We All Have Issues (Needs Or Problems)

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.