“Reach Out And Touch Him”
INTRODUCTION: Read Mark 5:21-24
The story begins with a request by Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, for Jesus to heal his daughter. Then, on the way to his house, they are interrupted by a sick woman … 5:25-34. Then, after dealing with this sick woman, word came that Jairus’ daughter had died. The rest of the chapter deals with Jesus raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead.
I’ve preached on the raising of Jairus’ daughter several times, but I’ve never preached on the woman with the issue of blood.
The sick woman seemed to be an interruption in the story … an inconvenience for Jairus … a detour from the important things in Jairus’ life. I’m sure Jairus must have been waiting impatiently, sitting on pins and needles, after being interrupted by this sick woman. After all, his daughter was sick too, near death, and time was of the essence. We even see that, while Jesus was dealing with this sick woman, Jairus’ daughter did die … 5:23, 35.
The miracle we look at this morning is a “wayside miracle” … an “over-splash” of God’s grace, mercy, love and power. It seems as if she wasn’t the focus of the journey that Jesus was on. But, Jesus took the time to meet her need as well. Sometimes I will prepare a message for a particular need in the church. It will be directed toward an individual or an individual need. But another will hear it, and God will speak to their heart … an “over-splash” of God’s grace, mercy, love and power.
But, let’s not dismiss the importance of this sick woman. Let’s not treat her as merely a parenthesis in the greater story of Jairus and his need. It’s for a reason she is mentioned by Matthew, Mark and Luke in their gospels.
Let’s follow the path of this woman’s healing.
I. HER DIFFICULTY - 5:25 - She’s not mentioned by name. She had been sick for 12 years with an abnormal bleeding condition. Her blood wouldn’t clot normally, and her constant bleeding caused her to be weak, tired, frail, and drained of energy. It’s one thing to have a bad day, week, month, or year … but this woman had a bad 12 years!
Under Jewish law, she was “untouchable” … cut off from the rest of society, an outcast. She couldn’t marry, or if she was married, her condition was grounds for divorce. She couldn’t go to the temple to worship. She couldn’t socialize … she was an outcast. According to Leviticus, anything or anybody she touched would be considered “unclean”. If touched, that person must wash their clothes, take a bath, and would be considered “unclean” until the evening. She infected everyone and everything she touched. For 12 long years, she had lived in this isolation.
Everybody has “issues”. For this woman, it was an “issue” (KJV) of blood. You may have some unresolved “issues” that you brought with you here this morning.
· Physical issues – Maybe something the doctors haven’t been able to resolve.
· Financial issues – Maybe you feel overwhelmed and burdened down.
· Social issues – Maybe you’re dealing with problems with your family, friends.
· Spiritual issues – Maybe you have some sin problems that are weighing you down.
Everybody has “issues” … and, maybe they’ve been going on for more than 12 years. When did this woman find RELIEF from her “issues”? She found relief when she fell down at the feet of Jesus. That’s a good starting place to find relief … at the feet of Jesus.
II. HER DESPAIR – 5:26 - Most people would rather have “health” than “wealth”. She was no exception, except that she lost BOTH. She had tried every doctor and every cure, but all it did was make her sicker and poorer. The Talmud (ancient Jewish writings) gave 11 different cures for bleeding. Beside tonics and other remedies, one cure was for the inflicted to carry the ashes of an ostrich egg in a linen bag in the summer, and in a cotton bag in the winter. Another cure was to carry around a barley corn that was found in the dung of a white she-ass. One scholar lists common remedies of that day to include eating grasshopper eggs, carrying around the tooth of a fox, and carrying around the fingernail of a person who has been hanged! Common remedies included cutting and burning of the infected area.
This woman sought every available cure and every available doctor. Nothing worked, and now she is both sick and broke.
People try all sorts of “cures” today for their SPIRITUAL ailments.
· Dr. Morality – They try to get on God’s good side by living a moral, upright life.
· Dr. Feeling – They try to stay on a spiritual “high” by attending seminars, reading books, Christian concerts, listening to preachers that make them “feel good” about themselves.
· Dr. Legality – They try to live righteously by obeying all the rules set up by the church, other Christians, and even rules they have set up for themselves.
· Dr. Church – They try to impress God with their church attendance, and even their participation in church activities … “Look at me, God … aren’t you impressed!”
BUT, it was only when she had tried everything else, and nothing worked, that she turned to Jesus. For 12 years, she had “faith” in doctors, but they all failed her. Now, she turns her faith toward Jesus, WHO NEVER FAILS. It wasn’t her “faith” that was her problem, it was the OBJECT of her faith that failed her.
III. HER DESPERATION – 5:27-28 – “she heard about Jesus” - Romans 10:17 – “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Where had she heard about Jesus? Others had touched Jesus and were healed – Luke 6:17-19. She had heard, and believed that Jesus could heal her … if only she could touch Him!
She had “heard about Jesus”. She was desperate, and had no other hope. Her symptoms had started years before Jesus began His ministry, and when she “heard about Jesus” she had already suffered for 12 long years. Now, there was hope … her last hope … her only hope.
But, hasn’t EVERYONE “heard about Jesus”? Surely everyone who has entered the doors of First Baptist Church has heard about Jesus.. What about everybody in Archer … or Alachua County … or Florida? How can you live in America, and not have “heard about Jesus”?
While I don’t know WHO has “heard about Jesus”, I do know that it’s your and my responsibility to tell people about Jesus. Now, you can’t be saved just by “hearing” about Jesus. There may be some who attend church every Sunday, and “hear about Jesus”, but have no saving relationship with the One whom they’ve heard about.
Hearing about Jesus is important, but that alone won’t “heal” you, or “save” you. Romans 10:17 – “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” But, let’s not forget Romans 10:13 – “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." She had “heard” about Jesus, THEN, in faith, she went out to meet Him for healing.
You, here this morning, have “heard” about Jesus, and you perhaps know that Jesus can save you, can give you hope, faith, strength, grace, mercy, peace and victory. Jesus has set out a table before you, and begs you to “Come and dine.” Jesus invites every Christian … Revelation 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Jesus invites all you who know Him to know Him deeper & fuller … John 7:37 - "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” Jesus invites those who don’t know Him as personal Savior … Acts 2:21 – “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.” There is nothing to forbid you … COME!
This was a dangerous thing for her to do; she wasn’t supposed to touch anyone; it would contaminate them. There was a great crowd that had surrounded Jesus – 5:24. Even by touching the clothes of Jesus, she would contaminate Him – 5:28. But, hadn’t Jesus touched the “untouchable” lepers before, and healed them? It didn’t seem to bother Jesus then, so maybe He wouldn’t be upset with her now.
Luke tells us that she touched the “border of His garment” … the “hem” of His garment. Jewish Rabbi’s wore a cloak with tassels in each corner at the bottom. She thought that, if she could just touch a tassel, she could be healed.
NOTICE: “came behind Him”. She was a “nobody” … not like Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue – 5:22. She couldn’t approach Jesus like Jairus did, so she came up behind Him, chased after Him, tried to keep up with Him, and fell down on her hands and knees when she touched the hem of His garment.
IV. HER DELIVERANCE – 5:29 - “immediately” – Usually, someone was healed when Jesus touched them, or spoke to them. Here, someone was healed when they touched Jesus, and not just Jesus, but His clothes. After 12 years of torment and suffering, “immediately” she was healed … and “immediately” she knew it.
Salvation is instantaneous! You are either lost or saved … there is no middle ground, no neutral condition, no boarder-line territory. If you are here this morning, and you are lost, you can be instantaneously saved. You can be changed “immediately” into a child of God, complete with a new nature.
One day, Jesus is going to come and “immediately”, in the “twinkling of an eye” He will rapture His family up to Heaven to be with Him for eternity. By the same token, those who are left behind will “immediately” be condemned in their sin because they have not trusted Jesus as Savior. By the same token, you can “immediately” be saved here this morning, if you will but come in repentance and trust Jesus to save you.
This woman was determined to do something about her condition. She was desperate. Most would have given up years and dollars ago. No one would have blamed her for saying, “I can’t trust anybody anymore … I give up!” But, she didn’t give up, and, beloved, Jesus has never given up on you! You are here this morning. Jesus is here this morning. What Jesus did for her 2000 years ago, He can do for you here today.
V. HER DISCOVERY – 5:30-32
5:30 - NOTICE – “immediately” again. Jesus knew “immediately” that someone had been healed. It wasn’t because of any PAIN that He felt, but because of the JOY that it gave Him. Jesus DELIGHTS in blessing you. Just bring Him your sin, your problems, your heartaches, your fears, your doubts. Even if every lost sinner, or every burdened heart touched Jesus AT ONCE, His power wouldn’t be diminished one iota. His power isn’t rationed … it will never run dry, it will never run out.
Jesus asked “Who touched my clothes?” Do you think that Jesus really didn’t know who touched Him, or what had happened? Whenever Jesus asks such a question, it isn’t for His benefit, but for the benefit of those around Him.
Jesus was so full of power that it even saturated His clothes! His power overflowed, even to the tassels and hem of His garment.
5:31 – The disciples said, “It could have been anybody; there are hundreds of people here who have been brushing up against you, and touching you; how can we know which one you’re talking about?” But, it wasn’t just any “touch” that Jesus felt, that He was talking about. It was the touch of FAITH, and it didn’t matter WHERE contact was made. The power to heal was in HIM … NOT in the “touch”. There was only 1 in that crowd that had focused their faith on Jesus, and now Jesus is focusing on the faith of that one.
5:32 - Jesus wanted to call attention to what had just happened. This wasn’t always the case, as seen in 6:56. But, here it was important that the woman be identified who had touched Him and been healed. Jesus knew exactly who it was, and He wanted to expose her. I’m sure she didn’t want to be singled out. After all, she wasn’t even supposed to be in that crowd.
VI. HER DREAD – 5:33 – When Jesus looked at HER, her heart began to fear. She may have thought that Jesus would scold her for defiling Him, and making Him “unclean”, according to Jewish Law. Perhaps she thought that Jesus would take back His miracle, because she was so unworthy to come to Him without permission, sneaking up on Him from behind. Perhaps because she “stole” this healing, Jesus wouldn’t be pleased with her.
VII. HER DECLARATION – 5:33 - She fell down at the feet of Jesus and “told Him the whole truth”. She told Him about her infirmity, about her attempts for a cure, about how she had tried everything and everybody else first. She “told Him the whole truth.”
What “truth” do you need to tell Jesus this morning? Jesus already knows, but He wants to hear it from your lips. Do you have:
· Disease – If you are lost, you have a disease called “sin” that defiles you before Holy God. Isaiah 64:6 – “ But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;” With her infirmity, she was familiar with filthy rags … she could identify with her filthiness before Holy God. We like to give grand titles to our sin, but before the face of Holy God, we come to Him with our sin as filthy rags. Jesus said - John 6:37 – “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” Come to Jesus and “tell Him the whole truth”.
· Suffering – Perhaps you are suffering from your sinful past and are in need of forgiveness and healing. 1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Come to Jesus and “tell Him the whole truth”.
· Failures – Perhaps you have failed God, or are living a failed Christian life. All of your “secret sins” are committed in the face of Jesus … you have nothing to hide from Him. Come to Jesus and “tell Him the whole truth”.
Up to this point, she had never spoken a word. Now, she could no longer hide in the crowd. If the story had stopped at 5:29, she would have walked away HEALED, but not WHOLE.
Does this describe you, Christian … “healed” but not “whole”? Jesus doesn’t want you to be a silent Christian. Don’t get lost in the crowd. Do you ever feel like you’re in church on Sunday morning, and you’re just “in the crowd”? Do you feel like you’re not really “connecting” with Jesus. You’re in the right place … doing the right things. You sing the songs, pray the prayers, read along in your Bible, listen to the sermon. But, when you leave and go home, you go home unchanged, and you take your “issues” with you, because you’ve never connected with Jesus. You’re just one in the crowd.
Jesus doesn’t need “silent Christians”. What was the purpose of her confession? Why do we need to speak out, and not be hidden in the crowd?
· For the glory of God – If a neighbor does something nice for you, don’t you want to praise them for it? Does Jesus deserve any less? Should you rob God of the glory that is due Him? SPEAK OUT … say “Amen” once in a while … praise Him for His goodness, grace, mercy and love He has given you.
· For the good of Jairus – Jairus needed his faith strengthened and a word of encouragement. Jairus is soon (5:35) going to hear that his daughter has died. Jesus replies (5:36) with “Do not be afraid; only believe.” What Jairus saw happen to this woman would give Jairus the faith he needed. How old was Jairus’ daughter? She was 12 years of age (5:42). How long had this woman led a living death? 12 years. This gave Jairus hope. What if every Christian were like you … a “silent Christian”? They need to hear of what Jesus has done in your life.
· For her own good – Without the assurance that Jesus gives her in 5:34, she would have left Him with doubts. She would have considered herself a “2nd Class Christian”, because she never experienced a personal one-on-one, face-to-face fellowship with Jesus. Because Jesus identified her personally, she felt an obligation to Jesus.
· For the good of others – God felt this experience was important enough to include it in all 3 gospels. She “heard about Jesus”, and now her story is told to others, so they may hear about Jesus. Do you want a quiet Christian life? Do you want to quietly go to Heaven? Do you want a comfortable Christian life? Maybe, like this woman, you are “afraid”. Maybe you are afraid to publicly confess your faith in Jesus and be baptized. Maybe you are afraid to come forward during the invitation and confess your need for Christ. Maybe you are afraid to come forward and unite with this church. Maybe you are afraid to shout “Amen” when your heart is blessed. Maybe you are afraid to come to the altar and pray. This woman was weak, sick, unclean and common. But, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 – “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."
Deep down, you want to be like this woman, who reached out and touched Jesus, and was CHANGED forever. What made her different? What did she do that no one else there that day in the crowd did? How was she different?
VIII. HER DEDICATION – 5:34 – “Daughter” … the only place in the Scriptures where Jesus calls someone “daughter”. There is now a new relationship … from an unclean outcast, to a “daughter”. Jesus tells her “your faith has made you well.” After 12 years, when her faith in the medical system had failed her, her faith in Jesus had made her well.
“Your faith has made you well.” She wasn’t just healed … she was made “whole” (KJV). Reach out and touch Jesus this morning, and He will heal you of your disease of sin. Christian, He will make you “whole”. He will open your eyes to the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. He will satisfy your thirsty soul. Just put your faith in Him.
“Go in peace”. Her disease would no longer trouble her. Beloved, you will have no peace until you connect with Jesus. You’ll not experience inner peace, until you come to Him with outward confession and praise.
She reached out and touched Jesus. Maybe that’s all Jesus wants you to do here this morning … just “Reach Out And Touch Him”. After all, He’s always reaching out to you.
· Fellowship – (written to Christians) - Revelation 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
· Rest – Matthew 11:28-39 – “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
· Salvation - John 5:40 – “But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”
Jesus is reaching out to you … RIGHT NOW. He’s reaching out to your “issues” … to your needs … to your heartaches and pain. Don’t get lost in the crowd. Reach out to Jesus … and touch the hem of His garment. Touch His comfort, joy, strength, power, peace and love. Jesus has so much to impart to you. Don’t miss the touch of Jesus in your life.
Stand - Pray
