When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9.36
We read on Tuesday about the miracles that precede this summary statement of Matthew 9.36. One of those miracles included a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. Before we jump to the text, pause for a moment to think about the implications of bleeding for twelve years.
This woman would not be allowed in church. She would be considered “ceremonially unclean.” Anyone she touched would also be considered unclean. Twelve years of constant bleeding. Twelve years of not being touched. Twelve years of suffering.
Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. Matthew 9.20-22
Somehow this woman knew of the compassion of Jesus. Somehow she knew she wouldn’t be condemned if she touched Him. Somehow she had faith.
She touches the edge of His cloak and Jesus turns to see her. He speaks tenderly to her “take heart, daughter,” and her faith in His love heals her.
She stops bleeding. It happens right away. She’s healed. Jesus knows it and she knows it. The text says Jesus moves on and heals again. Mark 5.29 says, “Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.”
What must that moment have been like for the woman? After twelve years no more suffering. After twelve years she’s healed. She’s whole, and now ceremonially, she is holy. Twelve years. Healed, whole, and holy.
A few years ago, a group from Sanctuary traveled to tour Israel. One day was spent near the Sea of Galilee. Not too far from the Sea of Galilee is where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. It was on the shores of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus restored Simon Peter. Our tour stopped at a Magdala Chapel located in a first-century town believed to be the hometown of Mary Magdalene. In the Chapel was a life-sized painting of the “Encounter” between the woman bleeding for twelve years and Jesus.
As we walked toward the painting, tears flooded our eyes and gratitude overwhelmed our hearts. For because of Jesus we too are healed, whole, and holy.
Think about it for a moment. You are at once healed, whole, and holy, and you are learning to live in your healing, wholeness, and holiness. It doesn’t mean physical healing, although Jesus still does heal the body, mind, and soul. But you are healed. You are whole. You are holy.
The sting of death does not have the final word. Nothing can separate you from the love of God. You are perfect in His sight. What if we lived as if this truth were true?
I can only imagine the life that woman had in front of her. What did the rest of her day sound like? How would she tell the story of her healing to her neighbors? How tightly would she have hugged her family? After twelve years, no more suffering. What a Savior!
Reflection:
- What kind of faith does it take to be spiritually healed?
- What’s the single biggest difference in your ordinary life because of His extraordinary compassion toward you?
- “Your faith has healed you.” How might you fully live into this truth today?
Pray through the truth of Jude 1.24-25
To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
