Woman Confesses Before Jesus and the Crowdby CBPepper
8:48Luke 8:48
And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
Jesus spoke these words to the suffering woman who after twelve incurable years spent in poverty touched the hem of His garment in the crowd and was instantly healed, calling her Daughter, bidding her take courage, declaring her faith had made her whole, and sending her away in peace. He spoke gently from sympathy with no censure, approving her trust and reassuring her fear that she had presumed or offended, so her joy would not be embittered. Her healing came not from the garment or the outward touch but from personal, purposeful faith reaching out to His divine power, unlike the casual pressing of the crowd that received nothing. He would not let such trust pass in secret but drew her to confess openly before the multitude, distinguishing the touch of faith and teaching that the gifts of the gospel are not to be taken by stealth but openly acknowledged to glorify God. As He deals with bodily infirmity He deals with the repentant soul defiled by sin, so the touch of faith that looks to Him brings pardon and peace, and saving faith joins the soul to God in covenant relation with strength to overcome and obey.
Story Setting and Background
This healing took place on the way to raise Jairus' daughter, an account recorded in Matthew 9:18-31, Mark 5:21-43, and Luke 8:41-55. Jesus had just returned from healing the demoniacs at Gadara when Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, fell at His feet pleading for his dying little daughter. Jesus went with him toward his home, slowed by the pressing crowd that thronged Him.
In that crowd was a woman who had suffered twelve long years with a disease that made her life a burden. She had spent all her substance upon physicians and remedies seeking cure of her grievous malady, but with no improvement, and was pronounced incurable and given up to die. She was reduced to poverty and near loss of life. Her faith revived when she heard of the wonderful cures effected by Jesus, believing that if she could come into His presence He would take pity on her and heal her, and that even touching His garment would relieve her. Suffering with pain and weakness she came to the seaside where He was teaching and sought to press through the crowd that hedged up her way, until He came within her reach as He went with Jairus.
She concentrated all the faith of her life in that one touch. Pressed forward amid confusion where she could not be heard nor catch more than a passing glimpse, she touched the hem of His garment with her finger. At once she felt herself healed, with health and strength replacing weakness and pain, and her long pain and weakness disappeared immediately. Sending the healed woman away comforted and rejoicing encouraged Jairus to believe still more firmly that Jesus was able to grant his petition, his hope grew stronger, and he urged Jesus to hasten with him to his home. The larger account of Jairus' daughter illustrates power over death, emphasizing that the girl was raised and that at His return His voice will call the dead in Christ from their tombs to immortal life.
Christ's Comforting Words
He spoke gently from a heart of love filled with sympathy for human suffering, giving only approval and no censure as He approved her act of faith and comforted her so that her joy would not be embittered by fear. She had feared that to touch His garment was presumption and that she had given offense, and He reassured her that she had not offended Him and need not fear. He wanted her to know that He had healed consciously, that He knew her suffering, that He loved her with compassion, and that He approved her trust in His power to save to the uttermost all who come to Him. He would not let her depart with only a half blessing in ignorance of His knowledge, His love, and His approval, but gave her hope and peace and sent her away comforted and rejoicing. He calls her Daughter, bids her be of good comfort and take courage, declares that her faith has made her whole, and sends her away in peace. That healing and assurance remain a lasting source of comfort to His followers, showing His healing as available to people in their times of pain.
Knowing all the circumstances He would not let such confidence and trust pass without comment, but insisted on knowing who had touched Him until she came forward trembling, knelt at His feet, and told before the multitude her long suffering and instant relief. He distinguished her touch of faith from the casual contact of the careless crowd pressing around Him, recognizing that virtue had gone out from Him and that her contact by faith alone had brought healing power and restoration. In saying her faith had made her whole He taught all present that no virtue in the simple act of touching His clothes wrought the cure, but strong faith reaching out and claiming His divine help, lest anyone credit the garment itself with healing virtue or treat the act as superstition. He met her with approval, comfort, and peace rather than rebuke, commending rather than condemning her action and making clear that touching Him in faith was not presumption. He made her trust known so that she would understand His compassionate care and the people would see that faith had brought the healing, and her grateful confession before the crowd glorified God.
The gifts the gospel offers are not to be secured by stealth or enjoyed in secret, but those healed are called to openly acknowledge the blessing received. His words of comfort and healing to the woman of Capernaum also speak to afflicted, sin-burdened people throughout the ages who seek His help with like faith. His promise is a direct word to each person, communicating grace and power and giving courage, faith, and strength for life. He comforted the woman after she silently touched the hem of His garment and connected her healing with her faith, giving her hope and peace.
Faith That Receives Healing
Her healing did not come from the outward physical contact with His clothes, and there was no healing virtue in the simple act of touching or in the garment itself. It came through strong faith reaching out to claim His divine help and taking hold of His divine power, and His words teach that truth openly to all present so no one would credit the object or a superstitious act. He spoke publicly for that purpose, that the cure would be understood as the answer of divine power to trust in His power to save to the uttermost all who come to Him.
Genuine faith is more than being near Him, pressing close in the crowd, touching Him casually, or merely believing about Him. The crowd jostled Him and received nothing from contact, but she reached out in personal, trusting, purposeful, living faith toward His person and power. He distinguished that touch of faith from casual jostling, recognized it at once, answered it with healing power, and would not let it pass unnoticed. Her touch expressed unquestioning, earnest trust, and after twelve years of suffering with no improvement from physicians she was made whole at once, which shows that faith receives His power and gives reason to trust God.
Her faith was not in the garment she touched but in Christ's power, concentrated in that touch, and divine power answered that firm belief with immediate healing. She had become certain that even touching His garment would relieve her sickness because she firmly believed He could heal her, and health and strength at once replaced her weakness and pain.
Faith need not be accompanied by intense emotion, loud petitions, noisy prayer, outward exertion, physical exercise, or feelings worked up to high excitement. Even a silent, simple, childlike prayer that takes God at His word, relies on His power to save, and trusts His promises reaches the Saviour and receives blessing in return. He also hears with pity the strong cries and tears forced out by conflict with doubt and temptation or by the agony of guilt, but He does not fail to answer the silent prayer of faith.
Humanity connected with divinity by living, active faith receives blessing, because He came to earth to bring divinity to humanity. Sufferers who believed they would be healed by drawing near and touching Him were healed, and their distress and gloom became joy and thanksgiving. After seeing Him healing the sick she hoped for healing herself, waited her opportunity in the dense throng, reached within reach and touched the hem of His garment with her finger, and was made whole immediately.
He recognizes the motive of every movement of action and judges its worth by whether it is to do His will, and He never passes such an act by. Her touch came from that motive, so when she confessed her act she confirmed that she had been healed, which He then made a gift to her.
Saving Faith and Covenant Union
The faith that made her whole is more than agreeing that Christ is the world's Saviour, more than casual religious talk and prayer without real soul hunger, and more than merely believing about Him, for the crowd pressed close and received nothing from contact while she reached out in personal trust and was healed. That saving faith receives Him as a personal Saviour, makes His merits one's own, trusts His saving grace, believes that grace is received, lives by faith in the Son of God who loved and gave Himself, and does not wait for complete knowledge. It is a living, confident trust that joins the person to God in covenant relation, and through His grace gives the soul increasing strength, vigor, and conquering power to overcome. The poor suffering woman who had been an invalid for twelve years put forth her hand in great need and touched the hem of His garment in that touch of faith, felt healing virtue go out, and was recognized and approved rather than rebuked.
The faith that made her whole expresses supreme preference, perfect reliance, and entire consecration, works by love and purifies the soul, and works in the life true obedience to God's commandments, with love to God and love to man as the result of vital connection with Christ. Believers need this personal faith rather than relying on someone else to do the work, reaching for Christ themselves instead of depending on another's effort. Even the slightest touch of faith receives His attention amid the crowd, and that living faith brings the sufferer into living connection with Jesus Christ. Faith in the mighty Healer can conquer death and bring life and wholeness and peace to both body and soul, so the sick are to fix their eyes on Him in faith, with wonderful results. Faith in His healing touch can revive mind and body and give strength for service, preparing those who come in faith for service and His kingdom, and it turns those caught in evil habits toward Jesus and the glories of heaven rather than keeping their attention on despair, for the saving of body and soul.
Pardon for Repentant Sinners
Just as He dealt with bodily infirmity He deals with the repentant soul defiled by sin, for the diseased woman was healed because she believed He could heal her and became certain that even touching His garment would relieve her, and divine power answered her firm belief. Her healing came not through any virtue in the outward act of touching His clothing but through faith in His divine help, and He comforted her, commended her faith, and sent her away in peace. The touch of faith that calls on Him brings pardon that fills the soul with gratitude and joy, and this gives encouragement to sinners to trust Him. Even a silent prayer that takes God at His word reaches the Saviour without need for intense emotion, loud petitions, or outward exertion.
That faith looks away from the wounds and bruises sin has made and looks directly to the Saviour instead of deploring sin and sowing discouragement and unbelief. He heals the terrible wounds and bruises of sin as soon as the sinner looks, just as those bitten in the wilderness were healed as soon as they looked. All who come to Him in sincerity are saved to the uttermost and none is cast away, receiving freedom and life and blessing and the healing power of grace, and the living faith that touched the hem of His garment brings the sufferer into living connection with Him.
In caring for the sick, bodily healing matters, but the healing of the soul matters more, so patients are to be led to repent, receive forgiveness, and go in peace, turning away from sin. Faith in Him brings wholeness and peace, and those caught in evil habits are to be turned toward Him and the glories of heaven rather than kept with attention on despair, for the saving of body and soul. The account of the poor woman living more than eighteen centuries ago who was reduced to poverty and came near losing her life by the doctors condemns drug medication and supports the rejection of drugs.
Witness and Life Application
The healed woman openly confessed what had happened to her before the multitude, and her testimony made exactly the impression He wanted it to make. Those He makes whole are to stand in right relation to God as His representatives, and to claim to be the children of God means abiding in Christ. Bringing the life into right relation with Christ saves trouble for oneself and for others. Every movement of action is recognized in its motive and judged in its worth by whether it is to do His will, and such an act is never passed by. She had suffered for years and her touch came from that motive, so when she confessed her act she confirmed that she had been healed, and He then made it a gift to her.
Her faith in Jesus made her whole after years of affliction, for she was healed when she touched Him in faith. Her healing and her testimony together show the comfort and sympathy to be offered to the sick and afflicted. Those who follow Him are to carry that same comfort and sympathy to sufferers.
She had a disease no earthly physician could cure, and after seeing Him healing the sick she hoped for healing herself. She waited her opportunity in a dense throng until He was within reach, touched the hem of His garment with her finger, and was made whole immediately. Humanity connected with divinity by living, active faith receives blessing, because He came to earth to bring divinity to humanity. It was meant as a lesson for the throng about Him, teaching that young and old need this divine power. The helpless and dependent are called to come to Christ just as they are, to take hold of Him by living, active faith, to seek His power, to live a consistent life, and to study His life of self-denial and self-sacrifice in order to become Christians in every sense.
He calls the healed woman His daughter, assures her that her faith has made her whole, and sends her away in peace. Her healing came when she touched His garment amid the crowd, and that healing is presented as still available to people in their times of pain. Her living faith that reached out for Christ and received healing is an example of the faith in Christ that brings victory through trials.
Jesus spoke these words to the suffering woman who after twelve incurable years spent in poverty touched the hem of His garment in the crowd and was instantly healed, calling her Daughter, bidding her take courage, declaring her faith had made her whole, and sending her away in peace. He spoke gently from sympathy with no censure, approving her trust and reassuring her fear that she had presumed or offended, so her joy would not be embittered. Her healing came not from the garment or the outward touch but from personal, purposeful faith reaching out to His divine power, unlike the casual pressing of the crowd that received nothing. He would not let such trust pass in secret but drew her to confess openly before the multitude, distinguishing the touch of faith and teaching that the gifts of the gospel are not to be taken by stealth but openly acknowledged to glorify God. As He deals with bodily infirmity He deals with the repentant soul defiled by sin, so the touch of faith that looks to Him brings pardon and peace, and saving faith joins the soul to God in covenant relation with strength to overcome and obey.
Story Setting and Background
This healing took place on the way to raise Jairus' daughter, an account recorded in Matthew 9:18-31, Mark 5:21-43, and Luke 8:41-55. Jesus had just returned from healing the demoniacs at Gadara when Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, fell at His feet pleading for his dying little daughter. Jesus went with him toward his home, slowed by the pressing crowd that thronged Him.
In that crowd was a woman who had suffered twelve long years with a disease that made her life a burden. She had spent all her substance upon physicians and remedies seeking cure of her grievous malady, but with no improvement, and was pronounced incurable and given up to die. She was reduced to poverty and near loss of life. Her faith revived when she heard of the wonderful cures effected by Jesus, believing that if she could come into His presence He would take pity on her and heal her, and that even touching His garment would relieve her. Suffering with pain and weakness she came to the seaside where He was teaching and sought to press through the crowd that hedged up her way, until He came within her reach as He went with Jairus.
She concentrated all the faith of her life in that one touch. Pressed forward amid confusion where she could not be heard nor catch more than a passing glimpse, she touched the hem of His garment with her finger. At once she felt herself healed, with health and strength replacing weakness and pain, and her long pain and weakness disappeared immediately. Sending the healed woman away comforted and rejoicing encouraged Jairus to believe still more firmly that Jesus was able to grant his petition, his hope grew stronger, and he urged Jesus to hasten with him to his home. The larger account of Jairus' daughter illustrates power over death, emphasizing that the girl was raised and that at His return His voice will call the dead in Christ from their tombs to immortal life.
Christ's Comforting Words
He spoke gently from a heart of love filled with sympathy for human suffering, giving only approval and no censure as He approved her act of faith and comforted her so that her joy would not be embittered by fear. She had feared that to touch His garment was presumption and that she had given offense, and He reassured her that she had not offended Him and need not fear. He wanted her to know that He had healed consciously, that He knew her suffering, that He loved her with compassion, and that He approved her trust in His power to save to the uttermost all who come to Him. He would not let her depart with only a half blessing in ignorance of His knowledge, His love, and His approval, but gave her hope and peace and sent her away comforted and rejoicing. He calls her Daughter, bids her be of good comfort and take courage, declares that her faith has made her whole, and sends her away in peace. That healing and assurance remain a lasting source of comfort to His followers, showing His healing as available to people in their times of pain.
Knowing all the circumstances He would not let such confidence and trust pass without comment, but insisted on knowing who had touched Him until she came forward trembling, knelt at His feet, and told before the multitude her long suffering and instant relief. He distinguished her touch of faith from the casual contact of the careless crowd pressing around Him, recognizing that virtue had gone out from Him and that her contact by faith alone had brought healing power and restoration. In saying her faith had made her whole He taught all present that no virtue in the simple act of touching His clothes wrought the cure, but strong faith reaching out and claiming His divine help, lest anyone credit the garment itself with healing virtue or treat the act as superstition. He met her with approval, comfort, and peace rather than rebuke, commending rather than condemning her action and making clear that touching Him in faith was not presumption. He made her trust known so that she would understand His compassionate care and the people would see that faith had brought the healing, and her grateful confession before the crowd glorified God.
The gifts the gospel offers are not to be secured by stealth or enjoyed in secret, but those healed are called to openly acknowledge the blessing received. His words of comfort and healing to the woman of Capernaum also speak to afflicted, sin-burdened people throughout the ages who seek His help with like faith. His promise is a direct word to each person, communicating grace and power and giving courage, faith, and strength for life. He comforted the woman after she silently touched the hem of His garment and connected her healing with her faith, giving her hope and peace.
Faith That Receives Healing
Her healing did not come from the outward physical contact with His clothes, and there was no healing virtue in the simple act of touching or in the garment itself. It came through strong faith reaching out to claim His divine help and taking hold of His divine power, and His words teach that truth openly to all present so no one would credit the object or a superstitious act. He spoke publicly for that purpose, that the cure would be understood as the answer of divine power to trust in His power to save to the uttermost all who come to Him.
Genuine faith is more than being near Him, pressing close in the crowd, touching Him casually, or merely believing about Him. The crowd jostled Him and received nothing from contact, but she reached out in personal, trusting, purposeful, living faith toward His person and power. He distinguished that touch of faith from casual jostling, recognized it at once, answered it with healing power, and would not let it pass unnoticed. Her touch expressed unquestioning, earnest trust, and after twelve years of suffering with no improvement from physicians she was made whole at once, which shows that faith receives His power and gives reason to trust God.
Her faith was not in the garment she touched but in Christ's power, concentrated in that touch, and divine power answered that firm belief with immediate healing. She had become certain that even touching His garment would relieve her sickness because she firmly believed He could heal her, and health and strength at once replaced her weakness and pain.
Faith need not be accompanied by intense emotion, loud petitions, noisy prayer, outward exertion, physical exercise, or feelings worked up to high excitement. Even a silent, simple, childlike prayer that takes God at His word, relies on His power to save, and trusts His promises reaches the Saviour and receives blessing in return. He also hears with pity the strong cries and tears forced out by conflict with doubt and temptation or by the agony of guilt, but He does not fail to answer the silent prayer of faith.
Humanity connected with divinity by living, active faith receives blessing, because He came to earth to bring divinity to humanity. Sufferers who believed they would be healed by drawing near and touching Him were healed, and their distress and gloom became joy and thanksgiving. After seeing Him healing the sick she hoped for healing herself, waited her opportunity in the dense throng, reached within reach and touched the hem of His garment with her finger, and was made whole immediately.
He recognizes the motive of every movement of action and judges its worth by whether it is to do His will, and He never passes such an act by. Her touch came from that motive, so when she confessed her act she confirmed that she had been healed, which He then made a gift to her.
Saving Faith and Covenant Union
The faith that made her whole is more than agreeing that Christ is the world's Saviour, more than casual religious talk and prayer without real soul hunger, and more than merely believing about Him, for the crowd pressed close and received nothing from contact while she reached out in personal trust and was healed. That saving faith receives Him as a personal Saviour, makes His merits one's own, trusts His saving grace, believes that grace is received, lives by faith in the Son of God who loved and gave Himself, and does not wait for complete knowledge. It is a living, confident trust that joins the person to God in covenant relation, and through His grace gives the soul increasing strength, vigor, and conquering power to overcome. The poor suffering woman who had been an invalid for twelve years put forth her hand in great need and touched the hem of His garment in that touch of faith, felt healing virtue go out, and was recognized and approved rather than rebuked.
The faith that made her whole expresses supreme preference, perfect reliance, and entire consecration, works by love and purifies the soul, and works in the life true obedience to God's commandments, with love to God and love to man as the result of vital connection with Christ. Believers need this personal faith rather than relying on someone else to do the work, reaching for Christ themselves instead of depending on another's effort. Even the slightest touch of faith receives His attention amid the crowd, and that living faith brings the sufferer into living connection with Jesus Christ. Faith in the mighty Healer can conquer death and bring life and wholeness and peace to both body and soul, so the sick are to fix their eyes on Him in faith, with wonderful results. Faith in His healing touch can revive mind and body and give strength for service, preparing those who come in faith for service and His kingdom, and it turns those caught in evil habits toward Jesus and the glories of heaven rather than keeping their attention on despair, for the saving of body and soul.
Pardon for Repentant Sinners
Just as He dealt with bodily infirmity He deals with the repentant soul defiled by sin, for the diseased woman was healed because she believed He could heal her and became certain that even touching His garment would relieve her, and divine power answered her firm belief. Her healing came not through any virtue in the outward act of touching His clothing but through faith in His divine help, and He comforted her, commended her faith, and sent her away in peace. The touch of faith that calls on Him brings pardon that fills the soul with gratitude and joy, and this gives encouragement to sinners to trust Him. Even a silent prayer that takes God at His word reaches the Saviour without need for intense emotion, loud petitions, or outward exertion.
That faith looks away from the wounds and bruises sin has made and looks directly to the Saviour instead of deploring sin and sowing discouragement and unbelief. He heals the terrible wounds and bruises of sin as soon as the sinner looks, just as those bitten in the wilderness were healed as soon as they looked. All who come to Him in sincerity are saved to the uttermost and none is cast away, receiving freedom and life and blessing and the healing power of grace, and the living faith that touched the hem of His garment brings the sufferer into living connection with Him.
In caring for the sick, bodily healing matters, but the healing of the soul matters more, so patients are to be led to repent, receive forgiveness, and go in peace, turning away from sin. Faith in Him brings wholeness and peace, and those caught in evil habits are to be turned toward Him and the glories of heaven rather than kept with attention on despair, for the saving of body and soul. The account of the poor woman living more than eighteen centuries ago who was reduced to poverty and came near losing her life by the doctors condemns drug medication and supports the rejection of drugs.
Witness and Life Application
The healed woman openly confessed what had happened to her before the multitude, and her testimony made exactly the impression He wanted it to make. Those He makes whole are to stand in right relation to God as His representatives, and to claim to be the children of God means abiding in Christ. Bringing the life into right relation with Christ saves trouble for oneself and for others. Every movement of action is recognized in its motive and judged in its worth by whether it is to do His will, and such an act is never passed by. She had suffered for years and her touch came from that motive, so when she confessed her act she confirmed that she had been healed, and He then made it a gift to her.
Her faith in Jesus made her whole after years of affliction, for she was healed when she touched Him in faith. Her healing and her testimony together show the comfort and sympathy to be offered to the sick and afflicted. Those who follow Him are to carry that same comfort and sympathy to sufferers.
She had a disease no earthly physician could cure, and after seeing Him healing the sick she hoped for healing herself. She waited her opportunity in a dense throng until He was within reach, touched the hem of His garment with her finger, and was made whole immediately. Humanity connected with divinity by living, active faith receives blessing, because He came to earth to bring divinity to humanity. It was meant as a lesson for the throng about Him, teaching that young and old need this divine power. The helpless and dependent are called to come to Christ just as they are, to take hold of Him by living, active faith, to seek His power, to live a consistent life, and to study His life of self-denial and self-sacrifice in order to become Christians in every sense.
He calls the healed woman His daughter, assures her that her faith has made her whole, and sends her away in peace. Her healing came when she touched His garment amid the crowd, and that healing is presented as still available to people in their times of pain. Her living faith that reached out for Christ and received healing is an example of the faith in Christ that brings victory through trials.