Debilitating Disease
Mark 5:25-34 (KJV) And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
We are now going to look at the 2nd sermon in this series on “Dwelling in the Land of Desperation”. The first sermon dealt with Jairus the religious leader of Capernaum. He was dwelling in desperation due to his “dying daughter”. In this particular passage we find this woman that was also dwelling in desperation due to her “debilitating disease”.
This is like a parenthetical pause in this story; Jesus was on his way to heal the daughter of Jairus, but suddenly pauses to heal this woman. I find this to be a striking portrait of his life, his goal was to get to Calvary; but on his way he was always healing or helping people.
Jairus daughter was 12 – the woman had her disease 12 years
Jairus had a daughter – Jesus called the woman daughter
Jairus desired Jesus to touch his daughter – the woman desired to touch Jesus
Jairus desire was public – the woman’s was private
Jairus daughters condition grew even worse – the woman’s condition could get no worse
I – The Woman and her Strange Sickness “Diseased” (25)
Mar 5:25 KJV - And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
This woman was extremely sick and her sickness seemed to have no ending in sight. The story will unfold around this woman’s horrible disease, but rationally speaking this was a certain woman, that was someone’s daughter, she could have had siblings, she may have been a a wife, she could have even been a mother.
A) The Life of this Woman “She was somebody that was Sick”
The disease that this woman had was some sort of hemorrhaging, bleeding that never ended, over a span of 12 years. I like how Mark introduces here as “a certain woman”. I think way too often we fail to humanize the people we read of in the bible. This woman was somebody; she had previously lived her life just as everyone else lived their lives. Then one day her life was turned upside down by this debilitating disease that now gripped her body. This woman was now propelled maddeningly into the middle of the biggest storm she might ever face. The bible is very clear on how this woman was supposed to be treated as she lived with this disease, it can be found in Leviticus 15.
a. The Diagnosis - Unclean
b. The Discomfort – Unchanged
Lev 15:19-22 (KJV) And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. 20 And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean. 21 And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 22 And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
“DESPERATION IS A LONELY POEM”
Desperation is a lonely poem
And what I have to say
And have said so many times before
Will not save me
From this situation.
Desperation is a lonely poem
And a helpless poem
And a difficult poem
And a painful poem
And a poem I do not know how to get out of.
Desperation is the silence of all these words
And the nothingness of endless not hearing
When I cry with all my soul aloud.
Shalom Freedman
B) The Length of her Worries “She was somebody that was suffering”
This sickness had now been lingering around for 12 years and the woman had to have reached her wits end.
a. The Duration
b. The Drain
II – The Woman and her Sorrowful Search “Drained” (26)
Mar 5:26 KJV - And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
I think that this dear woman was drained from every venue she turned towards. One thing we do know about mankind is he will pay his last dollar to find one more breath of fresh air.
A) The Damage of her Remedies “Medical Failure”
The medical industry only depleted her of hope and help. No matter how many doctors she tried, the end result was the same, she was no better off. The woman may have tried every remedy, every recourse, every fad, every black market concoction, but to no avail.
- Dr. Pleasure eventually leaves one stranded
- Dr. Education leaves you filling frantic
- Dr. Religion only satisfies for a futile moment
The things that we try to fix the helplessness of being sinful beings separated from God. Deep desperate desperation drives us all.
B) The Depletion of her Resources “Meager Finances”
The moment one doctor is paid in full; this woman begins to save anew, hoping that the next one will be her miracle. This is the perfect portrait of a sinner trying to find the fulfillment of that God sized void within his heart. The moment we find out we are sinners we do all that we can to rectify the feeling of sinfulness, helplessness, and wretchedness, but when all is said and done we find ourselves bankrupt and no better off than when we begin. The search to relieve our desperation ends in more emptiness.
C) The Demise of her Recovery “Morbid Frailty”
The woman has finally come to grips that there seems to be no feasible outcome for her desperate position. This disease was bigger than any remedy mankind had to offer her; death would be her final abode. Is this not the place where God yearns for every fallen sinner to find himself in, recognizing he is lost, undone, Unsaveable, without the help of God.
This story reminds me of the desperation that Adam and Eve faced as they found themselves standing naked and barren in their sinful state, in the Garden of Eden. The moment the recognized their nakedness they strove to hide their nakedness and covered themselves up with fig leafs. This was not satisfying to the plan that God had for their sinful state. Man must realize that there is nothing he can do to satisfy the inward longing for God. In the heart of every sinner there is a God sized void that nothing can fill other than a personal one on one experience with The Very Son Of God. Jesus is the answer for this God sized void within each person.
III – The Woman and her Shining Stance “Dared” (27 – 28)
(Touched: to lay hold of, adhere to, fasten one too, and cling too)
Mar 5:27-28 (KJV) When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
This woman had heard of Jesus due to his previous miracles. The word had spread about how he had healed others. This woman was in the land of desperation and she had no other recourse. The health of this woman had deteriorated to the point of hopelessness; her hope had been replaced with skepticism and surrender to a horrific outcome. Then someone told her about this man called Jesus. He had healed so many others and it might be possible that he could heal her. It is awesome to see someone hear another person’s testimony. The Holy Spirit can take you account of salvation and light a fire in the heart of another person to be saved. It is of the utmost importance for us to share our story. This woman is now going to be healed, because someone told her about Jesus.
A) The Testimonies that Inspired Her “Public Record”
The stories about this man from Nazareth had inspired a burning desire inside her. He was now traveling through her town and nothing would hinder her from seeking him out.
B) The Target that Ignited Her “Pointed Resolve”
The fire within her had ignited to the point that she had somehow fanned a flicker of hope. This hope prompted her to consider sneaking in behind him and stealthily touch the hem of his garment.
It is an awesome event when we as born again believers can journey back to the time in our lives of seeking out Jesus. Do you remember when you tried to ease in and touch Him? What was your experience like, can you relate to this hushed and holy experience on the streets of Capernaum.
I remember when I had reached my wits end; I was living in the land of desperation. The Holy Spirit had already deeply convicted me of my sinful being, I realized I was lost and on my way to hell. It was my desire to be saved, but I didn’t know how to be saved. I tried everything I could to fix myself up, to make my life right. In the end I was at church on October 14th 1979 and the preacher told me I was on my way to hell, which I already knew. Then he told me how to be saved, those were the most precious insightful words I had ever heard. I was 19 years old and remember getting off of my pew and heading down to the altar. In all actuality I was probably saved before i got to the altar. This one thing I do know is that day i touched him for the first time in my life, but even more than that He touched me.
IV – The Woman and her Swift Sensation “Delivered” (29)
Mar 5:29 KJV - And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. (Calamity or misfortune sent by God to discipline or punish)
The very moment this woman touched the Lord, the bleeding within her body came to a screeching halt. The moment her faith; encountered his power there was a mighty transfusion took place within here body. This woman was about to experience a blood transfusion from the very Great Physician Himself.
A) It was a Phenomenal Touch “Immediate Feeling”
The word for feeling here indicates that she had an immediate knowledge that something had changed. The change within her was immediately familiar to her expectations. She was immediately healed and she felt it with open abandonment, she could proclaim that she was healed. I know we don’t get saved by feelings, but you explain to me how something as important as salvation cannot make a low down rotten sinner that has just been cleansed by his precious blood, not experience some feeling.
I know feelings had nothing to do with my salvation, but i do know i felt something. I was lost on my way to hell but when I touched him and he touched me something within me changed.
B) It was a Personal Touch “Individual Freedom”
The woman now experienced not just a feeling but a freedom. She had now been set free from her debilitating disease. Her freedom was awesome, the struggle was over, and the battle had been won. There would be no more endless visits to doctors, no more foolish remedies. The inner demons were now vanquished and victory had been achieved.
The main thing we need to see in the specific situation was there were many people jostling for the attention of Jesus, but this woman got her individual touch. The creator that flung this universe together at his beckoning call cares enough to take time for the personal touch. He will always allow time for the sinner to touch him and for him to touch the sinner. I remember when he touched me. It is an awesome experience to be able to stand up and boldly proclaim “He Touched Me”. I think that is as exciting as life can ever be, is when a sinner can confirm that he has been touched by the very Savior of all that are willing to place their trust in Him. The road in Capernaum was more like a line for people to encounter life everlasting and fervent fulfilling freedom.
V – The Woman and her Sovereign Savior “Detected” (30 – 32)
Mar 5:30-32 (KJV) And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
The moment she touched Him, Jesus knew virtue had left his body and that someone had just gotten divine healing. The events that followed were not because He did not know who touched Him, but for all that were present to hear the awesome story.
A) Christ Confronted her Desire
Jesus was now going to publicly challenge the very thing that this woman had wanted to do in private. The fact of salvation is that there is no room for secret Christians. If you are bold enough to accept his free gift, you have to be bold enough to admit it.
B) Christ Confirmed her Deliverance
Jesus made sure the crowd knew that something had happened. Jesus always prefers to make a big deal about a sinner’s one on one encounter with salvation. The scenario that followed was not in any way demeaning to this woman. Jesus wanted everyone to know that society was forbidden to touch this lady due to her disease, but she had now been publically delivered. The disease that had racked her body for 12 full years was not gone. This lady had now been set free. The public display that was now taking place was for her benefit, it was his public confirmation of her healing.
Jhn 8:36 KJV - If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
VI – The Woman and her Supreme Salvation “Delighted (33 – 34)
Mar 5:33-34 (KJV) But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. (This word implies a whip, a scourge, calamity sent by God to punish)
The streets had been packed with various people, but Jesus has now had 2 distinctly different encounters in a matter of minutes. Jairus had just flung himself meekly and humbly into the dust at Jesus feet begging for the healing of his precious daughter. Now this woman has just received healing for herself and is confronted as to what had happened, and she flings herself down at his precious feet. The feet of Jesus are a place of reverential respect and holy hush. It is a place where sinners have been saved, maniacs have been cured, dead have been raised, and storms have been calmed.
A) Her Personal Confession & Courage
The Lord wanted this woman to openly profess her experience. She was trembling with inward fear but she told him all the truth. I think once she begins to move her lips, her entire story rolled fluently off her lips. The woman now has a bright boldness to share her story with the Master.
B) Her Powerful Change & Cure
Jesus tells this woman that her faith had made her whole. I am not sure how much faith we all have but we all have enough to get saved. I do believe that everyone’s experience is vastly different, but each of us has an adequate amount of faith to be set free. Jesus reiterates that her plague had now been removed, it was gone and she was 100% fully cured of her prior disease and ailment.