Day 9: Mark 5:21-34
Mark 5:33-34: 33 The woman, full of fear and trembling, came forward. Knowing what had happened to her, she fell down in front of Jesus and told him the whole truth.34 He responded, “Daughter, your faith has healed you; go in peace, healed from your disease.”
In this passage, we read the story of Jesus healing the “bleeding woman.” Jesus was on his way to heal a little girl, when a woman who had been ill for 12 years pushed through the crowd to touch his cloak. The story says she had been to many doctors but had only grown worse. Her condition made her permanently “unclean,” and the strict rules of Judaism prevented her from taking part in society. She lived in isolation and was most likely unable to experience many of the wonderful things that make life so rich for us – friendship, giving to others, and worship. She took a great risk by coming out into the massive crowd surrounding Jesus. Her condition may have caused others to treat her harshly for subjecting them to her “uncleanness.” She also risked (she thought) being rejected by Jesus Himself.
I can empathize with this woman. For 12 long years I, too, suffered from a disease which cut me off from many of the joys of life. I battled severe eating disorders. I went in and out of therapy, took medications, and struggled each day to make better choices for myself. The depression and anxiety I experienced, combined with the rigid patterns I forced myself into, prevented me from experiencing life fully. I lost friends, hurt my family, and missed out on so many things because of this disease. Thankfully, however, when I had all but given up, Jesus was there to heal me. I remember vividly the occasion on which I was finally fully and miraculously healed. I still had to do my part in continuing to make positive choices, but Jesus was the Healer. I am thankful every day I am no longer in that prison, and I believe we all can be healed, if we only take the necessary step of reaching out to Him – as described so beautifully in this passage.
Heavenly Father, we thank You for being the ultimate Healer. You are the Almighty who knows each and every one of us intimately. You know every pain and sorrow we’ve had. Please give us the courage to risk coming to You for healing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Contributed by Amy P
