The Woman with the Issue of Blood ~ Woman of the Week

I wrote at the beginning of the year that I would study a different woman each week, but I wasn't going to plan which woman until that week arrived.  Once again, God amazed me that He led me to study a woman in need of healing when I've been praying daily this week for Pastor McGriffin's healing.


Verses:  Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, Luke 8:43-48

I read multiple commentaries on all three passages and have done my best to combine the thoughts here. 

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings
We know absolutely nothing of this woman's background.  We don't even know her name, but three of the four gospel writers told her story!

What is she most known for? Victories? Defeats? How can I be like her? How can I avoid being like her?
The first thing we learn about this woman is her disease.  Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible explains it this way: 

"A disease, which was not only weakening and wasting, and under which the body must needs languish; but which also rendered her ceremonially unclean, and shut her out from the courts of the Lord's house; but it did not cut her off from approaching to Christ. Her case was such as she could not in modesty tell him publicly, as others did their grievances, and therefore a private cure was what she wished for, and her faith was suited to her case."

The setting for this story is the seaside of Capernaum.  Jesus was teaching on the seaside, then took a ship to the country of the Gadarenes.  While in the ship a storm hits and Jesus calms it, speaking "Peace, be still." (Mark 4:39)  Jesus then meets the man with the legion of devils and casts the devils out.  The whole multitude asked Jesus to depart because they were afraid, so Jesus and His disciples return to the other side (all in the same day!) and "the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him." (Luke 8:39)  "The abundant teaching of that day had only whetted the people’s appetite; and disappointed, as would seem, that He had left them in the evening to cross the lake, they remain hanging about the beach, having got a hint, probably through some of His disciples, that He would be back the same evening. Perhaps they witnessed at a distance the sudden calming of the tempest. Here at least they are, watching for His return, and welcoming Him to the shore. The tide of His popularity was now fast rising." (A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown {JFB})

I have to believe this woman was in the crowd who heard Jesus teach.  She watched Him get in the boat and head to the other side.  Matthew 8:16-18 says, "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.  Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side."  She saw Him heal others, but had been too afraid to approach Him.  Then she watched him leave, her hopes leaving with Him...

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?

She must have given herself quite a talking to when she saw Jesus return!  She was getting a second chance!  This time she pushed her way through the crowd, not caring who she touched, only knowing "If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole."  Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible said, "In the crowd that pressed upon him. This was done to avoid being noticed. It was an act of faith. She was full of confidence that Jesus was able to heal, but she trembled on account of her conscious unworthiness."

"According to the ceremonial law, the touch of anyone having the disease which this woman had would have defiled the person touched. Some think that the recollection of this may account for her stealthily approaching Him in the crowd behind, and touching but the hem of His garment. But there was an instinct in the faith which brought her to Jesus, which taught her, that if that touch could set her free from the defiling disease itself, it was impossible to communicate defilement to Him, and that this wondrous Healer must be above such laws." (JFB)

She wasn't disappointed that day, she "came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched." (Luke 8:44)  Her healing came immediately!  

This didn't happen without Jesus noticing.  "The multitude “thronged” and pressed Him - “they jostled against Him,” but all involuntarily; they were merely carried along; but one, one only - “Somebody TOUCHED” HIM, with the conscious, voluntary, dependent touch of faith, reaching forth its hands expressly to have contact with Him. This and this only Jesus acknowledges and seeks out."  (JFB)

"Though healed as soon as she believed, it seemed to her a stolen cure - she feared to acknowledge it. Jesus therefore sets His royal seal upon it. But what a glorious dismissal from the lips of Him who is “our Peace” is that, 'Go in peace!' " (JFB)  All three accounts tell us what Jesus said, "Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole."  (Matthew 9:22)  "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague."  (Mark 5:34) "Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace." (Luke 8:48)

An old song tells her story and reminds us that it is His touch that matters.

Touching Jesus

A woman tried many physicians,
Yet grew worse, so to Jesus she came.
But, as the crowd tried to restrain her,
She whispered these words through her pain.

Chorus:
Touching Jesus is all that really matters,
Then your life will never be the same.
There is only one way to touch Him,
Just believe when you call on His name.