"Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse." (Mark 5:25-26, NKJV)
This woman had a condition that caused her to bleed for 12 years. I can imagine that this woman felt ashamed, hopeless, and was emotionally drained. She was also considered unclean. So, I'm sure very few people wanted to be around her. She was alone. She was desperate.
For years, she tried countless doctors with hopes that
she would be healed. But, she didn't get healed. In fact, her condition grew
worse. And, not only did her condition worsen, she also spent all of her
resources.
She did all, within her power, to be healed.
This woman was desperate and needed a miracle. But, she
finally realized that the power to change her condition was beyond her control.
I know that all of us, have experienced things or gone
through situations that allow us to relate to her. Issues and problems can drive
you to a point of desperation.
And try as you may, you finally realize that you can't
change it. Your "works" don't work. Your fleshly efforts accomplish
nothing.
You've tried this method. Tried this diet. Tried this
approach.
But, nothing worked. You become desperate for
change.
This woman had heard about Jesus. And, at her point
of absolute desperation, she found herself in his midst. In His
presence.
The funny thing about desperation is that it has a way
of causing you to end up in His presence.
Because desperation shows us that we are humans with
limited abilities and resources who desperately need to experience a God whose
power is unlimited.
The woman that we read about found herself, in her
moment of desperation, in the presence of the One, who alone had power to change
her situation. And while in His presence, she responded properly. She touched
Him.
Let's go back to Mark 5.
When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him
into the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch
His clothes, I shall be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood
was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.
And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him,
turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” But His
disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who
touched Me?’ ” And He looked around to see her who had done this thing.
(33)But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came
and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her,
“Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your
affliction.” (Mark 5:25-34, NKJV)
She had heard about Jesus, and she purposed in her mind
"If I can just touch HIS garments, I'll be healed!"
Desperation drove her as she pressed through the multitude. She had faith and believed that just touching the clothes of the Jesus she had heard about could change her condition.
And when she touched him, immediately she was healed.
Immediately the blood which flowed for 12 years dried up.
One touch did what countless doctors couldn't do. One
touch caused her to receive what her money couldn't buy.
But her touch wasn't just an ordinary touch. It was a
touch of desperation, brokeness and faith.
And this touch caused her to experience the
life-changing power of God.
Our money and intellect can't tap into the power of God.
But, our faith in who He is causes us to tap into His power.
Her touch of desperation made Jesus stop in the midst of
the crowd and ask, "Who touched me?" Yes, there may have been a crowd pressing
him. But they were mere spectators.
This woman wasn't a spectator. She came to Jesus knowing
and expecting her situation to change. She touched him knowing and believing
that she would be healed. This woman knew that what she so desperately needed, Jesus already was! He was
healing.
We have to know that whatever we need from God, He
already is.
If you need peace, He is your peace. If you need
deliverance, He is your deliverer.
This woman knew that He alone could heal her body. She
was not a spectator.
Let me tell you about Spectators. Spectators don't move
God. Jesus felt power leave his body, when she touched him. When the spectators
that were in the crowd touched him, nothing happened. Jesus knew her touch was
different. Her touch tapped into His power. Her touch tapped into all that He
is.
She believed that He is. And because she believed, she
received all that He is.
When you believe that He is, you receive all that He is.
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for
he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those
who diligently seek Him." -Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
Let your desperation drive you into His presence and
receive all that He is.