Mark 5:25-34 “And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”
This woman had an “issue of blood” for twelve years. TWELVE years! I can’t even imagine that. Twelve years of going from doctor to doctor, with a problem of bleeding out, and NO ONE being able to help. The Bible says that she had “suffered many things of many physicians.” She was so desperate for relief that she was willing to try ANYTHING! She had spent all she had and was none the better for it. In fact, she grew worse everyday. Then, she heard about a man who had healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and possessed with devils. How he freed a maniac of the unclean spirit that controlled him. There was even a leper that ran about telling of how this man, Jesus, had healed him of his leprosy! She figured, “I have nothing to lose. Why not see what this man can do for me?” No, quite the contrary was her attitude. This woman was weary of her sickness, and desired greatly to be healed. She was desperate for relief. She was tired of searching for answers, only to walk away the same as when she came. There wasn’t ANYTHING she wanted more than to be rid of her “issue.” She sought Jesus out with a heart that said, “This HAS to work! I’ve heard the stories. He has healed others, please let him heal me!” Determined to find the One who could save her, she made her way through the crowd. At last! There he was! With a beggars heart she reached out to him but was able only to touch the hem of his garment. Relief was IMMEDIATE! As if a burdensome weight had been lifted from off her shoulders, her tired and weary body was…. healed. Not just healed, but whole. She had gone to her only hope for life, --- Jesus, and he had given her his strength, his very virtue! As his eyes met hers, she fell at his feet. With fear and in reverence of his miraculous power, she gave him her heart. No longer just another face in the crowd but “Daughter,” Jesus had called her, “thy faith hath made the whole; go in peace, and be whole of the plague.”
How often have we had an “issue” in our life that seemed never ending? Perhaps you’ve been wounded without cause and yet you cannot seem to release the resentment. Maybe you were injured without provocation and yet you cannot find relief. You’re hurt and heartbroken and the pain is just relentless. Or maybe you have an illness for which there seems to be no remedy. Your life is plagued with turmoil, and sorrow as you search for answers. You’ve tried everything, yet your condition remains the same. Search no further, my friend. Take your “issue” to Jesus. Reach out in faith and let him make you whole. Fall at his feet and find sweet relief. You don’t have to be just another face in the crowd. He will make you His own.
Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."
