembling hands, reaching out for just the hem of Your robe. When we are desperate, Lord, we know You are near. When we are hopeless, in You we find hope. When we are helpless, You are our help. Give us faith to stretch our prayers to You. May we know the peace You alone can give and experience the healing that comes as we abide in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
This post is part of the 20 Women in Scripture You Need to Know series. You can find every post indexed here.
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