Years of seeking help from doctors and getting no where in getting rid of her problem, she had been bleeding for a long time. She had heard stories of Jesus and how He has healed people. Embarrassed of her problem and knowing that most Jews saw her unclean, she thought that if He was ever passing by all she needed to do was to touch His robe and she would be healed. No one would know it could be just her little secret. But when?
Finally, she heard that Jesus was going to be close by. The crowd around Him was huge. She was glad because she was assured that no one would see that she touched Him. It seemed that others were trying to touch Him too. No one would know.
Just after she touched the hem of Jesus' robe He stopped. Turning looking at the crowd He asked for the person that touched Him. Her heart leaped to her throat. "How could He know?", she thought to herself. Which also seemed to be the question that His disciples and everyone else was asking too. The He explained that He felt the power leave Him. His eyes seemed to have been piercing straight to her heart. No longer could she hide. He knew and now she must confess.
Sheepishly she stepped forward, hearing the gasp of the people around her. She fell to her knees, declared to Him why she touched His clothes, and by doing so she was instantly healed. Fearing His response she kneeled there trembling. It seemed like hours had gone by. Then she heard Him say, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace."
What a story of faith. There are several things that we can learn about faith.
Faith In Action
The woman believe that Jesus could heal her from what she had heard. Merely hearing about Jesus and believing that He could heal her was not enough to heal her. It was that step of faith where she put her belief into the action of touching His clothes that healed her. Much like what James wrote; "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself." James 2:17 NASB
Faith Is Public
Jesus does not want us to hide behind our faith. He wants us to share it with everyone. Just like when He had the woman make a public confession of her faith in Him. Paul wrote in Romans; “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” Romans 10:9-10 NASB
Faith Pleases God
Jesus when He asked who touched Him, didn't do it out of anger. He was pleased at the faith that the woman had and sought to set her as an example of how faith pleases God. “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6 NASB
Faith Brings Peace
Lastly, we see that when you place your faith in what Jesus can do He will give you peace. No longer did the woman have to suffer physically, she didn't have to suffer emotionally anymore. She would no longer be considered unclean because of what Jesus had done. She was whole; emotionally, physically and spiritually. She had peace in her life. Peace that Jesus, Himself granted her.
What is your faith in? Is it in Jesus or what you can do?