Mark 5:24-3424And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. 25And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 31And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. (Mark 5:24‑34).
“And Jesus went with him; and much people followed Him, and thronged Him. And a certain woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched His garment. For she said, If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press, and said, Who touched My clothes? And His disciples said unto Him, Thou seest the multitude thronging Thee, and sagest Thou, Who touched Me? And He looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him all the truth. And He said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”
THERE was remarkable simplicity in the ways of Jesus. His words, also, were full of deep doctrine; and the more we meditate on them, under the teaching of the Holy Ghost, the more we shall be convinced of the profound truth often embodied in them.
His heart was always as full of grace when He walked up and down this earth doing good, as when He died upon the cross; and oh! how blessed it is to trace Him in the various incidents recorded in the gospels, and to contemplate the exceeding rich and abundant grace that He manifested! It is wonderful that Christ, "the only begotten of the Father," should ever have been seen in this world of sin, except in fiery judgment; but to find Him leaving the heights of glory and bliss, to come into this evil world to save sinners, is surpassingly wonderful.
In the narrative before us there are two points, which I desire, as the Lord may graciously help, to make a few remarks upon. 1. The work of the Spirit in the soul of the woman; and 2. The way of Christ with this sinner.
1. THE SPIRIT'S WORK IN THE WOMAN. When the Holy Ghost takes a soul in hand, He teaches effectually. He uncovers the filthy rags of self-righteousness, exposes the rotten patches of self-reformation, and gives us a true knowledge of our state before God. He is " the Spirit of Truth (John 16:1313Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. (John 16:13)). He convinces of sin. He lays bare the heart by so applying the written Word as to show its desperate wickedness in the light of God's holy presence. He fastens upon the conscience the vile workings, unclean thoughts, desires, and intents of the heart.
This woman not only felt that she had a disease, but that it was incurable; that no earthly resource, no human means, could heal her. She had long tried various expedients, and knew what it was to "suffer many things," until she had “spent all her living"; but the end proved that" she was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse.”
Thus all help failed, all hope was gone. She felt that her condition was hopeless, helpless, and incurably bad. It is a striking picture of the Spirit's work in the soul, though a humbling and painful process for the proud heart of man to pass through.
It appears from the Scripture record, that this woman, in her sad condition, heard of One who could cure her. "She had heard of Jesus"; she had heard that He could do what men could not do.
What blessed intelligence for a poor disconsolate soul! How welcome were the tidings! She felt her plague; she had proved the failing of every human prescription; she had "spent all,” and was worse than ever.
Now, how did she treat the report? Did she hear, and not act?
No. She came to Jesus.
Oh, yes; the Spirit of God leads the soul' straight to Jesus. He reveals to the sin-stricken soul Jesus crucified as a present and an eternal' salvation. The woman was thoroughly convinced that Jesus, and Jesus only, could heal her.
Her faith beheld, Him in the midst of the vast crowd, like an overflowing fountain of living water, and she felt she must drink or die. She said within herself, “If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole.”
She was sure there was virtue in Jesus, and that it flowed freely to the touch of faith, and have it she must. Her necessity was most urgent and imperative. Neither the press of people, nor anything else, could hinder her making her way through the crowd, till she touched His garment, and had the healing virtue. She knew Christ as the giver, and she came simply as a needy receiver; she touched His garment.
How blessed is this sample of faith! What discrimination was wrought in her soul, by the Spirit of God, between crowding around Jesus, and the touch of faith! Now, mark the result. She felt that she was healed of that plague.
2. CONSIDER THE WAY OF JESUS WITH THIS SINNER. It was a serious moment with the woman, as well as precious occasion for outflowing of the love of Him who was "full of grace and truth." Jesus was on His way to the ruler's house, whose daughter was said to be "at the point of death.”
But the case of this one needy woman was such a weighty matter that Jesus called the attention of the whole multitude to it. She came behind Him to touch His clothes; but with what gracious majesty did the blessed Lord turn Himself about in the press, and say, "Who touched Me?”
It is blessed to contemplate these ways of the Lord. A sinner had proved the healing virtue of Jesus, and the attention of the whole crowd must be arrested, and the urgent journey must be interrupted for the moment, while the heart of this trembling one is established and comforted, and her Christ-glorifying testimony published. "Who touched My clothes?" said the tender-hearted Jesus.
Thus the believing sinner was singled out from among the thousands; for, her soul must be farther taught the deep and everlasting intimacy with the Son of God which she had by faith been brought into. She must be made to feel that her place is not now to be behind the Lord, but to stand before Him in perfect confidence and unclouded affection.
Ah, my reader, when Jesus is made known, in the healing virtue of His blood, to any sin-sick soul, an eternal intimacy is begun; and Jesus will show, as did this woman, something of the dignity and blessing that His own grace has brought us into. He will make us know the things that are freely given to us of God (1 Cor. 2:1212Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (1 Corinthians 2:12)).
The needy woman had secretly come behind Jesus; but He will have her now stand publicly before Him. There must be dealing with Jesus, and learning the lessons of His healing grace in secret, before any can truly confess Him before man. Jesus fumed Himself about in the press; His voice was heard by her; His loving eye singled her out among the crowd of thousands, and the mi am an fell down before Him, and with a grateful heart told Him all the truth " before all the people " (Luke 8:4747And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. (Luke 8:47)). With fear and trembling, I grant, as we all feel when we first leave the long-accustomed ranks of unbelief, and openly plant our feet beneath the earth-despised shelter of Immanuel's grace.
But notice another thing. Jesus holds up before the multitude the faith of this one woman who had so honored Him. He receives her worship, confesses His acceptance of her and proclaims the new and everlasting relationship subsisting between them. Jesus calls her "Daughter.”
Christian reader, do you know your sonship? It is not a mere honorary title, like many distinctions of this world, but a new and eternal relationship into which God in Christ has brought us. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God!" (1 John 3:11Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1 John 3:1)). Yes; believers in Christ Jesus are sons by choice, by regeneration, and by adoption.
Jesus also told the woman that she was made whole, and that it was by faith: "Thy faith hath made thee whole." She had confessed the Lord "before all the people"; but that had not made her whole.
It is important to see that it is not our tears, our sorrows, our reformations, or efforts of any kind that make us whole. No; it is Christ, and Christ alone. Scripture always directs us to the blood of Christ for peace, and it also assures us that "whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." (Acts 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)).
Jesus had made this woman whole. Virtue had gone out of Him. Jesus assured her that the healing was perfect; she was made whole. Yes; Jesus is "the Rock," and "His work is perfect." He receives returning, sinful prodigals. He, cleanses and justifies them by His blood, sends His Spirit into their hearts, and assures them they shall not come into condemnation, but that they have passed from death unto life (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)).
The last words of Jesus to the woman are very emphatic: "Go in peace.”
The first is a remarkable word "Go." I often think of it. Some persons never seem to learn its force in their experience. They may be sincere believers, but they are always hanging about Christ with doubts, not knowing forgiveness of sins and present peace; they are constantly asking to he made whole, hoping to be pardoned, etc., when Christ says to them, You are forgiven:
“Go." They do not credit the glorious truth of present forgiveness and liberty of sonship; they are, therefore, in bondage and fear.
Jesus would have it otherwise. He says, “Thy faith hath SAVED thee; go in peace I “As much as to say, Have no more doubts, fears, or misgivings; you are made whole, pardoned, reconciled, a child of God, a sinner saved. “Go in peace.”
“Lord, while our souls in faith repose
Upon Thy precious blood,
Peace, like an even river flows,
And mercy like a flood.
“But boundless joy shall fill our hearts,
When, gazing on Thy face,
We fully see what faith imparts,
And glory crowns Thy grace.”