Jesus Heals a Woman with Hemorrhage

In this episode, we reflect on the powerful story of the woman healed from a twelve-year hemorrhage, exploring the importance of persistent faith and obedience to Jesus. Join us as we dive into how her faith led to both physical and spiritual restoration, and how we can apply these lessons to our own lives. This episode encourages listeners to prioritize faith over worldly concerns and embrace the hope and healing found in Jesus Christ.

Gospel in the Air is a podcast ministry of Cornerstone Christian Church. We are located in Maui, Hawaii, USA. Our number is (808) 463-8859. You can also visit our website at www.cornerstonemaui.org or you can send your email to danibanggo@gmail.com.

Transcript

Episode 27

Jesus Heals a Hemorrhagic Woman

Mark 5:24-34 

© Dani Banggo 03/04/2025

From the beautiful island of Maui, Hawaii, I extend a warm aloha to you! I hope this message reaches you in good spirits. Once again, I invite you to join me in our devotional meditation on this splendid day. But before we dive in, let's take a moment to pray.

Father God, thank you for this wonderful day. You've graciously given us another day to live, reminding us of your immense love and eternal faithfulness. It's a tremendous blessing that this podcast, “Gospel in the Air,” reaches everyone's ears at this moment. May your Spirit convey the truth about your Son, who is our only hope for eternal life. I ask for your anointing to speak clearly about your love and salvation so that people will come forward and accept your offer of grace through Jesus Christ. May they be inspired, challenged, and moved to surrender their lives to His Lordship. In His name, I pray, amen.

Today's devotional reading is taken from the book of Mark chapter 5 verses 24b through 34. Let me read these verses to you.

A large crowd followed and pressed around him.

25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for 12 years.

26 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. 

27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 

29 Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 

30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from hem. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 

31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, who touched me?” 

32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 

33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 

34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” 

The title of our devotional meditation is, "Jesus Heals a Woman with Hemorrhage."

After arriving from the other side of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus entered the region of the Gadarenes. There, He performed a remarkable miracle by freeing a man possessed by a legion of demons. This extraordinary event demonstrated that Jesus Christ is truly the Lord of all. The power of Satan and his legion of demons is no match for Jesus. They can only cower in fear and tremble at the mere mention of His name. In the presence of the Son of God, all Satan’s forces can do is bow down before Him, acknowledging His authority, majesty, and the splendor of His glory.

As a result of this event, the entire region of Gerasene was in awe and great panic after hearing about what Jesus had done to the demon-possessed man, especially the damage to their economy when a herd of about two thousand pigs drowned in the lake because of the miracle. The people focused more on their financial loss than on the miracle itself. Fearing that Jesus might cause even more significant damage to their economy and bring further trouble, they begged him to leave immediately. They were afraid that if he stayed any longer, he would cause them more problems.

How unfortunate these people are because they missed the greatest opportunity of their lives! Had they recognized Jesus Christ, the Son of God, they would not have treated Him this way, trading His divine blessings for their worldly desires. This mirrors the situation today, which has become overly materialistic. Many have been misled into believing that money and career are the ultimate achievements, especially in the face of today's challenging economy. Recall how the Lord responded to Satan's deceit about worldly riches? He said, "Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." This is precisely what the Gadarenes missed when Jesus was among them. They failed to grasp what truly mattered in life, exchanging their eternal reward for the insignificant loss of the drowned pigs. Poor Gadarenes! They were so consumed by the worries and concerns of this life that they didn't have room for Him. Consequently, Jesus had to leave because they didn't want Him around; they were too occupied with their worldly pursuits to welcome Him into their lives.

My friend, be vigilant, your life is not just meant for labor and toil. You were created for more than what you might perceive today. You are God's masterpiece, the pinnacle of His creation. Use your body to glorify and praise Him, which is your reasonable act of worship (Rom. 12:1). We value hard work, industry, and investment, but these are not the ultimate goals. The Lord instructs us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness before anything else. Leave all your cares and worries to God, for He knows your needs even before you do. If you prioritize Him above all else, He promises blessings, saying, "all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33). God is faithful and true to His word. He will fulfill His promises. Why not try obeying His words? Trust in God, have confidence in Him, and you will see His glory shine upon you. 

Upon returning to Capernaum, Jesus and his disciples were greeted by a large crowd eagerly awaiting their arrival. Among them was a woman who had been suffering from continuous bleeding for twelve long years. She had spent all her money seeking treatment from various doctors, but her condition only worsened.

Given the cultural context of that era, especially regarding women with such conditions, she was essentially isolated cut off personally, socially, and spiritually from her own people. According to Leviticus 15:19-30, a woman in her condition was considered defiling, meaning she needed to be quarantined or separated from the community to prevent others from becoming ceremonially unclean by touching anything she touched or sitting where she sat. Those who became unclean needed to undergo ritualistic cleansing to avoid the danger of dying in their uncleanness.

Metaphorically, this woman is like a social outcast, like a leper whom everyone avoids. She carries a stigma that no amount of bathing or perfume can cleanse. As a result, she is forbidden from participating in public gatherings unless she undergoes ritualistic purification at the temple. Therefore, by venturing into a public space and pushing through the crowds to touch Jesus, she is committing a serious offense under Mosaic Law. Indeed, this act is a violation of the strict Jewish cleanliness ordinances. It was incredibly risky for her to undertake such an unlawful action.

Today, I want to share some spiritual insights from this lesson and apply biblical principles to our lives to help us grow in the Lord.

The first point is that the hemorrhagic woman acted on her faith that only Jesus could heal her.

Notice how she acted on her faith; the reading mentions that she persisted just to touch Jesus' clothes. In other words, she pushed her way through the dense crowd despite the risks involved. Just imagine this situation. It isn't easy to navigate through the crowd and reach Jesus. It requires determination to push through the throng of people. Consider not only her predicament under Mosaic Law but also her physical condition. Being continuously ill for twelve long years with this type of illness is unimaginable. She was physically weak and incapacitated. Yet, her condition didn't prevent her from risking her life. She persevered, continuing until she finally touched Jesus' clothes.

Notice that it wasn't just her faith, but also her obedience to that faith in Jesus, that compelled her to push forward. In other words, she acted on her belief. This is like what happened with early Christian converts. Acts 6:7 states, "So the Word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith." Indeed, it was her obedience to her faith that drove her to pursue healing. Her obedience gave her the strength to push through the crowd, the determination not to give up, and the courage to defy the social and religious norms of her time. Simply believing that Jesus could heal her was not enough; she acted based on that belief. She didn't wait passively for Jesus to heal her; instead, she actively sought Him out, pushing through until she finally received her healing. She persisted and kept pressing on.

She pressed forward into the crowd, despite the potential consequences, until she finally reached Jesus and touched His clothes, resulting in her complete healing. This concept is echoed in Galatians 6:9: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” It highlights the principle of perseverance and reward—just as a farmer anticipates challenges but continues working diligently and patiently awaits the harvest, so we should persist in our faith.

If you find yourself facing significant trials, much like the hemorrhagic woman who suffered for twelve years, don't lose hope. Even if life's opportunities seem closed off and problems appear unending, remember not to give up. Keep pressing on in faith, and you will eventually overcome. Scripture reassures us that those born of God overcome the world. As stated in 1 John 5:4-5, "This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."

Indeed, if we patiently hold on and diligently work out our faith with reverence and awe, we will eventually see the awaited results from the Lord. The scripture remains true, and this hemorrhagic woman exemplifies our relationship with Jesus Christ. The Lord encourages us to maintain our faith firmly, not giving up but persistently pressing on with faith and patience until we finally witness the fulfillment of God’s will and purpose for our lives.

Thomas Edison is a man who did not easily give up on bringing electric light to the world. Despite numerous failures and spending a lot of time, energy, and money, his perseverance was finally rewarded after a year of intensive experiments. On October 21, 1879, after 13 months in the laboratory, Thomas Edison triumphantly gave the world its first electric light!

It is incredibly inspiring to think of someone like Thomas Edison, whose remarkable achievements and contributions to humanity were the result of unwavering persistence and determination, despite numerous setbacks. Individuals like Edison are driven by a deep sense of purpose and conviction, remaining steadfast in their goals regardless of failures or uncertain futures. They clearly understand their life's calling and the reasons behind their existence.

If a man like Thomas Edison could achieve incredible feats through perseverance, there is one even greater, who endured the agony of Calvary. Unlike anyone else, despite being rejected and despised by many, His death on the cross transformed the world forever. He reconciled us with His Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ, God's Son, came into the world so that you and I might have eternal life if we believe in Him and trust Him. The sole condition is to accept His offer of grace for your salvation. God has already done His part; what about you, my friend? Tomorrow may be too late. You might think you are in control of your life, but you are mistaken. Life is too short and although you may be strong and healthy today, are you certain about tomorrow? The Bible says, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever” (1 Pet.1: 24, 25). Why not decide now? Now is the time to press on and touch the garment of Jesus Christ, just as the hemorrhagic woman did, and be healed. This leads us to the second and final point, which is…

The hemorrhagic woman confessed everything to Jesus.

Amidst the bustling crowd, Jesus immediately sensed the woman's touch and inquired, "Who touched me?" This question wasn't because He didn't know, but because He wanted to bring the woman's faith into the open. 9 hide from the Lord, as He knows the secret actions of both sin and faith, reading our thoughts and hearts effortlessly. Proverbs 28:13 states, "Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy." When Jesus asked this, the woman, trembling, fell to her knees before Him and confessed the whole truth.

At that very moment, the Lord not only healed the woman from her illness but also restored her to her original standing with God by saying, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." How blessed this woman was. She was forgiven, cleansed from unrighteousness, and restored to her rightful relationship as a daughter of God. She was completely restored because she pressed on, never gave up, reformed her ways, and did not compromise her faith in Jesus. As a result, she was made whole physically, socially, and spiritually.

This woman's twelve years of continuous bleeding symbolizes our hopelessness before we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Her bleeding condition represents our sinfulness. The only way to be healed and made whole is to persist in our faith in Jesus. 

Indeed, God is exceedingly gracious towards all of us. He does not take pleasure in our current state as sinners. His desire is for humanity to be saved. “God is patient with you,” yes, with you and me, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). If you have not yet accepted the Lord as your Savior, your condition is akin to the hemorrhagic woman who was considered unclean and spiritually defiled. You need to persist in faith as she did. She demonstrated her faith by reaching out to touch the garment of Jesus Christ. Consequently, she was not only healed but also forgiven of her sins and restored to her rightful place as a daughter of God.

The word of God is clear; humanity is given only two paths to choose from: eternal life or eternal damnation. Yes, there is a literal place called hell, designed specifically for Satan and his fallen angels who rebelled against Almighty God (Rev. 12: 3-4), but it is now also extended to those who continuously defy God’s mercy and grace by arrogantly rejecting His plan of salvation. 2 Thessalonians 1: 8-9 warns, He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.

This is the core message of the cross: despite our sinfulness, there is hope in Jesus Christ. While anyone touched by the hemorrhagic woman would traditionally be considered defiled, this is not the case with Jesus. Sin has no power over Him. This is good news. In Him, there is hope.

My friend, the Lord, is deeply concerned about you at this very moment. He is offering you an opportunity to reconsider your choices in life before it’s too late. Listen to the prayer of Moses: since the average span of our life is 70 to 80 years and then we die, so Moses prayed to God pleading “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Ps. 90:10, 12).

Have you determined where you will spend eternity? Or are you so preoccupied with material things that you have no time for your soul? Life is uncertain. Death can come suddenly at any time, in any place, under any circumstances. If you have not yet surrendered your life to Jesus Christ by faith, you must act now and be faithful to your belief. The Bible tells us that there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10).

I hope you have been blessed today. Please continue to stay tuned and share this message with your family and friends. May you be strengthened and encouraged in your journey of faith. Thank you for the privilege of your time. This is your host, brother Dani Marantan Banggo, reminding you to keep fighting the good fight of faith. Until next time, Mahalo!