Touching The Hem Of Him

Mark 5:24-34

Matthew 9:20

“Touching the HEM of HIM”

The story of the woman with the issue of blood has more context and depth of meaning than we realize…

Joke: They say don’t judge someone until you have walked a mile in their shoes. Because at least then you will be a mile away from them, and you’ll have their shoes… Then go ahead and judge them.

But in all sincerity try walking in this woman's shoes for 12 years with her issues… That’s a whole lot longer than a mile.

Looking at this story the most notable attribute this woman has is her determination:

The woman with the issue of blood was determined to get to the HEM so that she could get to the HIM.

She had to touch the HEM before she could touch the HIM.

And the moment she touched the HEM she felt the healing virtue flowing from the HIM!

The scripture said of her in Mark 5:26 - That she - 'Had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,'

Listen, she was completely invested in her healing…

So many of us would stop investing in something that lost money.

We wouldn’t work a job that gave no paycheck.

We would quit the first time something proved too hard with no results.

How many times do people quit believing in their healing when the first thing they try does not work?

But this woman's determination was so strong that even if everything she owned was spent even after 12 years of trying… She would keep seeking her miracle!

Look at what she did in Mark 5:27 - It reads - 'When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

She tried so many different treatments from so many different physicians over the last 12 years… Yet over all those years and after so many failures:

Not once did she quit believing that it’s worth a shot to keep trying and keep seeking!

Scripture said, “When she had heard of Jesus” - She came in the press!

Every failure and disappointment behind her did not change her resolve to PRESS forward and believe again.

Paul said in Philippians 3:13 - 'Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do , forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,'

In Verse 14 - He said, 'I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.'

So many other people would say enough is enough.

Quitting is always so easy to do after failure.

But when she heard of Jesus, she was not going to write him off as a possible solution.

After losing so much she still could say, “What do I have to lose?”

In Mark 5:28 - “She said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.'

I'm curious today about this:

Why didn't she just walk up to Jesus and ask Him to lay hands on her like every other sick person did?

If we look at her particular infirmity, we may find the answer:

Her problem was “AN ISSUE OF BLOOD.”

You have to understand what kind of ISSUE an issue of blood is:

Scripture says that life is in the blood.

And an issue of blood was a constant hemorrhaging and flowing of her blood out of her body!

HER LIFE WAS LITERALLY BEING DRAINED FROM HER EVERY DAY!

There was no stopping the cramping, the pain, the bleeding.

It drained her of her energy, her emotions, and her relationships!

Why she felt that she could not be touched by Jesus can be found in the book of Leviticus 15:19 - It Reads - “'And if a woman has an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.”

So, you see; She very well may have desired a touch from Jesus, but because of her issue, and the laws of purification, she may have felt that Jesus could not touch her and still be considered clean.

She probably felt that Jesus would not want to touch her even if she asked him for healing…

She also may have felt that if Jesus did touch her, then she somehow would just make the Messiah unclean…

You may feel that you are in her same situation today:

You feel like Jesus can’t touch your needs.

You feel your particular issue puts you in an unsolvable predicament.

She had probably heard of how he changed water to wine.

How he raised the lame man out of his bed.