Mark 5 | Healer of Body & Soul

“But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling 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 disease.” Mark 5:33-34

Several months ago, I read the book Land of Silence by Tessa Afshar as a part of TCC’s historical fiction book club (which I highly recommend, Rebekah knows her stuff and always recommends a good read. Here’s the link for more info on that: https://tccknox.com/events/biblical-fiction-book-club/). The book really dove into what the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5 could’ve felt and gone through, in doing so, it highlighted the importance of one key phrase. Take a step back in time with me and imagine what that experience might’ve been like. 

My heart feels heavier than usual today, my body ever weaker from the constant loss of blood. It’s been twelve years, so long that I hardly remember what life was like before this occurred, hardly remember what it was to be considered clean. My illness has left me weak, poor, and alone. No one else is allowed to be around me, they all know of my shame. But I’ve come all this way to see this man, perhaps it is possible that he could be the Messiah. Wait, there he is, I see him. He could heal me, I’m sure of it. Oh, if I can just touch him, I’ll be clean. Closer, closer, almost there… my hand barely grazes the hem of his garment and I feel heat course through my body… I’m healed! Oh no, he’s looking. He knows I did this, I stole from him. Guilt settles over me as He asks who touched him, I know I must confess. Falling on my face by his feet, shaking from fear, I tell him the truth. The whole truth, leaving nothing out. He kneels next to me and lifts my chin with his finger until my eyes meet His, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

He calls her Daughter. This is the only time in the New Testament that Jesus calls someone daughter, He gently claims her as His. She’d been left on the outside looking in for so long due to laws regarding her disease, she must’ve longed for connection. Personally, I believe that’s when the real miracle happened. Touching his garment fixed her body, but encountering Jesus healed her soul. He stopped, He saw her, He heard her, He met her at her point of need, He healed her body and gave her peace. You know what the best part is? He didn’t stop with her. He does all of those things with us, for us. He claims us as His. He takes what we have labeled hopeless and brings healing, He takes despair and offers hope, He makes dirty things clean once more. He’s in the miracle working business, always has been and will be until all is made right once more. Brothers and Sisters, as Sons and Daughters, let’s not allow complacency to remove our desire to reach out and touch the hem of the only One that matters. Healing happens when we reach out, He is forever faithful to meet us there.