Touched

Have you ever watched a movie or TV show that had three or four parallel storylines going at the same time? This section of Mark is like that. This interaction between Jesus and this woman takes place while he is headed to help another girl. If you look closer there is yet another parallel story within this story. Notice the very last statement Jesus makes to the woman. Jesus says, “…Go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” She has already been healed, why did Jesus need to say that?

This woman had just touched the end of Jesus’ garment and been physically healed but she is still full of shame and fear. During her 12-year illness she had been a social outcast, seen as unclean. When Jesus unexpectedly senses power going out from him and stops, her heart runs back to the patterns of fear she has learned. Notice how she approaches Jesus. She, “came in fear and trembling” before Jesus. Jesus then performs a different and deeper healing for her. He heals her wounded heart by the gentle way he speaks to her. He tells her to go in peace and be healed, not only of her physical ailment, but of her soul sorrow.