Skip to main content

And a certain woman, which 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 sayest 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 Mark 5:25-34

Our story starts with a series of events that happened one after the other. They are all interconnected, but because of our restraints of time and space, we will focus on one in particular. Jesus had been teaching to the multitudes and then went over to the other side of the sea to a place called Gadara, just to meet with one man. He does that you know. He is intimately concerned with each of us, and in you in particular.

This man was mad… possessed by evil spirits and Jesus wanted to set him free. On the way a fierce storm came up out of nowhere. The devil wanted to kill them all, but Jesus had a plan and His plan always works. After casting those evil spirits out of the man, He came back to find that a crowd of people had gathered at the wharf, an influential man was waiting for Him and a special woman stopped Him in His tracks, making a demand on Him by drawing from His anointing.

This story occurs three times in the bible in Matthew 9, Mark 5 and Luke 8, which means that it is important. Often times when God want see to see something important, he repeats it. Bible students may know of a law of biblical interpretation called "the Law of Much mention”. If this story appears three times, there might be an important message we need to understand. God wants us to understand His ways, but they could be like a precious diamond that is buried in the ground. We may have to dig for it to unearth its inherent beauty as we bring it into the light.

When reading the bible, we sometimes see hidden truths available only by revelation as the Holy Spirit our teacher opens up the scriptures the way Jesus did to his disciples. He brought light to it. He often spoke in parables. People who were not close to Jesus never understood the meaning because such truths are often hidden to those who are not in covenant relationship. The truth is there, but hidden like that diamond had been hidden. Diamonds in the rough must be cut and polished to fully reveal their inner beauty.

Jesus clearly explained hidden truths to His disciples and those who drew close. This is evident in Mark chapter four.  If you look at Mark 4:1-2, Jesus taught as He often did, speaking in parables to the multitude.  Later in the chapter when He was alone with His disciples and others who cared to draw close, He explained all things (see Mark 4:11, 34 and John 15:15). Always remember that God does not hide things from us; He hides things for us!

His ministry started with a display of miracles, the first being the turning of water into wine according to John 2:11.

His ministry comprised preaching, teaching, healing the sick and the casting out of evil spirits. It was always miraculous and our ministries should follow suit, otherwise we are not following his command and example. Luke chapter three describes his baptism by John, followed by his baptism in the Holy Spirit. He never did a thing until after he received the Holy Spirit, so if it was so important for him, it should be more so for us today.

Paul said that the preaching of the Gospel should have clout, saying-
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 1 Corinthians 4:20. See also 1 Thessalonians 1:5.

We need more of this Holy Ghost power today, not religion and it was this same Holy Ghost power that caused the woman in our story to respond to Jesus.

In Luke chapter four, Jesus, full of the Holy Ghost, was led into the wilderness where he was tempted. In verse fourteen, Luke says that Jesus Returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee… and a fame of him went into the region. What made him so famous in such a short time? Something must have had such an impact on people that they would go to great extents to see him. Would you get up before dawn, or stay awake until late at night or go out into a wilderness just to listen to someone preach? Most preaching today hardly raises an eyebrow. Something grabbed hold of people and it was more than nice words and rhetoric.

When he spoke, it was as if he really did know what he was doing and the religious people admitted it.

When he came into town, crowds gathered around, because the word got out that he was not just a good teacher, but the miracle worker… the anointed one, which is what the word Christ means. Things happened when he was around. He came to the church in Nazareth and asked for the bible. The preacher gave him one and he turned to Isaiah 61, which says that the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, told everyone what it was all about (all I have just been describing) and then said, “I am this one. The prophecy is now fulfilled” and no one there got it. They did not believe him there, but wherever others did… things happened! In Capernaum, thing did happen because they believed.

They were amazed at His teaching, for His word was with authority and ability and weight and power. Luke 4:32.

The same things happened in Luke 4:36-37 and Luke said that his fame preceded him. Luke said that he laid his hands on ALL those who had any kind of disease and they were ALL healed. If you have any doubts if God will heal you… then stop thinking like that. It is certainly his will for you to be healed.

When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Mark 8:2-3.

In our story, Jesus had been to Gadara where he set a man free from evil spirits, with his word… one word, Go and the evil spirits obeyed HIs command. He then returned and on his arrival the news went out that he was in town.

When Jesus arrived, a rich and very influential man called Jairus came to Him with an urgent request. He bowed to the ground, prostrating himself at the feet of Jesus. No Jewish leader ever did that, but he realized and acknowledged who Jesus was… the Son of God and begged Him to come back to his home to heal his daughter. The girl was dying, so the need was great. Without a second thought, Jesus agreed and they both turned and began walking down the busy streets towards the man's home. All he could think of was his little girl laying on her deathbed. All he was interested in was getting Jesus to her bedside, knowing that if Jesus were there, everything would work out well.

Jesus and His disciples were walking with Him, when something that was horrific to Jews, especially Jairus, was that someone else was also in that crowd and hindered their progress.

A woman, whose name is not even mentioned in the account, pushed her way through that jostling crowd. She had but one thing on her mind and her need was just as great as the need of the man Jesus was following. She reached out and grabbed hold of Him.

Mark says that she came up from behind and touched the hem of His garment. She could not directly approach Him from the front for several reasons.

  • He was a Jew and to touch Him directly in her condition was against the Law of Moses, punishable by stoning to death. Just being out in public was sufficient cause should someone accuse her.
  • She was unclean, having an incurable ailment that was an unstoppable issue of blood coming from her body.
  • She had emotional issues such as personal shame and disgrace that she overcame by the pressing need to reach Jesus, regardless of the risk to her life.

As she held onto a special part of this Jew’s garment, she made a demand by faith on His anointing.

The instant her hand touched the tassels on His garment, that anointing started to flow into her body and instantly dried up the flow of blood.

He felt it. Turning around, He asked a pertinent question, "Who touched Me"?

That seething jostling through of the curious, the spectacle seekers, the mockers, the answer seekers, the spectators and those who also had needs were all pushing and shoving everyone, but only one person… that woman… had enough faith going for her that triggered a release of His anointing and He wanted to obtain a confession, or a testimony from her.

He knew who she was all the time and turned to look right in the eye of the woman who stopped God in His tracks. 

And when Jesus had recrossed in the boat to the other side, a great throng gathered about Him, and He was at the lakeshore. Then one of the rulers of the synagogue came up, Jairus by name; and seeing Him, he prostrated himself at His feet And begged Him earnestly, saying, My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, so that she may be healed and live. Mark 5:21-23.

We have seen that this man publicly humbled himself before Jesus. He was a rich and influential man… a leader in the community and a ruler of the synagogue. As such he was fully aware of the possible implications of his actions and request, for he bowed in public, which was something any good Jew would never do. At best, he could have been kicked out of the church. At worst, he risked his very life by bowing to another man because Torah said he should not do that.

Take note of this man’s position, action and his conversation.

  • He had a need. Do you have a need? Is there a situation or a problem in your life that you cannot handle?
  • He was desperate. Have you tried everything you can but it is still not working and reached the point of desperation?
  • He came to Jesus for the solution. Are you turning everywhere, seeking answers in all sorts of places, doing everything you can but not gone to God in his way? He had done all that, but realised that Jesus is the answer.
  • He humbled himself before Jesus. Sometimes we try to handle the situation ourselves and not realize that it could be a stubborn pride... a self-sufficiency... a self dependency that has to be dealt with. Whatever it is... Jesus Christ is Lord of it. Every knee and every tongue will eventually bow to him and confess that Jesus is indeed Lord. The devil and his followers will do so by conquest, but we do so because we want to. If you humble yourself before God, he will exalt you and answer you. He spoke the answer. The power of death or life is in our tongue.
    Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Proverbs 18:21.
  • He explained his situation.
  • He declared the solution.
  • He established a point of contact by faith giving Jesus grounds on which He could act. Jairus did not complain. He did not have a pity-party. He told Jesus his need and saw Him walking into his home to lay His hands on his daughter... and saw her well!
  • He told Jesus the truth or the facts. His daughter was sick and she was dying.
    We do not deny facts, but we deny their right to control our lives. The outcome often depends on which report we believe.
    Facts may say you are sick (that is fact), but the truth of the matter is that we are healed by Jesus' stripes. See 1 Peter 2:24.

This story happened  before Calvary and we are now possessors of the great legacy or inheritance Jesus left us. We now have the power of his name and the power of his blood and we can have the same abilities he had when we receive the Holy Spirit.
Jairus said that once Jesus laid his hands on her, she would live. It was a positive statement. It was not a hope so approach. He never said things like, "I wonder if this will work." Do not negate a thing by any semblance of doubt or unbelief.
He stated, "My daughter will be made well." This faith evoked an immediate response from Jesus. He said, "OK. Let's go" and started to follow the man. Verse 24 said that Jesus went WITH him. When you are walking by faith, God is right there beside you.

As they were walking down the street, people started to follow them. The noise carried around and people started coming to see what was happening. True to his style, Jesus would probably have paused momentarily to reach out and stroke the cheek of a little girl, grasp someone’s outreached hand, kiss a grandmother on the forehead, but He never stopped. He was on a mission. I say this, because the bible shows me that He never turned anyone away, but no one in that crowd did what this lady did.

He was following Jairus down the street towards this man’s objective, which was his home. That was the man’s point of contact. It was his vision and everything seemed to be opposing it. Obstacles kept getting in the way, slowing Jesus down and even stopped him.
"Come on! Come on!" Jairus could have been thinking. "What’s keeping you?"

Have you ever thought like that? If you have a vision and it seems that everything is getting in the way, then keep picturing Jesus in the vision there with you, just like Jairus did. He saw Jesus standing in his home at his daughter’s bedside and raising her up.

Don’t Quit! Don’t let go. Make sure that it is a godly vision and not one of your own. Keep confessing his word into your life and keep seeing the finish.

An Olympic champion trains for years for his or her one great event. Year after year that training goes on, sometimes with great pain and the need for much patience but what drives them on is Gold. They are disciplined to their sport! Discipline is sometimes like a dirty word with some Christians and the results often speak for themselves. Those athletes see that finish line ahead of them. That is their objective. The reward drives them on, but there is an appointed time for it. In this illustration, the appointed time happens once every four years for the Olympic Games.

There are appointed times and seasons in God (see Habakkuk 2:3) but you can recognize when your window of opportunity or appointed time arrives. Do not miss it. Do not arrive at the wharf only to see the ship disappearing over the horizon.

Jairus had a good attitude and so did this dear woman. She was a champion with a perseverance attitude that helped when everything was against her. She just would not quit! What was it? She was a daughter of Abraham. She was an heir of the covenant promises that God made to Abraham and his seed and they are our promises as well. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants and heirs, as God promised. Galatians 3:29.

She was in a bad way, but kept picturing herself well again. You must picture yourself as already having your answer. Never say things like, "One of these days", or, "I hope so"... because you are continually putting it into the future.

She had suffered for year after year, going from one doctor to another, from one quack to another. They told her to do this and to do that. They poked and prodded her. Gave her diets and medications to take, drink, wear, eat and goodness knows what else. They told her to stop this and do that and charged her top dollar for each consultation until she was not only broke… she was getting worse.

She was suffering from continual loss of blood, broke, had no social security benefits, and was a social outcast. Her condition meant that she was suffering shame and was treated with contempt. She was not allowed in public unless she cried out Unclean; Unclean and was definitely not supposed to touch anyone. I guess that some people would have accused her of some sort of sin in her life that was causing this punishment on her and in itself is absolute garbage. See our separate studies on healing and the atonement and you will see the truth on that stuff.

This was no mere sickness but something that tormented her and continually harassed her and beat on her day after day after day. The Greek describes her condition as being a plague using the word Mastix.

It not only describes a plague like condition, but pictures it as like being whipped or scourged.
It was as if she was a criminal being continually whipped in the same way the Roman used a flagellum for criminals.

This disease was a scourging plague. The romans would beat their victim mercilessly and stop, take them back to the cells and allow them to partially recover before dragging them out and continue the beatings.

The process was repeated.

This woman had been continually tormented by her plague like that for twelve years.

This woman received her healing because of her approach to the matter.
The steps she took for her recovery are listed here as a guide for you.
Your situation could be vastly different to hers, but you can apply what is required for you up to receive your miracle

An "and suddenly" moment

This dear woman had suffered for years.
She had tried everything she could, but nothing worked for her until the day came when Jesus came into town.
After all those years of pain and anguish, she heard about Him and acted upon it and at that moment in time, her long awaited miracle arrived.

You and I are bound by the limitations of time whereas God is not. The bible tells many stories about how God made a promise and it seemed as if it would never come. We do not always understand why there is what we call a delay, but there are no delays in God. He has what we often see due seasons, or appointed times.

When that due season or appointed time arrives, everything seems to suddenly come together. Call this "An suddenly event".

We could go to sleep one night with all kinds of problems and dramas and wake up the following morning when everything changes just as it did for this woman. She had been holding onto God's promises and went to bed one night as a desperately sick woman. When she woke up the next morning, a commotion was suddenly heard in town. Her "and suddenly" moment had arrived.
Someone cried out, Jesus is in town and she heard about it, and did something about it. She did not sit in her house having a pity party and feeling sorry for herself and se shall see what she did shortly.
Some people wonder why nothing seems to happen for them and often cry out, "Why doesn’t God do something for me?" He did… 2000 years ago!

It could be your "And Suddenly" moment today...


Subscribe to our Email publcations


Our ministry is registered with the Australian Government

Site Map  ::  Privacy Policy  ::  Permissions  ::  Subscribe to email teachings  ::  bashanministries@mac.com
 

Bashan Ministries ABN 83 173 400 921
PO Box 109 Stirling South Australia 5152

© 2021/2023 All rights reserved
Site Powered By
    Turnkey Website Solutions
    Online web site design