I suspect I have always had some fascination with the story of the woman who bled constantly until the day she touched Jesus. But this fascination has certainly risen to a higher level – a truer fascination, if you will, once I heard a sermon by Rob Bell. So although I would like to take credit for what you are about to read, the truth is it’s not all mine. Nonetheless, I really want to share it with all of you.
Notice when I started this I said the woman bled constantly until the day she touched Jesus. Well, that was my understanding, the interpretation I grew up with. It’s not correct. She didn’t touch Jesus, she touched His garment and when you hear the history behind this story, you will see that touching Jesus and touching His garment are not the same thing. You will also see that within this story is the Gospel. Think of it as the telling of the Gospel within the Gospel.
Let’s take a quick look at the story first, then we will step back and look at the history leading up to the story. I believe the best account of this story is actually found in Luke, chapter 8 and verses 43 – 48:
“43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, 44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. 45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.” -kjv
Before we go back in scripture, I want to draw your attention to three points. First, this woman did everything she possibly could to fix this. She spent probably all of her money trying to find a cure, the physicians did everything they could humanly do to cure her and yet nothing man/woman could do was able to cure her. Second, she touched the border of His garment and the third thing I would like to point out is it was her faith that made her whole. One more thing before we move on, I am not saying we should not seek medical care because that’s not what I believe. I want to point out the human aspect of the Gospel message so please, if you need to seek medical care please do so as I believe God has blessed us with very good doctors and medical care.
Now it appears that a legend developed from the prophets saying that the Messiah would have healing power in His garment. To be more exact, the border of His garment. This legend was born out of Malachi chapter 4, verse 2:
“2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; …..” -kjv
Here is where it starts to get real interesting. “With healing in his wings”, that is what most of your bibles will read. But this instance of the word wings is usually the translation for the Hebrew word kanaph (kaw-nawf’) which means:
“{3671} — kanaph, kaw-nawf’; from 3670; an edge or extremity;
specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or bedclothing)
a flap, (of the earth) a quarter, (of a building) a pinnacle:
— + bird, border, corner, end, feather(-ed), X flying, + (one an-)
other, overspreading, X quarters, skirt, X sort, uttermost part,
wing((-ed)).” - Strongs Hebrew Dictionary
Notice the “edge” or “border” of a garment? Now let’s jump over Numbers chapter 15 verses 37 – 41 which read:
“37 And the Lord said to Moses, 38 Say to the children of Israel that through all their generations they are to put on the edges of their robes an ornament of twisted threads, and in every ornament a blue cord; 39 So that, looking on these ornaments, you may keep in mind the orders of the Lord and do them; and not be guided by the desires of your hearts and eyes, through which you have been untrue to me: 40 And that you may keep in mind all my orders and do them and be holy to your God. 41 I am the Lord your God, who took you out of the land of Egypt, so that I might be your God: I am the Lord your God.” -bbe
Basically, the children of Israel were to put/wear tassels on the edges/borders of their robes. Now Jesus was a Torah observing Jew, as a matter of fact some of you may recall reading or hearing where Jesus said He did not come to do away with the law but to fulfill it. Most likely, as was the custom due to the command of God, Jesus would have worn tassels on the edge of His robes. It is my understanding that over the ages, at some point the tassels went from the robes to what is called a prayer shawl. I have no idea when that change took place, but whatever the custom was at that time it is pretty safe to assume Jesus would have been observing that custom. At any rate, according to the legend, if Jesus was the Messiah then there would be healing power in the edge/border of his garment or prayer shawl.
OK, so let’s go back to our story now. This woman is unable to stop the blood flow and Jesus is in the area. Now I do not know if she believed He “was” the Messiah, or if she decided to test what He claimed, but either way she went to where Jesus was at and specifically touched the border of His garment. We are told in Luke that she was instantly healed and when Jesus started questioning, she came forward, confessed it was she who had touched His garment and why, at which point Jesus said your faith has made you whole. What was her faith? I would like to propose that her faith was in who Jesus said He was, and in God’s promise to send the Messiah. Bottom line, she believed that if Jesus was who He said He was (the Messiah) then there would be healing power in the border of His garment because she believed the prophecy (or legend based on the prophecy). She was made whole because she believed Jesus was the Savior!
Now, isn’t that the Gospel in a nutshell? Do you believe Jesus is who He claims to be and do you believe in the healing power of the cross? All you can do is believe and accept on the basis of faith. There is nothing you can do to earn salvation; it has to be based solely on your faith. That my friend is the Gospel.
