The Crisis Of A Woman Series

Series: Walking by Faith # 4

The Crisis of a Woman

Mark 5: 24-34

As we continue the series of walking by faith, we come to a woman in the Scriptures who faced great difficulty in life. We will discover, as we examine her situation that she had exhausted every possible avenue in hopes of being healed, and yet she was no better. In fact, her condition continued to deteriorate. As this woman reached the end of every conceivable means of help, she was left with one final option – faith in the Lord. She was desperate and sought the Lord by faith. This act of faith brought the solution she so desperately sought.

While we may not be able to relate to the exact circumstances of this woman, her life stands as a tremendous testimony of the benefits of walking by faith. When faith was all she had, she discovered she had all she needed. Life is difficult, and walking by faith alone is never easy. However, time and again we find in the Bible that God honors faith. We may be unable to resolve the difficulties we face, but we serve one who can handle any problem we have. Like the woman in the text, we must seek the Lord in faith if we are to experience victory.

As we consider the facts surrounding her situation, I want to discuss: The Crisis of a Woman. Her walk of faith should encourage us to continue by faith.

I. The Despair of the Woman (25-26) – These verses reveal the great despair she faced. We discover:

A. She was Diseased (25) – And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years. The only identification we have regarding this woman was that she had endured an issue of blood for twelve long years. Her name is not mentioned; she is identified by the infirmity she endured.

While most cannot identify with such despair, her suffering was not limited to the physical aspect of her infirmity. That alone would have created great difficulty, but her physical condition contributed to several other factors. She would have suffered socially as well. In that day, she was considered unclean and would have had very little, if any contact with other people. She lived a life of isolation as a social outcast. She also suffered financially, having spent her life’s savings in hopes of being healed. Her disease had literally brought her to financial ruin. All of this no doubt led to emotional suffering. Most cannot imagine dealing with such adversity for this length of time. I am sure there were times when she gave up hope and felt as if she would never be healed.

B. She was Desperate (26) – And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. She had been to many doctors, trying one remedy after another, enduring great suffering in the process, and yet she was not better. In fact, things had not improved at all. The longer she continued in this situation, the worse it got. She had tried everything imaginable, and yet her suffering continued. She was desperate for healing.

Many today are much the same. They exhaust their efforts and resources searching for real joy and peace. They spend their lives seeking that one thing that could satisfy. Sadly, most of the time their lives don’t get any better, but they continue to worsen with time. The endless search continues with little or no comfort. The search will continue until they meet the Lord. He alone has the power to transform our lives and give us that we so desperately seek.

This woman’s plans and attempts ended in failure. You will never possess what you need in life apart from Christ! There may be some small victories and joys, but Jesus is the only answer for the cares and troubles of life. She traveled from one doctor to another. Many today try one vice or pleasure after another, but what they seek is not found. Faith in the Lord is our only source of hope and peace.

II. The Desire of the Woman (24, 27-28) – Although her condition continued to worsen, she had not completely given up. She genuinely desired healing. Consider:

A. Her Focus (24, 27) – And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. [27] When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. This encounter happened during Jesus’ year of popularity. Everywhere He went, great crowds followed him. He is on His way to the home of Jairus to heal his daughter of a deathly illness. It would have been easy to have become discouraged by the crowds and the difficulty of getting to Jesus, but she was determined to get to the Lord. She pressed through the crowd, keeping her eyes on Jesus. She had to overcome the obstacle before her if she wanted to get to the Lord.