WE ALL HAVE ISSUES
We all have Issues - What do you do with your issues? - run from them- roll up your sleeves and attack them - become anxious - run to people for help. or run to God? In reality we’ve all probably responded in several of these ways to our problems. Chuck Swindoll offers wise counsel, "Every problem is an opportunity to prove God's power. Every day we encounter countless golden opportunities, brilliantly disguised as insurmountable problems."
Our text is teaches us truths about Jesus that remind us those issues that are big for us are no problem for Him.
Mark 5:25-34 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
Jesus has come by boat to the western shore of the Sea of Galilee - back home. Jesus is at the height of His popularity. The size of the crowd is tremendous. People have come from north - south - east - west - to see and to hear Jesus.
An official of the synagogue - Jarius - a man of privileged position - comes and falls before Jesus and begs Jesus to come and to save the life of his 12 year old daughter who’s dying. Jesus is traveling to the home of this official to heal his daughter. The large crowd - is following along hoping to get a glimpse of Jesus in action.
We’re now introduced to this woman and her condition - a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse
Three important things about this woman’s condition
1. This woman had been hemorrhaging for 12 years - It is not hard to imagine that she was anemic and physically weak - debilitated by her physical sickness.
2. She was an outcast - In Leviticus 15 there are specific laws given which speak about how to treat a woman who has a discharge of blood beyond her normal period of menstruation. This woman was considered ceremonially unclean - impure. As long as she was in this condition - and for 7 days afterward - she was to be considered unclean. That meant that anyone or anything that came in contact with her was also considered unclean. She had to avoid people. People - even her family - had to avoid her. She couldn’t approach the tabernacle - the Temple - because she would defile it. So, she was prevented from being a part of the normal worship of her people. (Leviticus 15:25-30) For twelve years this woman had lived painfully separated - ostracized - held at a distance by her family - her community - her religion - treated like an unclean - sinful - outcast.
3. This woman “had endured much at the hands of many physicians” - In the Talmud - the Jewish commentary on the Old Testament - there are at least 11 different cures offered for this woman’s condition. This woman had spent all of her money on these “cures” and - its not surprising - she was actually worse off because of them.
What condition would we find ourselves - physically - spiritually - emotionally – financial - if we had to continue on this way - without hope of healing - for 12 long years? Imagine, in this crowd following Jesus is this impoverished woman - diseased - distanced - and desperate
Conditions that prevent us from getting close to Jesus
Her perceived spiritual state - This woman had had to tell everyone she met that she was UNCLEAN (It was the Law) Everyone KNEW she had a DISEASE.
Her experience in life - up until this time has been NEGATIVE - She had tried all that she knew and was getting nowhere and she was getting worse!
Her natural circumstances - She was WEAK from the LOSS of BLOOD.
Other people - The CROWD of people SURROUNDING Jesus which made it very difficult to get to Him - How often do we let PEOPLE keep us away from Jesus?
Is God interested in me - Jesus appeared to be pre-occupied - She probably thought, “Will He take the time to help me?”
The consequences of her actions - She could be brought before the RULERS of the Synagogue for TOUCHING someone and her being in an unclean condition.
What does it take to touch Jesus
Desire: to be made whole
Faith: that touching Jesus was the answer
Action: her confession shaped her actions – she pressed through the crowd
Persistence: with “ALL” her strength she REACHED through the CROWD and TOUCHED the Hem of Jesus’ garment.
The result of touching Jesus
Luke 8:45 And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’
The woman had freedom - Divine Exchange: This woman pushes her way through a crowd of people - that by her very touch are now unclean - she reaches out and defiles Jesus with her touch - and yet, she is physically healed. Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction - Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth – our lifelessness for His life - the completeness of this woman’s healing - the scope of what Jesus says to her - gets lost in our English translation. In the original Greek, the word translated here as “well” goes way beyond the scope of physical healing to encompass eternal spiritual salvation - salvation from her sins - healing of her relationship with God. The word “peace” is the same word Jesus used to describe the peace that can only come from God - a deep - lasting - inner peace. Not the kind of temporary peace that we see in the world around us. (John 14:27) The word “healed” speaks of restoration - wholeness. It’s a word used to describe Jesus’ resurrected body. (Acts 4:10) “Afflictions” is the same word which describes when Jesus was scourged - having His back ripped open by a whip. (John 19:1) What this woman has been healed from is that severe. The healing is that complete. There are many places that we’re often tempted to turn for healing. Some of them are helpful. But, the healing we need is not found in spiritual leaders or religious activities and traditions. It's not found in being a part of a church. It's not found in philosophy. Not in patriotism. Psychology is limited in how it can help us. Doctors can promote healing in our bodies, but they cannot heal our soul. The healing we need is not found in the latest fads of meditation and exercise and diet. What we need is Jesus. He’s the only one who can give us wholeness and peace and healing - what we long for deep within.
Recognition: Jesus stops and searches for this woman - And He - Jesus - calls her Daughter - what tenderness - the only time in Scripture Jesus addresses someone that way - daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”
Favor: she was noticed out of the crowd and was made completely whole.
GOD can deal with your issues. Press through the Crowd and touch Him today.
ALTERNATIVE CONCLUSION
Crowd = Church at large
Woman = Remnant Church
12 = Government
Issue of blood = failure to recognize what Jesus has done for us – our identity and position in Christ
Physicians = methods and formulas adopted by the Church that substitutes God’s power
Touch = a people determined to find their source of life only in Jesus and as a result display to the world the fullness of the glory of God
