Scripture Reading: “For she thought, ‘If I just touch the hem of His garment, I shall get well.’ And immediately . . . she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.” (Mark 5:28-29)
Growing up, our family enjoyed watching the popular television series Superman; however, my younger brother was particularly keen. He begged for his own Superman cape – and finally my mother took an old bath towel, drew a giant “S” on it, and tied it around his neck. Moments later, as she was washing dishes, she spotted my brother “flying” past the kitchen window in a rapid descent to the ground, from the roof – his “cape” barely flapping in the breeze! It must have made perfect sense to him: he loved Superman. And, as the child that he was, he put all his faith in that cape – believing it would let him fly.
In today’s story (see Mark 25-34), this woman exhibited tremendous faith. Having had a hemorrhage for 12 years, she was not only physically ill, but according to Levitical law was marked as unclean: a social outcast. Can you imagine her loneliness and desperation to be made well? But, “after hearing about Jesus,” her faith in Him was ignited – a faith so strong and sure that her healing came about before Jesus even saw her or touched her. Reaching out, she literally tapped into his power and mercy. Even Jesus confirmed that it was her faith that had made her well (v. 34): faith in HIM!
Let’s look briefly at the kind of faith the woman had in our story:
1. Her faith was bold. She muscled her way through the crowd, in spite of her situation in life, and did whatever she had to do in order to access Jesus – her only hope.
2. Her faith was focused. She wanted Jesus and no other and refused to be distracted or deterred from her goal. She didn’t care about the consequences.
3. Her faith was humble. It’s interesting that she positioned herself to touch the hem, or bottom part of the garment, near Jesus’ feet. This means she bowed not before him, but behind him – the ultimate expression of humility.
4. Her faith was expectant. She thought (believed), “If I just touch the hem of His garment, I shall get well.” No doubts, no ifs or maybes, but “I SHALL get well.”
If you’re like me, your faith is often less than bold, focused, humble, and expectant. But, God is able! He is able to increase our faith if we ask, and He loves to give good gifts to his children (Matt. 7:11). The gift of faith is one of his very best.
Let’s face it, this world offers us all kinds of super-heroes to trust and believe in, and most of them don’t fly around wearing capes! We can place our trust in people, institutions, ideologies, religion, finances, and accomplishments – but they cannot save.
Charles Spurgeon said it well, “What is the object of faith, then? It is a person, a living, divine, appointed person. And who is that person? He is none other than Jesus.”
Thank you, Lord, for your wonderful gift of faith. Help me to grow in that faith, becoming more certain of you each day, trusting in you alone with all my heart, reaching out to you and claiming your power and mercy, resting in your everlasting goodness and love. Amen.