Mark 5:24-34
THE STRANGE CASE OF THE BLOODY WOMAN
Intro: If you have ever been to the doctor, then you have seen him make
notes in your folder. He is making a record of your symptoms, your
diagnosis and your treatment so that he, or any other physician, might be
able to see what treatment you have already had. A good doctor will keep
a case file on every single person he treats in his practice. These files are
supposed to be kept confidential and secret. The doctor isn't supposed to
talk about you or your condition with anyone else. Without doubt there are
some interesting things in a doctor's files. I ma sure that most doctor
encounter many strange cases as they treat people day by day.
Today, I want to open the case files of a Physician Who kept good and
accurate records of the cases He treated. However, He does not hide the
facts surrounding any of His cases from the view of anyone. In fact, He has
written the records of His cases in the most popular book of all time: The
Bible. During the course of His ministry, Jesus encountered many strange
cases. He was able to overcome them all by His power and because He is
God. One of His strangest cases is recorded for us in the verses we have
read today. In this case, Jesus the Great Physician doesn't touch the
patient. He doesn't prescribe any medicines. He doesn't even make a
diagnosis, but His patient is cured nonetheless.
These verses tell a tale of a sick, burdened woman who is healed by the
power of the Lord Jesus. She paints a picture for us of what happens when
any sin sick individual meets the Great Physician. Let's take some time
today to look into The Strange Case Of The Bloody Woman.
I. V. 24-26 THE CONDITION OF HER HEALTH
A. The Diagnosis - The Bible says that she has "an issue of blood".
This means that she is hemorrhaging from some place in her body.
What ever the source of her bleeding was, it was a condition that
literally ruined her life. Under the Law, Lev. 15:19; 25-27, this
woman was to be considered unclean. Anything or anyone that she
touched was also considered unclean. As a result, she could not
mingle with people in public, lest she cause them to be defiled. She
could not go to the Women's Court of the Temple, because she was
unclean. She could not be married, because she would defile her
husband. If she had ever been married, her husband would have
been forced to divorce her. She could not work around others
because of the danger of defilement. This reduced her to a life of
begging scraps of food from a distant. Her condition left her on the
fringes of society.
B. The Duration - She had been plagued with this condition for 12
years. Given the life span of the average person in that day, her
condition had probably begun just after puberty. Therefore, for most
or all of her adult life she had been in this sad shape.
C. The Discomfort - We are told that she had tried all the remedies of
all the physicians of her day. We are told that she "suffered" under
their care. (Ill. "Rabbi Jochanan says: "Take of gum Alexandria, of
alum, and of crocus hortensis, the weight of a zuzee each; let them
be bruised together, and given in wine to the woman that hath an
issue of blood. But if this fail, "Take of Persian onions nine logs, boil
them in wine, and give it to her to drink: and say, Arise from thy flux.
But should this fail, "Set her in a place where two ways meet, and let
her hold a cup of wine in her hand; and let somebody come behind
and affright her, and say, Arise from thy flux. But should this do no
good, "Take a handful of cummin and a handful of crocus, and a
handful of faenu-greek; let these be boiled, and given her to drink,
and say, Arise from thy flux. But should this also fail, "Dig seven
trenches, and burn in them some cuttings of vines not yet
circumcised (vines not four years old); and let her take in her hand
a cup of wine, and let her be led from this trench and set down over
that, and let her be removed from that, and set down over another:
and in each removal say unto her, Arise from thy flux.")
D. The Damage - She had spent all of her money seeking a cure, and
had nothing left even to sustain her meager existence.
E. The Danger - Despite all her efforts and those of her doctors, her
condition just continued to deteriorate. For all practical purposes,
she was headed for death. Her life was literally draining out of her
body day by day. (Ill. Lev. 17:11)
(Note: This woman paints a clear picture of every person who does not
know Jesus Christ as Savior. You see, the lost person is also defiled by
a blood disease. He inherited this disease from Adam, Rom. 5:12. This
is a condition that has plagued the lost person since he or she entered
this world, Rom. 3:10; 23; Gal. 3:22. It is a condition made no better
despite all the efforts of the sinner. You see, many lost people spend
their youth and even their entire lives searching for meaning and help for
their condition, but instead of getting better they only get worse; they
only get harder in their hearts and more deeply rooted in their sins. All
the efforts at self-improvement and religion will not help your condition!
This poor woman was in a sad shape, but she wasn't even close to
being as bad off as that person who is not saved by grace. She was
headed to the grave, they are headed to Hell, Psa. 9:17; Rom. 6:23.)
II. V. 27-29 THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HER HEALING
A. Involved Facts - This woman had heard of Jesus somewhere. I
wonder who told her? Perhaps it was someone else who had been
healed by touching His garments, Luke 6:19. However it happened,
somewhere she had heard about his man named Jesus.
B. Involved Faith - She believed that merely touching His garments
would make all the difference for her. Contrast her faith with the of
Jairus. He believed that Jesus could come and heal his daughter by
His touch. This woman believed that she would be healed just by
touching Him. Both exhibited great faith, her's was a bit deeper.
C. Involved Fortitude - She demonstrated great courage by
approaching Jesus in that crowd. As she elbowed her way through
the people, she was causing ceremonial defilement for everyone she
touched. She was taking a great risk ,for if she had been recognized,
she would have been subjected to public humiliation and ridicule and
possible retribution. A crowd like that might have gotten worked up
and stoned her to death. For her, it was a risk worth taking. She
knew what Jesus would do for her if she could just get to Him!
D. Involved Fulfillment - When she was near enough to Him, she
reached out a trembling hand and touched His garment. The word
"touched" means "to cling to or to adhere to". In other words, she
held onto Him until she got what she came after! Then, immediately,
she received what none of the doctors or their costly and painful
remedies could give her; she experienced healing! Instantly, she felt
the change in her body. She knew things would be different from
there on out.
(Note: Just as this woman touched the hem of His garment and was
instantly healed, all those who come to Him in faith find healing for their
souls. The process usually begins when a sinner hears about Jesus.
Perhaps they hear about Him from someone who has been saved by
grace. Perhaps they witness the transformation in the lives around
them, (Ill. The Brazen Serpent - Num. 21 - It was easy to see that a look
of faith had accomplished!). Perhaps they read the message in the
Word of God, Rom. 10:17. However, it occurred, they heard of the One
Who could heal the disease of their soul and give them a new life. Once
the facts have been heard and understood, then faith is activated. Faith
that instinctively knows that if it can get to Jesus, He will make all the
difference. This faith is joined by the courage to get to Him. Once faith
had determined to get to Jesus, nothing can stop it short of reaching its
goal (Ill. Man in Mexico!). Nothing, not the ridicule of sinners, not the
demands of the Savior, not the power of sin can stop the one who has
determined to get to Jesus Christ! When that faith touches Him, a
miracle takes place! The sinner is instantly and completely delivered
from his sins, his past and his punishment. Something powerful
happens at that moment and the sinner becomes a heaven born child
of God, John 3:3!)
(Note: What brings this to pass? Two things: grace and faith! As this
woman walked through those years of suffering, every step she took
was along a path of grace that was leading her steadily closer to her
encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. When she arrived at the
intersection where their paths met, she was given the faith to believe
and to receive from His hand the healing she desperately needed! Such
is how salvation works!
As we travel the pathway of life, we are brought into contact with
Jesus through the grace of God. When we are at that crossroads, the
simple exercise of faith in Him brings salvation to the lost soul, Eph. 2:8-9. Some of you are at that crossroads today! Now is the time to
exercise faith in Him so you can be saved from the disease of sin that
is slowing killing you and dragging you to Hell!)
III. V. 30-34 THE COMPASSION OF HER HEALER
A. V. 30-31 His Reaction - As soon as this woman touches Him, Jesus
knows what has happened. Just for the record, He knew about it
before it happened! But, He knows that "virtue" has gone out of
Him. This is a word that means "power". We get our modern words
"dynamite" and "dynamic" from it. Jesus knows what has
happened and He asks the question in verse 30, "Who touched My
clothes?" Of course, there were dozens of people touching Him
and bumping into Him that day, a fact pointed out by the disciples, v. 31, but her touch was different, it was a touch accompanied by
faith.
B. V. 32-33 Her Reply - Jesus got the response from her He had
wanted and anticipated. She came before Him, and bowed at His
feet and confessed everything to Him. This was a public
acknowledgment of what had happened in her heart. She was
different and she wasn't ashamed to tell others about it!
C. V. 34 His Response - When He acknowledged her testimony,
Jesus spoke words fo great comfort to her heart that day.
1. A Word Of Confirmation - His words confirmed what she
already knew had happened! Notice that He calls her
"daughter". This signifies that fact that they are in a different
relationship now. You see, she got more than physical healing
that day. Her faith brought her into a soul saving relationship
with Jesus Christ. The word "whole" is the same word
translated "saved" throughout the New Testament. It means "to
be rescued from all harm and danger. To be kept safe and
sound". Yes, she got a whole lot more than she bargained for
that day!
2. A Word Of Compassion - He tells her to "go in peace". His
words let her know that she has done the right thing in coming
to Him and touching Him. Any other man in that crowd would
have been offended and angered had this diseased woman
intentionally touched him, but not Jesus! He was not afraid of
ceremonial defilement, it could not touch Him! All He knew was
that a woman in trouble had exercised a grain of faith the size of
a mustard seed, and He only cared for her healing! You will also
notice that Jesus did not ask for money for His services. What
He did He did freely out of love and grace!
3. A Word Of Completion - She had already been healed and she
knew it, but these final words of Jesus drive home the fact that
she was finally and fully free from her plague. She was healed
and life would never be the same ever again! Her battle with this
dread disease was forever finished! She had received a brand
new life from the hand of the Master.
(Note: Again, we can see a parallel between what happened in this
woman's life and what happens to that person who comes to Jesus for
salvation. When we are converted from sin by His power, He wants us
to acknowledge this before Him and before our fellow man, Psa. 107:2.
True faith will not be ashamed to say to the world, "I was once lost in
sin, but now I have been delivered from the power of God. The
Lord has saved my soul and changed my life!" No, the truly
redeemed one is not ashamed of Him, Rom. 10:11.
Just like this woman, all those who come to Jesus get far more than
they ever bargained for. Many come to Him because they are afraid of
Hell. They will come to Jesus Christ to get deliverance from the penalty
of sin and from the wrath of God, John 3:18; 36. But, when that person
exercises faith in Jesus and is saved, they discover they got far more
than just a fire insurance policy.
They discover that they are now children of God, 1 John 3:1-2.
They discover that they are promised a home in Heaven, John 14:1-3.
They discover that they are heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus, Rom. 8:17. They discover that the direction and desires of life have all
changed, 2 Cor. 5:17. They discover that they are free from the power
of sin to control and dominate them, Rom. 6:14. They discover that they
are no longer God's enemies, Rom. 8:7, but that they have been
reconciled to Him, Eph. 2:12-19. They discover that all of this took
place "by grace through faith", that it didn't cost them a dime, Isa.
55:1; Rev. 22:17. They soon discover that their battle with the wages
of sin has forever ended, Col. 2:13-14. They soon discover that they
have been fully and finally forgiven of every sin and transgression, Psa.
103:12; Isa. 38:`7; Isa. 43:45; Jer. 50:20; Micah 7:19; 1 John 1:7!
The believer has every confirmation from the Word of God and from
the circumstances of life to ensure them that they have done the right
thing in trusting Jesus for their soul's salvation. Now, the redeemed soul
can sing "Amazing Grace"; "It Is Well With My Soul" and "Love Lifted
Me" with power, peace and conviction!)
Conc: Our world is filled with people like this sick woman. They may have
their physical afflictions, but their real disease is a disease of the soul and
of the heart. All they need for their healing is to get to Jesus. If you will
come to Him today, He will heal the problem in your soul and He will give
you a new life in Him. Friend, I don't know where you are in your journey,
but I do know that the path of grace has brought you to a crossroads today.
I plead with you to do as this woman did. Let nothing hinder you from
coming to Jesus for your soul's salvation right now!
