How many of you have been brokenhearted? If you have lived very long, you have experienced this feeling. It may have been the loss of a loved one, the betrayal of a friend, or a child that has gone astray. In scripture, we see the healer of the brokenhearted. In Isiah 61:1 it states, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;” In the New Testament, we find Jesus repeating this to those he came to seek and to save in Luke 4:18.
We find Jesus fulfilling his role as the healer of the broken-hearted all throughout his ministry. Today we will look at the woman with an issue of blood in Mark 5:21-34.
Mar 5:25-34 “And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”
First, we see Jesus in the middle of a crowd of people, some seeking him, some seeking a “show.” This chapter gives several situations where Jesus exhibited his mighty power, but most of all his compassionate love. This woman had an “issue” of blood for twelve years. In her time and culture, she was considered unclean, Leviticus 15:25, excluded her from having any sort of life where she would have social contact.
Second, she was now physically weak because of the loss of much blood. She proved her belief in Jesus because she used all her strength to get to him. I assume she touched the hem of his garment because she was too weak to stand.
Third, she believed strong enough that she was willing to risk the scorn and jeers from the crowd, just to touch him. As a woman, seeking to touch a man, she would be ridiculed and counted worthless because she could not bear children. She would no longer be capable or allowed to participate in traditional activities, including the duties of wife and mother.
Forth, the intense loneliness and shame must have led to deep depression. To live with no hope must be the worst state of all.
Once she met Jesus all things changed! Not only did he heal her physically, but now hope was alive! Instead of people fleeing from her, there were those running to her. The curious wanted to see for themselves the change in this woman.
In desperation, she seeks Jesus. He was her last hope. All her money was gone. After 12 years of being alone, she had reached a point of desperation most of us have never known. She had no one to love her, no one who cared. Yet in one moment, with one touch of his garment, her entire future was changed for all eternity.
Whether we recognize it or not we’re all broken and need a touch from the great physician. We all need someone to love and someone to love us. We all need hope, and we all need something to do. Jesus provides all of that when we are touched by him. We are no different from this woman seeking Jesus. He heals us and sets us free. There is no other way to be made whole.
Psalm 34:18 “The LORD is near unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
How desperate are you for a touch?
Where are you placing your hope? In a job, family, friends?
Can you recall a time when you were so broken you ran to Jesus?
