A desperate woman sought help for her infirmities everywhere, but she found no success. Then one day she encountered Jesus. Following her intersection with the Great Physician, her life would never be the same. Let’s read her account one more time:
Mark 5:25-34 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
This woman was a perpetual bleeder, and because of her infirmity she must have been very anemic and weak. As a result of her daily battle, consider how cautious, sensitive, frustrated, and embarrassed she must have been. Ladies, you can understand this poor woman’s plight much more than we who are men.
In addition, according to Jewish Ceremonial Law, she was communally and ecclesiastically unclean. Her physical condition affected her fellowship and worship. It was not just this particular woman, but all who bled were deemed unclean — this was the declared will of Israel’s God.
But this lady was not a passive victim. For 12 years she had suffered much, and she never stopped striving to be cured of what ailed her. During these years, she pursued the best medical care she could find. In the process, this troubled soul spent all her resources seeking a cure. However, despite her best efforts, she found no improvement. She only became worse and worse.
However, this ceremonially unclean woman had faith.
- She had heard the truth about Jesus.
- She believed the truth she had heard about Jesus.
- She was motivated from within to trust in Jesus.
And what was the result of her faith? Christ came to her, she came near to Christ, and Christ came through. She reached out her hand in faith, touched his robe, and his saving power affected her. In an instant, everything changed in her life. She became physically, spiritually, and ceremonially clean. Isn’t that great?
However, in the process, Jesus became ceremonially unclean. According to Jewish Ceremonial Law, any man who contacted an unclean woman would himself have to go through a prescribed cleansing ritual. She became clean, and Jesus became unclean.
Why would Jesus allow such? He did so because Jesus loved this woman; he had radical affection for his “daughter.”
Friends, this is a picture of the Gospel.
Put yourself in the shoes (or dress) of this woman. Like her, you are unclean, frustrated, weak, weary, and embarrassed. And like her, you can continue to exhaust all your efforts, but you cannot help yourself. No one can help you. You are hopeless.
There is only one option — Jesus, and the good news is he has come near to help. He is very close. You cannot see him now, but he is actually in the room with you. He is the Sacrificial Lamb of God. He is the Bloody Sacrifice. He is the Great Physician. He is the Loving Lord, and he is the Friend of Sinners. He requires no work from you. He requires no partnership. He will do it all; all you must do is touch him in repentant faith. He is still near. What will you do? Do you have faith?
- You have now heard the truth about Jesus.
- You now need to believe the truth you have heard.
- You who want Jesus, trust him in prayer right now.
Instantly you will become spiritually clean. Instantly you will be received into the family of Jesus. For the rest of your life, he will give you spiritual coaching (Holy Spirit) as he aids you to look more like him. And then one day, he will bring you and all your spiritual brothers and sisters home to glory.
What are you waiting for? He will not ostracize you? He will not think unkindly of you? Has he not come for you? Is he not calling you right now? Has he not led you to this blog? Right now he is a prayer away. Look at your unclean infirmities. Look at the wasted efforts in seeking to solve your own problems. Reach out, and in prayer touch him now. Call upon the Risen Sovereign Lord to be your Savior, and he will delight in expressing his power, his cleansing, and his peace. Jesus has become unclean for sinners like you. Is today the day you will become clean like him?
Unfathomable Grace 