The Woman With the Issue of Blood
I was recently reading about the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5:25-29. I considered how horrible it must have been. She was bleeding for 12 years! She had seen many physicians and spent all of her money. It must have been embarrassing. For most women, bleeding, menstruation, all such things are private and she had had to share this with so many (at least physicians) in hope of becoming clean.
I consider what Leviticus 15 starting in verse 19 speaks about women and their blood flow. It says that everything that she lies on or sits on is unclean and if anyone even touches these things they are unclean as well. How horrible she must have felt! Unclean, probably weak, definitely desperate!
She found instant relief with just one touch. Healing that she felt instantly. Jesus knew something had just happened. "Who touched my clothes? He asked.
Verse 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
I imagine the woman was afraid Jesus would be mad. Maybe he would be disgusted at her? Maybe Jesus did not want to be touched by someone who is unclean? What if he was afraid of becoming unclean himself? What if he in his purity was disgusted at her in her impurity? I think these would be my fears if I were her.
But none of those were his reaction. He wanted her to be whole. Maybe he was glad and even proud of her for reaching out in boldness and for coming to the one who can truly make her whole.
It seems in the bible boldness pays off. I think of Mary who sat at the feet of Jesus. I heard it preached that it was not right for women to do so. She loosed her hair even if it would be seen as lewd.
The woman with the issue of blood was not "following the rules." She did not quietly sit for her uncleanliness to leave but reached out in boldness. She touched Jesus. And he made her clean. I find this beautiful. How often is it seen that dirty reaches out to clean and becomes clean? I often see my children with dirty sticky hands, every surface they touch instantly becomes dirty on contact. How often do we come across one so pure that our dirtiness disappears in the presence of his holiness? We need to reach out with boldness to him!
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
So often in my sin, in my failing, I feel dirty and unclean. I am embarassed and want to hide from God. I don't think he can understand and I don't think he is "on my side." The last place I want to go is to God because I fear his reaction and his disappointment. I fear he will recoil. Unaware, that reaching out to him, even in my own uncleanliness I will be made clean.
His presence is just where I need to boldy go for help in time of need.
I remember it being preached that we need to train ourselves to run to God right when we feel like running away from him. It is my prayer that we would all learn to do so.
I consider what Leviticus 15 starting in verse 19 speaks about women and their blood flow. It says that everything that she lies on or sits on is unclean and if anyone even touches these things they are unclean as well. How horrible she must have felt! Unclean, probably weak, definitely desperate!
She found instant relief with just one touch. Healing that she felt instantly. Jesus knew something had just happened. "Who touched my clothes? He asked.
Verse 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
But none of those were his reaction. He wanted her to be whole. Maybe he was glad and even proud of her for reaching out in boldness and for coming to the one who can truly make her whole.
It seems in the bible boldness pays off. I think of Mary who sat at the feet of Jesus. I heard it preached that it was not right for women to do so. She loosed her hair even if it would be seen as lewd.
The woman with the issue of blood was not "following the rules." She did not quietly sit for her uncleanliness to leave but reached out in boldness. She touched Jesus. And he made her clean. I find this beautiful. How often is it seen that dirty reaches out to clean and becomes clean? I often see my children with dirty sticky hands, every surface they touch instantly becomes dirty on contact. How often do we come across one so pure that our dirtiness disappears in the presence of his holiness? We need to reach out with boldness to him!
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
So often in my sin, in my failing, I feel dirty and unclean. I am embarassed and want to hide from God. I don't think he can understand and I don't think he is "on my side." The last place I want to go is to God because I fear his reaction and his disappointment. I fear he will recoil. Unaware, that reaching out to him, even in my own uncleanliness I will be made clean.
His presence is just where I need to boldy go for help in time of need.
I remember it being preached that we need to train ourselves to run to God right when we feel like running away from him. It is my prayer that we would all learn to do so.
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