“Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
Have you ever been driven to the point where you had your back against the wall, with nothing left to do but to fight back? Have you ever had to say ‘enough is enough’ determined to part with something that had ailed you, something you had fought with for twelve years but to no avail? We all get to a point in our lives when we cease to tolerate any nagging circumstance that has trailed us for the best part all our lives. One such case was a woman with an issue of blood.
We read in this account that the woman was sick. She had been bleeding for a long period of time – twelve years to be precise. She had not sat idly by lamenting over her condition. “She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.” (Mark 5:26) Sound familiar?
The Bible teaches that life is in the blood. Imagine for a moment the status of this woman. Not only would she have been anaemic but her whole life would have been in tatters. She had had no peace. Satan, the one whom Jesus said ‘had come to kill, steal and destroy’ had not stopped oppressing her. This woman according to custom was unclean, she polluted her environment. She was not any better than a leper. She should have stayed at home. Yet, nothing could hold her back. She pressed on desperate to achieve the goal she had set herself -- to be made whole, at all costs.
This woman could have been you or me. Anytime in Scripture that the main character is nameless, you could replace it with your name. One cap fits all. Then one day she heard about Jesus as the solution to her medical problem and she resolved to seize an opportunity to get close to Jesus and just touch the hem of His clothes. She was convinced that if she did, she would be healed. Many who have heard about Jesus have gone looking for Him to satisfy their curiosity. Tax collector Zacchaeus mounted a tree just to behold who this man Jesus -- whom he had heard so much about -- looked like.
This woman acted differently. She went beyond mere curiosity. She took her courage in both hands when she resolved: “If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole. (I will be healed).” (Mark 5:28) Let me ask you this question; how many times have you heard about what Jesus can do for you? What have you done about it? Jesus restores our lives back to normal. He is able to arrest any unpleasant situation the devil and his cohorts have created for you or thrust upon you. Jesus does not have a religion; His mission was to the world. “I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
We should never allow our fears to keep us away from Jesus, the Messiah. Remember that “God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but shall have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Jesus came to this world to be a light in the overhanging darkness and to destroy the works of the enemy. (1 John 3:8)
Let us stop wailing and lamenting over our ailments which we can do nothing about; rather let us look to Jesus for the solution. Like this woman, take a decision and take it all to Master Jesus, the Healer par excellence and He will give you your heart’s desire.
This woman was intentional in her belief that Jesus could heal her because of the number of miracles that were brought to her knowledge. She did not witness them herself but after the encounter, she would not help but testify of Jesus’ power over sin and sickness. By so doing, others may also seek to go to the well to satisfy their thirst. Delay may be dangerous; act now! Hand over your problems, your worries to Jesus and He will bring you relief.
On the spot where this incidence took place, the woman instantly received her healing after touching Jesus’ garment. She would have left unnoticed when Jesus was conscious that some power had left Him. Who touched me? The disciples argued with Him over how He could make such a statement with all these people thronging Him. But Jesus insisted that someone had drawn some of His power. The woman had no choice but to confess. Because of this show of faith, Jesus assured her; “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” (Mark 5:34)
Jesus has gone back to the Father but His name still heals because He is not dead, He is alive and seated at the right hand of the Father interceding for you and me. He will heal you for free, but first you have to come to Him. Compare what Jesus did for this woman in the light of what the charlatans did. It is never too late to come to Him. Jesus has never sent anyone who came to Him away. (John 6:37) Stop wallowing in the mire, nursing your sickness on your own. Bring it to the Master Healer who has a solution to all our woes.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Every mountain that has troubled you shall become a plain.
