Mark 5:31-35
Mark 5:31 (KJB)
And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and
sayest thou, Who touched me?
The disciples did not understand what had transpired at this point. The woman
who touched the garment of Jesus was a believer because she exercised great
faith in believing Jesus could heal her. The disciples were amazed that the
crowd was so huge and pressing and so many were touching Him that they could not
figure out how He asked who touched Him. They probably thought the question
Jesus asked was a little out of the ordinary considering the crowd. The
disciples did not see a faith event in action as all they saw was the great
crowd which surrounded Jesus. Here Jesus was on His way to the house of Jairus
and stopped on the way to meet the needs of this woman. This should give every
Christian great encouragement because in this busy world, which seems busy to
us, Jesus will always have time for His children on any matter.
Mark 5:32 (KJB)
And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
After Jesus had asked the question, the next thing He did was turn around and
speak to the woman who touched His garment. Jesus knew who touched Him because
He turned around and knew it was a woman who touched Him. Jesus now wanted to
see the face of the woman.
Mark 5:33 (KJB)
But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell
down before him, and told him all the truth.
The reason the woman had feared and trembled when Jesus looked at her was
because in that culture it was almost a sacrilege for woman to have an open
conversation in public, never mind reaching and touching the man’s garment.
Another reason was because she was unclean according to the law, she would have
ceremonially defiled everyone she came in contact with and that would have
included Jesus. This is why she trembled because if Jesus would have been the
same ilk as the Pharisees, then charges could have been brought against her for
violating the law. Then, instead of her trying to escape, she told Jesus
everything which had befallen her and especially about the plague which she
suffered from. This shows that a believer can come to Jesus with any problem,
even one that is temporary in this life, and they will never be turned away.
Mark 5:34 (KJB)
And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and
be whole of thy plague.
Here we have the answer to the question where her faith lied. Her faith was in
Jesus and His ability to heal her. Jesus responded to the faith that she had
shown in Him and as a result she was healed from that very hour and no longer
would she be unclean. She would now have to show herself to the priest so she
would be officially permitted to rejoin the Jewish community in Capernaum. The
woman was initially frightened. However, when she told Jesus everything, He did
not chide her instead He encouraged and comforted her which resulted in her
healing. Notice how He calls her “daughter.” Jesus had healed another woman of
an infirmity which she had for 18 years and calls her a daughter of Abraham.
(Luke 13:16 KJV) And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom
Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the
sabbath day? Both of them had become saved. This is why Jesus told her to
go in peace. It was the peace of God which was bestowed upon her in salvation.
(Phil 4:7 KJV) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall
keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Mark 5:35 (KJB)
While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain
which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?
Just as the delay when Jesus received word of Lazarus being sick caused Lazarus
to die. The delay here with the woman who had the issue of blood caused the girl
to die. Once the little girl was pronounced dead by those who attended her, the
people looked at it as finality. In fact, they even told Jairus that he need not
bother the Master any further. Little did they know that just as Jesus had
authority over disease, He also had authority over death. Jairus may have felt
bad that there was so much delay and probably thought like Martha that if Jesus
would have arrived in time then Lazarus would not have died.