When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
After hearing of Jesus she pressed through the crowd behind Him and barely touched the hem of His garment, believing that touch would make her well. She had suffered twelve years with a burdensome disease, spent all on physicians, grown worse, and been given up as incurable beyond earthly help. In the moment she touched Him she was healed at once, with health and strength replacing pain and weakness. Her touch differed from the casual pressing of the crowd who received nothing by mere nearness, for healing came not from contact with His clothing but through living faith grasping His divine power. That touch of faith is encouragement to the sin-defiled soul that a repentant sinner may come to Jesus for pardon, and calls all to press through life's press to lay hold on Him by living faith for body and soul.
Setting and Background
Jesus was on His way with Jairus to heal his dying daughter, having just returned from healing the demoniacs at Gadara. The distance was short but progress was very slow because people pressed forward on every side, eager to see Him and begging His attention and aid. He pitied them and deplored their spiritual darkness and physical sickness, stopping now and then to minister to their wants. At times He was nearly carried off His feet by the surging masses, and in that press the woman came behind Him.
She had suffered twelve long years with a burdensome disease that made life a burden. She had spent all her substance and means upon physicians and remedies without cure, only growing worse and worse. She had been pronounced incurable and given up to die, brought near to death and poverty and beyond the help of earthly physicians. Hearing of Jesus and the wonderful cures He effected revived her hope. She believed that if she could come into His presence He would take pity on her and heal her, and her confidence grew as her mind fastened upon His power to heal until she was certain that even touching His garment would relieve and cure her.
Suffering with pain and weakness she came to the seaside where He was teaching and sought to press through the crowd that encompassed Him. Her way was continually hedged up by the throng and she began to despair of approaching Him. Amid the confusion she could not speak to Him or catch more than a passing glimpse of Him. Then Jesus, in urging His way through the multitude on His way to Jairus's home, came within her reach, giving her the golden opportunity to be in the presence of the great Physician.
The wider account to which this belongs includes Jairus's daughter, whom Jesus raised during His ministry. Her return to life was not a resurrection to immortality, for she remained subject to death and decay.
Pressing Through to Touch
After hearing of Jesus she made her way through the crowd and came in the press behind Him, reaching forward to touch His garment. She approached from behind and barely touched the hem, border, or edge of His garment, seizing her chance as He passed within her reach. Though she could gain no attention and catch no more than a passing glimpse amid the confusion, she believed that touch would heal her, and she was made sound and whole immediately. Her touch was a personal appeal to Him amid the pressing throng, expressing the faith with which she sought His help, and afterward she turned to Him and told her story. The cure came not from outward contact with His clothing or the simple physical act of touching, but through faith reaching out to grasp His divine power and claim His divine help.
She pressed forward saying to herself that touching His garment would make her well and cure her. Her touch was purposeful and personal, made with deep purpose and living trust that received healing, wholly unlike the casual pressing and contact of the crowd. She came timidly and quietly through the crowd, fearful of losing her one golden opportunity to be in the presence of the great Physician. Her act was not presumption, and it was distinguished and approved as faith that should be gratefully confessed to encourage others, even though at first she was grateful yet feared to speak.
Though weak with pain and suffering she could not approach Him openly, speak to Him, or gain His attention, being repeatedly hedged up and blocked by the throng. Yet she continued pressing until He came within her reach, and put forth her finger to touch the hem of His garment from behind. She barely touched its edge and was immediately restored to health and made whole, though her disease was one no earthly physician could cure. Her touch was an act of faith in Jesus Himself, not reliance on any healing power in the garment, expressing deep faith and joining humanity to divinity to receive blessing.
Touch of Faith Defined
Her reaching from behind through the press to touch His garment was the touch of faith, living faith from a longing soul in desperate need reaching out for help that no one but He could give. It expressed trust in His power to heal, and that trust received His healing power. It was not presumption, and He approved it, wanting her to know His compassionate care rather than go away with only a hidden, partial blessing.
That touch was wholly different from the casual contact and pressing of the wondering crowd about Him. They crowded close and jostled Him on every side, yet mere nearness gave them no vital power, healing, or restoration. Hers was purposeful, with deep purpose, while theirs was careless and wondering, and only hers drew virtue from Him. Hers was the close, living faith needed to receive His blessing, and He made it a lesson for His followers to the close of time.
The cure did not come from outward contact with His clothing, from virtue in the garment itself, or from the simple physical act of touching. It came through faith grasping His divine power and reaching out to claim His divine help. The garment had nothing to do with it except as the point where her faith laid hold.
That faith means simply taking God at His word and reaching out to connect with the Saviour in childlike trust. It does not first require feelings wrought to excitement, intense emotion, noisy petitions, physical exercise, or complete knowledge before it can be exercised. Cold doubt destroys confidence and prevents blessing, while strong cries and tears forced by conflict with doubt and temptation or by agony over guilt are heard with pity, and the silent prayer of faith is never failed. It is simple in operation and powerful in results.
Her confidence grew as her mind dwelt on His power to heal, until she became certain that even touching His garment would relieve her. She concentrated all the faith of her life in that one touch, and firm belief was answered by the virtue of divine power. Jesus distinguished that touch at once, perceiving that virtue had gone out of Him and knowing her longing and need when no one else knew she had touched Him. He wanted grateful public confession that would glorify God, show the healing came through faith, and encourage others, rather than fearful silence.
Even the slightest touch prompted by faith received His response and answer. His divine and human natures were so closely united that He heard the needy and did not overlook even the humblest person. He knows by name every soul who comes to Him in faith, and actual contact of faith still brings His virtue and blessing.
Healing Power Received
In the moment she touched Him she was healed at once and made sound and whole. Health and strength replaced feebleness, her pain and weakness disappeared, and she felt perfectly well and restored. Though her disease was beyond earthly physicians, the touch showed humanity connecting with divinity to receive blessing. Christ came to earth to bring divinity to humanity, and young and old need that divinity and its power, received by taking hold of Him with living, active faith, coming just as they are, helpless and dependent.
Even one as weak as she was could come to Him, and He responds to a touch of faith as quickly as He did to hers. That touch of faith brought healing power, turning distress and gloom to joy and thanksgiving and praise. Her act is an example of close, living faith that connects a person with Jesus and receives His healing power, unlike a merely casual touch. Believers can likewise draw strength and healing from Him so they can continue their work.
Pardon and Saving Faith
The reaching hand behind Jesus in the press is a lesson of encouragement to the soul defiled by sin, for as He dealt with bodily disease so He deals with the repentant sinner who comes to Him and calls on Him for pardon. The touch that brought healing to the body brings the coveted pardon to the soul when received through faith, and it fills the heart with gratitude and joy. Her confidence grew as her mind dwelt on His power to heal until she became certain that even touching His garment would relieve her, and firm belief was answered by divine power. That healing did not come from the outward act of touching His clothes itself but from faith reaching out for His divine help, showing that simple, quiet, childlike trust that takes God at His word and connects with the Saviour will receive His blessing. Such faith does not require feelings wrought to excitement, intense emotion, noisy petitions, physical exercise, or complete knowledge before it is exercised, while cold doubt destroys confidence; strong cries forced by conflict or guilt are heard with pity, and the silent prayer of faith is never failed.
Saving faith is more than crowding near Him, for the wondering crowd pressed close yet received no vital power, healing, or restoration from mere nearness, while the suffering woman in great need and soul-hunger touched in living faith and felt healing virtue. It is more than knowing about Christ, agreeing with truths about Him, believing He is the world's Saviour, religious talk, preaching and prayer in a casual way without living faith, or waiting for complete knowledge before believing, all of which are vain and cannot heal the soul. True faith trusts Him personally as Saviour, lays hold on Him and personally receives His merits and saving grace, relying on His word and His power to save. That living trust joins the believer to God in covenant and gives the soul increasing strength, vigor, trust, and power to overcome, witnessed by obedience to His commandments. Christ recognized her touch and made it a lesson for all His followers to the close of time.
That touch of faith opens the divine treasure-house of power and wisdom, so that through instruments of clay God accomplishes the wonders of His grace. Though she came trembling in fear lest she had overstepped duty, He did not reproach her but gently bade her go in peace and be whole. This living faith with meekness and love is the great need today for ministers and people to know Jesus as their own, have hearts purified and refined, and bring forth fruit to the glory of God.
Seeking Jesus is more than reaching out to touch His garment, for He is always near and His loving presence surrounds people. He desires them to seek Him and walk with Him in constant communion.
Living the Lesson Today
The hearing that led her to make her way through the crowd behind Him and touch His garment was a personal appeal to Christ amid the press around Him, and she was made sound immediately and turned to tell her story, which is a call to seek Christ for salvation. She had been diseased for many years and had sought help from physicians only to grow worse and worse, but when she heard of Christ her faith went out to Him in the belief that touching the hem of His garment would make her whole. He understood the longing of her heart, as He understands the desire of every heart drawn out after Him and responds to it, and she improved her first opportunity to come into His presence by pressing through the multitude behind Him to touch His garment, and in that moment she was healed because virtue went out from Him. Her touch was no casual touch of the crowd but the touch of faith from a longing soul that felt its desperate need and reached out for help no one but He could give, and that faith made her whole, so everyone who in need goes to Jesus and lays hold upon Him by living faith receives virtue from Him for body and soul. People can still reach Him amid life's press in the same way and find healing and saving virtue in Him.
Her act expressed trust in His power to heal, and He approved this faith and wanted her to know His compassionate care rather than leave her with only a hidden, partial blessing. Her grateful public confession glorified God and showed that her healing came through faith. A received blessing should therefore be acknowledged rather than kept secret, for personal testimony to His grace reveals Christ, encourages others, and helps lead them to salvation.
Touching the hem of His garments is looking up in faith and asking the Lord for His blessing. Discouraged workers are to reach to Him in this way, and by that touch of faith they receive help, strength, and grace for His work, including the building and prospering of schools located outside the cities. Believers can likewise draw strength and healing from Christ so they can continue their work, and for the physician His touch is a source of vitality, restfulness, confidence, and power.
That touch must be real and wholehearted, for many touch Him only with the tips of their fingers in a fitful way, but what is needed is individual surrender to God, conversion, and seeking the Lord with all the heart in order to find Him. He is to be made Saviour to all intents and purposes by giving Him the service of the whole being and praising Him for His wonderful, matchless love to the children of men. Yet faith may reach toward Jesus even when it feels too weak to do so, for touching His garment is trusting Him and His promise.
The suffering, helpless reaching to touch the hem of His garment teaches that looking to Jesus brings assurance of salvation and rest amid trouble. His promise to restore does not mean suffering will end at once, for affliction may continue and suffering does not prove that God is not helping. The lesson is to trust and move forward by faith even without a change in feeling or visible evidence.
The living faith that caused her after years of suffering under disease to touch the hem of His garment is the same trusting faith required now. Trusting in Christ as surely as He died on Calvary's cross brings victory. It keeps from gratifying the evil one by telling doubts to others, and stops speaking of trials and conflicts, giving through them all joy unspeakable and full of glory.
After hearing of Jesus she pressed through the crowd behind Him and barely touched the hem of His garment, believing that touch would make her well. She had suffered twelve years with a burdensome disease, spent all on physicians, grown worse, and been given up as incurable beyond earthly help. In the moment she touched Him she was healed at once, with health and strength replacing pain and weakness. Her touch differed from the casual pressing of the crowd who received nothing by mere nearness, for healing came not from contact with His clothing but through living faith grasping His divine power. That touch of faith is encouragement to the sin-defiled soul that a repentant sinner may come to Jesus for pardon, and calls all to press through life's press to lay hold on Him by living faith for body and soul.
Setting and Background
Jesus was on His way with Jairus to heal his dying daughter, having just returned from healing the demoniacs at Gadara. The distance was short but progress was very slow because people pressed forward on every side, eager to see Him and begging His attention and aid. He pitied them and deplored their spiritual darkness and physical sickness, stopping now and then to minister to their wants. At times He was nearly carried off His feet by the surging masses, and in that press the woman came behind Him.
She had suffered twelve long years with a burdensome disease that made life a burden. She had spent all her substance and means upon physicians and remedies without cure, only growing worse and worse. She had been pronounced incurable and given up to die, brought near to death and poverty and beyond the help of earthly physicians. Hearing of Jesus and the wonderful cures He effected revived her hope. She believed that if she could come into His presence He would take pity on her and heal her, and her confidence grew as her mind fastened upon His power to heal until she was certain that even touching His garment would relieve and cure her.
Suffering with pain and weakness she came to the seaside where He was teaching and sought to press through the crowd that encompassed Him. Her way was continually hedged up by the throng and she began to despair of approaching Him. Amid the confusion she could not speak to Him or catch more than a passing glimpse of Him. Then Jesus, in urging His way through the multitude on His way to Jairus's home, came within her reach, giving her the golden opportunity to be in the presence of the great Physician.
The wider account to which this belongs includes Jairus's daughter, whom Jesus raised during His ministry. Her return to life was not a resurrection to immortality, for she remained subject to death and decay.
Pressing Through to Touch
After hearing of Jesus she made her way through the crowd and came in the press behind Him, reaching forward to touch His garment. She approached from behind and barely touched the hem, border, or edge of His garment, seizing her chance as He passed within her reach. Though she could gain no attention and catch no more than a passing glimpse amid the confusion, she believed that touch would heal her, and she was made sound and whole immediately. Her touch was a personal appeal to Him amid the pressing throng, expressing the faith with which she sought His help, and afterward she turned to Him and told her story. The cure came not from outward contact with His clothing or the simple physical act of touching, but through faith reaching out to grasp His divine power and claim His divine help.
She pressed forward saying to herself that touching His garment would make her well and cure her. Her touch was purposeful and personal, made with deep purpose and living trust that received healing, wholly unlike the casual pressing and contact of the crowd. She came timidly and quietly through the crowd, fearful of losing her one golden opportunity to be in the presence of the great Physician. Her act was not presumption, and it was distinguished and approved as faith that should be gratefully confessed to encourage others, even though at first she was grateful yet feared to speak.
Though weak with pain and suffering she could not approach Him openly, speak to Him, or gain His attention, being repeatedly hedged up and blocked by the throng. Yet she continued pressing until He came within her reach, and put forth her finger to touch the hem of His garment from behind. She barely touched its edge and was immediately restored to health and made whole, though her disease was one no earthly physician could cure. Her touch was an act of faith in Jesus Himself, not reliance on any healing power in the garment, expressing deep faith and joining humanity to divinity to receive blessing.
Touch of Faith Defined
Her reaching from behind through the press to touch His garment was the touch of faith, living faith from a longing soul in desperate need reaching out for help that no one but He could give. It expressed trust in His power to heal, and that trust received His healing power. It was not presumption, and He approved it, wanting her to know His compassionate care rather than go away with only a hidden, partial blessing.
That touch was wholly different from the casual contact and pressing of the wondering crowd about Him. They crowded close and jostled Him on every side, yet mere nearness gave them no vital power, healing, or restoration. Hers was purposeful, with deep purpose, while theirs was careless and wondering, and only hers drew virtue from Him. Hers was the close, living faith needed to receive His blessing, and He made it a lesson for His followers to the close of time.
The cure did not come from outward contact with His clothing, from virtue in the garment itself, or from the simple physical act of touching. It came through faith grasping His divine power and reaching out to claim His divine help. The garment had nothing to do with it except as the point where her faith laid hold.
That faith means simply taking God at His word and reaching out to connect with the Saviour in childlike trust. It does not first require feelings wrought to excitement, intense emotion, noisy petitions, physical exercise, or complete knowledge before it can be exercised. Cold doubt destroys confidence and prevents blessing, while strong cries and tears forced by conflict with doubt and temptation or by agony over guilt are heard with pity, and the silent prayer of faith is never failed. It is simple in operation and powerful in results.
Her confidence grew as her mind dwelt on His power to heal, until she became certain that even touching His garment would relieve her. She concentrated all the faith of her life in that one touch, and firm belief was answered by the virtue of divine power. Jesus distinguished that touch at once, perceiving that virtue had gone out of Him and knowing her longing and need when no one else knew she had touched Him. He wanted grateful public confession that would glorify God, show the healing came through faith, and encourage others, rather than fearful silence.
Even the slightest touch prompted by faith received His response and answer. His divine and human natures were so closely united that He heard the needy and did not overlook even the humblest person. He knows by name every soul who comes to Him in faith, and actual contact of faith still brings His virtue and blessing.
Healing Power Received
In the moment she touched Him she was healed at once and made sound and whole. Health and strength replaced feebleness, her pain and weakness disappeared, and she felt perfectly well and restored. Though her disease was beyond earthly physicians, the touch showed humanity connecting with divinity to receive blessing. Christ came to earth to bring divinity to humanity, and young and old need that divinity and its power, received by taking hold of Him with living, active faith, coming just as they are, helpless and dependent.
Even one as weak as she was could come to Him, and He responds to a touch of faith as quickly as He did to hers. That touch of faith brought healing power, turning distress and gloom to joy and thanksgiving and praise. Her act is an example of close, living faith that connects a person with Jesus and receives His healing power, unlike a merely casual touch. Believers can likewise draw strength and healing from Him so they can continue their work.
Pardon and Saving Faith
The reaching hand behind Jesus in the press is a lesson of encouragement to the soul defiled by sin, for as He dealt with bodily disease so He deals with the repentant sinner who comes to Him and calls on Him for pardon. The touch that brought healing to the body brings the coveted pardon to the soul when received through faith, and it fills the heart with gratitude and joy. Her confidence grew as her mind dwelt on His power to heal until she became certain that even touching His garment would relieve her, and firm belief was answered by divine power. That healing did not come from the outward act of touching His clothes itself but from faith reaching out for His divine help, showing that simple, quiet, childlike trust that takes God at His word and connects with the Saviour will receive His blessing. Such faith does not require feelings wrought to excitement, intense emotion, noisy petitions, physical exercise, or complete knowledge before it is exercised, while cold doubt destroys confidence; strong cries forced by conflict or guilt are heard with pity, and the silent prayer of faith is never failed.
Saving faith is more than crowding near Him, for the wondering crowd pressed close yet received no vital power, healing, or restoration from mere nearness, while the suffering woman in great need and soul-hunger touched in living faith and felt healing virtue. It is more than knowing about Christ, agreeing with truths about Him, believing He is the world's Saviour, religious talk, preaching and prayer in a casual way without living faith, or waiting for complete knowledge before believing, all of which are vain and cannot heal the soul. True faith trusts Him personally as Saviour, lays hold on Him and personally receives His merits and saving grace, relying on His word and His power to save. That living trust joins the believer to God in covenant and gives the soul increasing strength, vigor, trust, and power to overcome, witnessed by obedience to His commandments. Christ recognized her touch and made it a lesson for all His followers to the close of time.
That touch of faith opens the divine treasure-house of power and wisdom, so that through instruments of clay God accomplishes the wonders of His grace. Though she came trembling in fear lest she had overstepped duty, He did not reproach her but gently bade her go in peace and be whole. This living faith with meekness and love is the great need today for ministers and people to know Jesus as their own, have hearts purified and refined, and bring forth fruit to the glory of God.
Seeking Jesus is more than reaching out to touch His garment, for He is always near and His loving presence surrounds people. He desires them to seek Him and walk with Him in constant communion.
Living the Lesson Today
The hearing that led her to make her way through the crowd behind Him and touch His garment was a personal appeal to Christ amid the press around Him, and she was made sound immediately and turned to tell her story, which is a call to seek Christ for salvation. She had been diseased for many years and had sought help from physicians only to grow worse and worse, but when she heard of Christ her faith went out to Him in the belief that touching the hem of His garment would make her whole. He understood the longing of her heart, as He understands the desire of every heart drawn out after Him and responds to it, and she improved her first opportunity to come into His presence by pressing through the multitude behind Him to touch His garment, and in that moment she was healed because virtue went out from Him. Her touch was no casual touch of the crowd but the touch of faith from a longing soul that felt its desperate need and reached out for help no one but He could give, and that faith made her whole, so everyone who in need goes to Jesus and lays hold upon Him by living faith receives virtue from Him for body and soul. People can still reach Him amid life's press in the same way and find healing and saving virtue in Him.
Her act expressed trust in His power to heal, and He approved this faith and wanted her to know His compassionate care rather than leave her with only a hidden, partial blessing. Her grateful public confession glorified God and showed that her healing came through faith. A received blessing should therefore be acknowledged rather than kept secret, for personal testimony to His grace reveals Christ, encourages others, and helps lead them to salvation.
Touching the hem of His garments is looking up in faith and asking the Lord for His blessing. Discouraged workers are to reach to Him in this way, and by that touch of faith they receive help, strength, and grace for His work, including the building and prospering of schools located outside the cities. Believers can likewise draw strength and healing from Christ so they can continue their work, and for the physician His touch is a source of vitality, restfulness, confidence, and power.
That touch must be real and wholehearted, for many touch Him only with the tips of their fingers in a fitful way, but what is needed is individual surrender to God, conversion, and seeking the Lord with all the heart in order to find Him. He is to be made Saviour to all intents and purposes by giving Him the service of the whole being and praising Him for His wonderful, matchless love to the children of men. Yet faith may reach toward Jesus even when it feels too weak to do so, for touching His garment is trusting Him and His promise.
The suffering, helpless reaching to touch the hem of His garment teaches that looking to Jesus brings assurance of salvation and rest amid trouble. His promise to restore does not mean suffering will end at once, for affliction may continue and suffering does not prove that God is not helping. The lesson is to trust and move forward by faith even without a change in feeling or visible evidence.
The living faith that caused her after years of suffering under disease to touch the hem of His garment is the same trusting faith required now. Trusting in Christ as surely as He died on Calvary's cross brings victory. It keeps from gratifying the evil one by telling doubts to others, and stops speaking of trials and conflicts, giving through them all joy unspeakable and full of glory.