The Gospel of Mark: She Touched Me

In the first half of chapter five we find Jesus casting a legion of demons out of a man on the Eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The residents of the area are so frightened by such a dramatic display of divine power, that they begged the Lord to leave. Obliging the request, Jesus and his disciples crossed over again in the boat to the other side, traveling roughly 6 miles across the lake to the western shore near Capernaum. Mark tells us that when they arrived, they were greeted by a large crowd that gathered around him. This sets up the intersecting stories of the last half of the chapter.

The last half of chapter 5 focuses on two individuals out of the massive multitude who all “want a piece” of Jesus. The two central characters of this passage had little in common, other than the dire nature of their circumstances. One was a man, the other a woman; one wealthy, one poor; one respected, one rejected; one honored, one ashamed; one leading the synagogue, the other excommunicated from the synagogue; one with a 12-year-old child, the other with a 12-year-old malady. Though they had no obvious relationship to one another, and God’s perfect Providence their lives intersected that day in an unforgettable way.

Her desperation, her determination, and her deliverance.

I. HER DESPERATION

ILLUS. Henry David Thoreau wrote: ‘The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”

1. I don’t know how true that assertion is, but in the case of the woman before us, it was undoubtedly true

“And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.” (Mark 5:25–26, NIV84)

a. truly, she had been living a life of desperation

b. the passage tells us three things about this woman — she was sick, she was suffering, and she had spent all she had on cures

A. SHE WAS SICK

1. for twelve years, we’re told, she had been subject to serious hemorrhaging

a. literally, the passage reads, she had been in flow of blood

b. it was a serious condition

1) in vs. 29 the word affliction is laterally scourge and speaks of the physical, emotional and spiritual torture she was going through

2 evidently, the drain was constant

a. her condition produced a number of consequences

1) she would have been anemic and suffered a lack of energy — it would have been impossible for her ever to feel strong and healthy

2) she would have suffered embarrassment — it would have kept her from going out, and if she did go out, it would have kept her from going far

3) she would have been considered spiritually unclean — due to her condition she would have been ostracized from Jewish religious life, and a social outcast

“ ‘When a woman has a discharge of blood for many days at a time other than her monthly period or has a discharge that continues beyond her period, she will be unclean as long as she has the discharge, just as in the days of her period.” (Leviticus 15:25, NIV84)

ILLUS. The Jewish law considered a woman who had entered her menstrual cycle to be ritually unclean during that period. And anything she came in contact with — clothing, bedding, utensils and even other people — also became ritually unclean: Leviticus 15:27 "‘Likewise, whoever touches them shall be unclean and shall wash his clothes and bathe in water and be unclean until evening." NASB95 The result was that many Jewish Rabbis avoided touching women altogether, lest they become accidentally contaminated.

4) she would have been a social castaway — because she was constantly unclean according to the law, she would have been most likely divorced or still single

b. because she was ritually unclean, she shouldn’t have even been in the crowd

B. SHE HAD SUFFERED

“She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors ... , yet instead of getting better she grew worse.” (Mark 5:26, NIV84)

1. the woman had been to many, many different physicians seeking a cure for her problem

a. the results of her treatments had been anything but favorable

b. not only had she not been healed, but she had suffered greatly at the hands of her would-be healers

ILLUS. The Jewish Talmud listed eleven possible remedies for such an infirmity. These included prescriptions like carrying around the ashes of an ostrich egg in a linen rag in summer and a cotton rag in winter; or carrying around a barleycorn kernel procured from the dung of a white female donkey.

2. not only did she not get better, but were told her condition actually grew worse

a. we can only guess how disappointing and how depressing her situation must have been

C. SHE HAD SPENT ALL

“She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, ... .” (Mark 5:26, NIV84)

1. not only was she sick, and not only had she suffered at the hands of her physicians, but now she was bankrupt

a. we’re told that she had “spent all”

2. she had lost her health, her wealth, and because of the nature of her illness, also her standing in society, particularly in the religious community

a. her condition was one of desperation

b. her desperation was about to be turned into determination

II. HER DETERMINATION

A. SHE STRUGGLED THROUGH THE CROWD

“When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”” (Mark 5:27–28, NIV84)

1. given her condition, it is not surprising that she is afraid to come out into the open

a. she tells herself that this is such a great miracle worker that she doesn’t need to come into physical contact with Jesus himself

b. all she needs to do is merely touch his garment, and even then only one of the four wool tassels which every Israelite was supposed to wear on the corners of his square, outer robe

2. naturally the quickest and easiest way to bring oneself into physical contact with a garment without being noticed was to come from behind and touch the tuft swinging freely from the back of the robe

a. the wearer, so this woman thought, would never even notice what was happening

b. so, having heard the wonderful reports about Jesus, she came from behind and touched the tassel

B. SHE SOUGHT TO TOUCH THE CHRIST

1. in this verse we see her conviction

a. the greatness of this woman’s faith consisted in this, that she believed that the power of Christ to heal was so amazing that even the mere touch of his clothes would result in an instant and complete cure

1) the NIV says that she thought while the KJV and NRSV say, she said

2) the implication is that she was repeatedly telling herself, perhaps just under her breath, “If I can only touch his cloak, if I can only touch his cloak, if I can only touch his cloak.”

2. the verse also reveals her commitment

a. though the crowd was pressing in on Jesus from all sides, she wasn't going to let anything deter her, and she wasn’t going to let anybody discourage her

III. HER DELIVERANCE

1. to us her faith was by no means perfect and almost seems superstitious

a. she thought that just an actual touch of His clothing was necessary and that Jesus would never notice it

2. but he did notice it, because Jesus always rewards faith

A. SHE WAS CURED

“Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.” (Mark 5:29, NIV84)

1. literally the passage reads, “And at once dried up was the fountain of her blood.”

a. the recovery was instantaneous

1) in one brief moment the hemorrhage stopped completely

2) health and vigor began surging through every part of her body

B. SHE CONFESSED

“But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.” (Mark 5:32–33, NIV84)

1. what Jesus wants is that whoever it was that has thus meaningfully touched him shall now complete the circle

a. what circle?

1) the one indicated in the 50th Psalm

"And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." (Psalm 50:15, KJV)

2. when blessings descend from heaven, they must be returned to heaven in the form of thanksgiving by those who received them

C. SHE WAS COMFORTED AND ASSURED

“He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”” (Mark 5:34, NIV84)

1. lovingly Jesus calls her Daughter, even though she may not have been any younger than he was

a. He speaks as a father to his child

b. moreover, he praises her for her faith, even though that faith, as has been indicated, was by no means perfect

2. now she can go and continue to travel the rest of her life “in peace,”

IV. LESSONS FROM MARK 5:24-34

A. JESUS IS ACCESSIBLE

1. despite the many demands he faced in his earthly ministry, the creator walked with the people and made himself accessible to them

a. the King of creation, the Lord of hosts, and the ruler of all was not too busy to graciously care for those in need

b. the Gospels are filled with accounts of his merciful availability to individuals

2. our Lord is never to busy to be bothered

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16, NIV84)

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:19–22, NIV84)

B. HER FAITH WAS AN IMMATURE FAITH, BUT IT WAS FAITH IN THE RIGHT PERSON

1. one of the important lessons we learn from this passage are the various degrees of faith that God’s people can experience

a. Jarius came openly to Jesus, the woman cam surreptitiously to Jesus

b. the woman came to Jesus timidly, Jarius came to Jesus boldly

c. Jarius verbally implored Jesus to heal, the woman quietly hoped Jesus would heal

d. the woman hesitantly believed, Jarius confidently believed

2. the Bible has a lot to say about different levels of faith

a. Common Faith

“To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour” (Titus 1:4, KJV)

1) this is the faith of the new birth, given to all believers through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit

2) it’s faith that brings grace, mercy, and peace from God through the Lord Jesus Christ

b. Little Faith

“He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” (Matthew 8:26, NIV84)

“Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”” (Matthew 14:31, NIV84)

1) there can be times in the life of the believer when our faith falters

2) at that time we are believers of little faith — faith that puts a limitation on what the Lord can do

3) in both of these Scriptures, it’s fear that hinders one’s faith

c. Contending Faith

“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” (Jude 3, NIV84)

1) a contending faith is a faith that is able to defend itself — we know who we believe, why we believe, and what we believe — and can defend it before others

ILLUS. It’s the kind of faith we witness Paul expressing when he stands before governors and kings.

d. Strong Faith

“Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to god,” (Romans 4:20, NIV84)

ILLUS. This is Paul the Apostle using Abraham as an example of faith. Here was a man who knew the realities of life; his age and Sarah’s age made natural child birth an impossibility. But God had promised an heir, and Abraham did not waver in unbelief, but against the odds had a strong faith in God’s promises.

1) this is having faith whatever the circumstances might be

2) this is standing on the word of God when things seem impossible

e. Active Faith

“But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.” (James 2:18, NIV84)

1) this is working faith, believing and doing — the faith that gets us through the day because we know God is in charge and providentially working

f. Great Faith

“When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” (Matthew 8:10, NIV84)

ILLUS. This passage highlights the faith of the Roman Centurion. He has a servant who has become paralyzed, and is suffering. Jesus is ready to come to the Centurion’s home when the commander tells him, “No. I am not worthy of you coming under my roof. I’m a man under authority, and I understand your authority. Simply give the word. The Centurion’s faith amazed Jesus, who responds by saying “Among my own people I’ve not encountered this kind of faith.”

1) this is faith that understands the authority of God, and the power of His word

g. Growing Faith

“We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.” (2 Thessalonians 1:3, NIV84)

1) a growing faith is what God expects of all his children

C. OUR DELIVERANCE CALLS FOR CONFESSION AND TESTIMONY

ILLUS. Oswald Chambers said, “If my testimony makes anyone wish to emulate me, it is a mistaken testimony; it is not a witness to Jesus.”

Psalm 50:15 "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."

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