Lord’s Day, Vol. 8 No. 9

She Was Healed of That Plague

²¹And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea…²⁵And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, ²⁶And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, ²⁷When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. ²⁸For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. ²⁹And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. ³⁰And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? ³¹And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? ³²And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. ³³But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. ³⁴And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. (Mk. 5:21, 25-34 KJV)

There was a woman who was plagued with a sickness for twelve long years. Seeking treatment for her illness has cost all her savings. And yet she was not cured till she met Jesus. 

JC Ryle observed well, “Great is His sympathy with His sick and ailing members! … The Saviour of the Christian is always set before us as gentle, and easy to be entreated, the refuge of the weak and helpless, the comforter of the distressed, the sick man’s best friend. And is not this just the Saviour that human nature needs?”

Dear readers, are you troubled with sickness? There is help in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Great Physician. 

We observe this woman’s desperate plight and her determination to seek Jesus to help her. There was a throng of people in the way before she could get to Jesus. In her physical weakness, she managed to draw her enough to touch but the helm of His garment and she was healed. What a miracle! What power!

²⁷When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. ²⁸For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. ²⁹And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

It was observed that many followed with curiosity, and derived no benefit from Him. But we are only told one person who “came in the press behind,” and touched Him with faith and was healed. One and only one, followed under a deep sense. Of her need, and of our Saviour’s power to relief her, and that one received a mighty blessing. [RC Ryle]

In this time of great fear and panic from the lurking death threat of a silent travelling virus spreading seemingly around the world causing stock markets reeling downwards, and frightened individuals and families fearing to be infected, the greatest assurance is to have Jesus with us.

Jesus demonstrated His power to heal the seemingly incurable disease of the poor woman, who found no known vaccine for her cure, till she found Jesus, the “Great Physician”.

The great Physician now is near –

The sympathizing Jesus;

He speaks the drooping heart to cheer – 

O hear the voice of Jesus!

Sweetest note in seraph song,

Sweetest name on mortal tongue,

Sweetest carol ever sung –

Jesus, blessed Jesus!

This woman came to Jesus with her disease, tears and fears but left with the cure, comfort and peace – ³⁴And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. 

This woman sought Jesus and believed He could help her and indeed she was henceforth healed and happy.

RC Ryle said well, “Of all the Christian graces, none is so frequently mentioned in the New Testament as faith, and none is so highly recommended. No grace brings such glory to Christ. Hope brings an eager expectation of good things to come. Love brings a warm and willing heart. Faith brings an empty hand, receives everything, and can give nothing in return. By faith we begin. By faith we live. By faith we stand. We walk by faith and not by sight. By faith we overcome. By faith we have peace. By faith we have rest. No grace should be the subject of such self-inquiry. We should often ask ourselves, “Do I believe? Is my faith true, genuine, and the gift of God?” 

He further exhorts us, “Jesus is still gracious and mighty to save. There is but one thing needful if we want salvation. That one thing is the hand of faith. Let a man only “touch” Jesus, and he shall be made whole.”

Having been made whole, the people of God are exhorted to share with others the power of Jesus to save not just the body but more importantly the sin-ridden soul from the eternal judgment in hellfire.

‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to take Him at His Word,

Just to rest upon His promise,

Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord”

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!

How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er!

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

O for grace to trust Him more!

May the Lord help us to learn well to trust in Jesus in our times of testing. Amen.

Yours lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee