THE WOMAN WHO TOUCHED JESUS' GARMENT

TEXT: Mk. 5:21-34.

A. Jesus was on his way to the home of Jairus whose daughter lay at the point of death.

B. As he walked a large noisy crowd thronged about him.

C. This woman was a part of the crowd that day.

I. ABOUT THIS WOMAN.

A. She was likely a younger woman v. 34 Jesus called her daughter.

B. Her Infirmity:

1. An issue (flow) of blood.

2. She was a victim of a chronic disability that was killing her.

C. It had been in progress 12 years-v. 25.

1. Each day her life was flowing away.

2. v. 26 she was going down hill.

D. Her fruitless search- Mk. 5:25-26.

1. She had "suffered many things of many physicians."

2. Notice some ancient cures of "Women's" blood problems;

a. "Carrying the ashes of an ostrich egg in a linen rag in the summer, in a cotton bag in the winter."

b. Dig seven ditches, burn shoots of grape vines in them and let her drink wine by each ditch."

c. "Set the patient where two roads meet, put a glass of wine in her hand, let someone slip up from behind and frighten her."

d. Rabbi Joseph said, ". . . the best among physicians is destined for Gehenna (hell)”

3. She had spent all that she had.

a. Such remedies made none better, except the physicians.

b. Like snake oil or hair growing tonic.

c. She was spent both physically and mentally as well as $.

4. She was none better but rather grew worse.

5. Even Luke the physician admitted that she could not be helped by doctors- Lk. 8:43.

E. The restrictions her sickness imposed.

1. Her condition made her ceremonially unclean- Lev. 15:25-27.

2. She was forbidden to enter the temple or synagogue.

3. She was unable to do the duties and enjoy the privileges of a wife with her husband.

4. She would have been ostracized.

5. She lived in loneliness for 12 years.

6. What have you enjoyed in the last 12 years?

7. When she touched Jesus' robe she broke both religious and social rules.

F. Her timidity:

1. She was a poor, broken creature.

2. She was depressed by the poverty which her sickness had brought upon her and her repeated disappointments from the physicians- Lk. 8:43.

3. Had the people recognized her they would have driven her out.

4. She was STRICTLY forbidden to touch any priest.

G. Her Faith.

1. It was a great need that brought her to Christ.

2. In despair she resolved to try Jesus, all else had failed.

3. She had real faith.

a. Matt. 21:21-22.

b. Heb. 11:1.

c. She had a deep desire to be healed. She believed that Jesus could do it. And she believed it would happen.

II. THE LORD WHO HEALED HER.

A. His primary mission on earth was to save the lost- Lk. 19:10.

B. Yet, He took time out to minister to the suffering around him.

1. Christ knew that if you save a man's life, you can often save his soul.

2. He was never too busy to do a good deed for someone.

3. Wants us to do the same- Matt. 25:31ff.

a. Food.

b. Drink.

c. Housing.

d. Clothing.

e. Medical care.

f. Help in prison.

C. See His great, unlimited power- Matt. 28:18.

D. Note his sensitiveness.

1. Not the smallest matter escaped his attention.

2. The sensitivity of his body told him something had happened.

3. See his instant response to human needs.

4. It is impossible for anyone to need him w/o Him knowing Matt. 10:29-31.

E. Notice his calmness in the face of many pressures and demands made upon his time.

F. His tenderness.

1. He called her "daughter" an endearing term.

2. Matt. 9:22 "Be of good cheer."

G. His garment.

1. A square outer cloak, with a blue border and a tassel at each corner- Num. 15:38-41.

2. The garment was only important because of its relationship to Jesus.

III. THE MIRACLE;

A. Notice that she was healed instantly.

B. She did not have to pay for it. She did not have to go to therapy.

C. It was a miracle that could be verified.

D. Unlike the so called ones that are done today.

E. Miracles had three purposes:

1. To accredit Christ's claims to Deity- Jn. 5:36.

2. To generate faith in the hearts of the people who saw them- Jn. 20:30-31.

3. To relieve suffering- Mk. 1:40-42.

IV. HER CONFESSION (Lk. 8:45-48).

A. He did not ask the question for His own information- Jn. 11:41-42.

B. She needed to know it was Christ not his clothing that healed.

C. She needed to confess Him- Matt. 10:32-33.

1. That men could know what Christ had done for her.

2. To provide a good example.

3. To strengthen the faith of his disciples.

4. To deliver her from the shame which would have kept her from enjoying her wellness.

D. Christ could not let her go with only a healed body, she needed a healed soul.

V. LESSONS TO REMEMBER:

A. Suffering and pain bring people to God as nothing else.

B. This woman is a looking glass in which we may all see ourselves.

1. We are all plagued w/ a terrible incurable sickness (sin).

2. All of our efforts can never avail. In fact they make us worst.

C. She had resolved not to die if a cure could be found- Jn. 7:17.

D. Just being near Jesus was not enough. Faith and action made her well. Two kinds of people touched Jesus that day.

E. Faith is the hand which receives the blessings.

F. Like his garment, baptism and the church are important because of their relation to Christ.

G. The world is full of religious doctors who drain away the wealth of their patients with no benefit to their souls- Job 13:4.

H. Those  who would help men today need the sensitiveness and tenderness of Jesus.

I. Like the woman we need to openly declare what the Lord has done for us. Ps. 107:2 "Let the redeemed of Jehovah say so."

CONCLUSION:

A. Do not be afraid to reach out and touch the Lord.

B. Do not be afraid because of your ignorance or poverty.

C. Do not be afraid to tell him all your ;pain, suffering and sorrow.

D. Fear only that you will let him pass by your life and not touch Him.

E. A touch healed her body, yet it takes a whole life of clinging to Him to save your soul.