You may know the story of ‘The Women with an Issue of Blood’. Out of this story, found in Luke 8, Mark 5 and Matthew 9 have come powerful sermons on healing, faith, touching the hem of His garment, etc. This week a visiting speaker made reference to her and my mind was drawn back into this interesting story.
After looking at this story again a few things came to mind:
#1 – this woman was a survivor. I mean, hemorrhaging for 12 years … wow.
#2 – in addition to staying alive she had to cope with being pitied and being served (receiving charity from neighbors & friends)
#3 - she had to deal with being studied by the physicians of her day. No doubt, there were lots of questions and tests of sorts; none of which provided relief. The reference in Mark 5 reads “… endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse”
I’m sure that after so many years she simply adjusted physically, mentally and spiritually to her condition. Likely, at some point she’d thought, “this is my lot in life, I’ll just do the best I can with the hand I’ve been dealt.” I know, personally, the dangerous slope of resignation that can happen in a mind. Perhaps, you also are familiar with what it means to become 'resigned' to a situation, condition or circumstance.
There are many ‘golden nuggets’ in this story but one thing stands out to me today. How ever and from whomever this woman heard about Jesus Christ - the testimony must have been tremendous! In spite of being pitiful, sick and resigned she undertook a journey, which was difficult for her, to reach Him. The news she’d heard of this Healer had certainly been amazing. She chose to take ahold once again of hope! She could have chosen to remain in her house, safe, in familiar surroundings but that would have meant staying the same. So, instead she went out into the crowd. She risked being knocked down, stepped on, and pushed aside. She pressed through animals, baggage and insults that were hurled her way. She navigated through animal feces, debris littering the street, uneven paths and walkways - all to make her way to Jesus.
Notice, He did not come to her, she made her way to Him. After all she'd been through one might think that the least He could do is come to her. But no, she had to make her way to Him. Are you willing to risk, press and navigate in order to reach Him? How important is change in your situation, condition or circumstance? You must make a decision to get to Jesus!
A tremendous testimony and a great desire to get to Jesus propelled this woman forward and helped facilitate her healing. This takes effort on two parts: the person sharing their testimony and the needy person moving toward Jesus. We will find ourselves in one or the other position. Let’s be willing to do both: share our testimony and to move toward Jesus.
After looking at this story again a few things came to mind:
#1 – this woman was a survivor. I mean, hemorrhaging for 12 years … wow.
#2 – in addition to staying alive she had to cope with being pitied and being served (receiving charity from neighbors & friends)
#3 - she had to deal with being studied by the physicians of her day. No doubt, there were lots of questions and tests of sorts; none of which provided relief. The reference in Mark 5 reads “… endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse”
I’m sure that after so many years she simply adjusted physically, mentally and spiritually to her condition. Likely, at some point she’d thought, “this is my lot in life, I’ll just do the best I can with the hand I’ve been dealt.” I know, personally, the dangerous slope of resignation that can happen in a mind. Perhaps, you also are familiar with what it means to become 'resigned' to a situation, condition or circumstance.
There are many ‘golden nuggets’ in this story but one thing stands out to me today. How ever and from whomever this woman heard about Jesus Christ - the testimony must have been tremendous! In spite of being pitiful, sick and resigned she undertook a journey, which was difficult for her, to reach Him. The news she’d heard of this Healer had certainly been amazing. She chose to take ahold once again of hope! She could have chosen to remain in her house, safe, in familiar surroundings but that would have meant staying the same. So, instead she went out into the crowd. She risked being knocked down, stepped on, and pushed aside. She pressed through animals, baggage and insults that were hurled her way. She navigated through animal feces, debris littering the street, uneven paths and walkways - all to make her way to Jesus.
Notice, He did not come to her, she made her way to Him. After all she'd been through one might think that the least He could do is come to her. But no, she had to make her way to Him. Are you willing to risk, press and navigate in order to reach Him? How important is change in your situation, condition or circumstance? You must make a decision to get to Jesus!
A tremendous testimony and a great desire to get to Jesus propelled this woman forward and helped facilitate her healing. This takes effort on two parts: the person sharing their testimony and the needy person moving toward Jesus. We will find ourselves in one or the other position. Let’s be willing to do both: share our testimony and to move toward Jesus.
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