Mark 5:24b-29 - A Healing in the Crowd

Mark 5:24b-29
24 and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him.
25 A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, 26 and had 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— 27 after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. 28 For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.” 29 Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

Message: A Healing in the Crowd

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Jairus has just presented himself before Jesus amidst a huge crowd and asked Jesus to come as his daughter is dying. Jesus is becoming much more popular. After having been in Gederanes with the demon possessed man, he returns to Capernaum where he will reside with the people. Capernaum was a fishing village with a population of 1500, much larger than Nazareth that probably had 400 people.

As Jesus goes to see the daughter of Jairus, a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him. Again, we see Jesus' popularity as the crowd goes with Jesus. A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years was present. She was in continual menstruation. Under the old covenant, women were unclean during menstruation. In an unclean state, people are not able to assemble with the community or be in the sanctuary with people. Thus, this woman is alone most of the time or only able to be with others that are also unclean.

She had 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. It was her desire to be well. She was suffering much. She was wanting out of her situation and had spent all of her money getting relief, but in the end it just got worse. Not being well takes a toll on you. My wife has spent the last 45 days in a state of not being well. From flu-like symptoms to having MRSA appear and continue and then to also have an infection near her uterus, she has been suffering and weak and in a state of discomfort. Now, as she is getting better a new germ appears, a cold with sneezing and stuffy nose. It is back and she is miserable again. She is tired of the discomfort and misery that envelopes her. She just wants to see it end. She has gone to many doctors and yet she still has no relief. Sickness takes a toll on you. It is hard to be upbeat and not just linger in a state of misery. This woman was probably feeling this and this is something we all feel at certain times. Some spend much of their lives in this state.

But, after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.” Is this not one of the most remarkable testimonies of the confidence and faith that this woman has in Jesus? I think it is incredible. Just a touch of His garment is all that she is looking for. It is not to see him or speak to him, but just to touch his cloak. Wow. That is incredible faith. I feel like too often I'm waiting for Jesus to do something radical in my life before I have that kind of faith in Him. Isn't this what many people do? They want Jesus to something amazing first and then they will say they believe in Him. But, this woman instead knows with confidence that He is who He said and so all that she wants is to touch his outer garment.

Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Her faith made her well. She was healed.

Promise: This is amazing faith and faith that I want to have in Jesus. Jesus cleaned this unclean woman. The law could not do it, only Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, you are the great and wonderful One. Deepen my faith and confidence in You. Lord, I want to have the kind of faith as this woman in the crowd of you. Too often, I am not this way, waiting for you first to show up some way in my life before I say I believe. Lord, too often I feel like I have textbook knowledge of you and not active faith in the day to day of who You are and what you can do in my life. Change me God.