Life of Christ Lesson 62a: The Great Physician {Touching the Hem} - Part II

Mark 5:25-34 (also Matthew 9:20-22 and Luke 8:43-48) is the record of the Lord's encounter, as He was on His way to Jairus' house to see his 12-year old daughter, who was dying, with a woman who suffered from an issue of blood for 12 years. Not only did the woman suffer physically (never finding any physician who could help her), but she also emotionally and socially. Her ailment made her ceremonially unclean, so in Jewish society this meant she would be excluded from all social gatherings, including to worship in her local synagogue. The woman heard about Jesus and His incredible healing powers. Thus, when she found out He was in her hometown of Capernaum, she carefully joined the thronging crowd around Him as He made His way to Jairus' house. She believed that if she could just reach out and slightly touch His clothing (not Him), that she would be made whole! When she managed to touch the hem of the Lord's clothes, the Lord felt power issue forth from Him. He knew someone had reached out to Him in faith, and when the woman came forward to share "all the truth" about her situation and what she had done in secretly touching His garment, the Lord, on the only occasion in the gospel accounts, called her "Daughter". Then He said to her, "Thy faith hath made thee whole" (5:34). It is a beautiful story about our Great Physician!