“The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.”
— Psalm 116:5
A Cure for the Woman in the Crowd
Imagine not being able to be with your family or friends because you’re considered unclean. You’re an outcast. Not because of anything you’ve done, but because of an inner wound you have no control over. That’s what life was like for the woman who was “subject to bleeding,” also called the “woman in the crowd.”
This woman had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. No doctor could heal her. Any attempts to cure her only made the problem worse. She must have been anemic and weak. And according to Jewish law at the time, she was ceremonially unclean, which meant everyone avoided her. They believed if they touched her or anything she touched, they too would become unclean. No one wanted anything to do with her. With no money to live on, no strength to keep going, and no friends to encourage her, she was desperate for healing.
Then one day, as she hovered at the edge of a crowd at the lake, she saw Jesus. She had heard about Jesus, and she believed if she could just touch his cloak, she’d be healed. Jesus was her only hope. Ignoring her pride, fear, and embarrassment, she pressed into the crushing crowd.
Her fingers brushed the fabric of Jesus’ cloak, and in that instant, her bleeding stopped. She knew she’d been freed of her suffering. Then she slipped back into the crowd.
But Jesus turned and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
The disciples must’ve thought Jesus was joking. Peter said, “You see all these people crowded against you. Lots of people touched your clothes.”
“Someone touched me. I know power went out from me.” Jesus kept looking around. Because he was God, Jesus certainly knew who had touched him and why. Still, he wanted her to come forward and tell her story. The woman stepped out of the crowd, fell at Jesus’ feet, and told him of her illness and his healing touch.
“Daughter,” Jesus said, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace, free from your suffering.”
In Greek, the word for healed also means “saved.” Because of her faith in Jesus, he healed her from her physical illness and saved her spiritual being too.
Faith requires risk. The woman in the crowd knew that. She risked being discovered and rejected, but her faith was greater than her fear. Like her, you can humble yourself and reach out to Jesus.
More To Explore: Luke 8:43 – 48
Girl Talk: Do you trust Jesus enough to turn to him for healing — in your heart or in your body?
God Talk: “Father God, you’re a loving and caring God. Thank you for loving me. I want to show the people around me your great compassion. Please help me do that, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
From Real Girls of the Bible by Mona Hodgson