(I want to acknowledge the source of most of the material for these lessons is found in: The Miracles of Jesus Christ by Rick Renner. These video lessons can be found on Renner.org and on YouTube.)
John 21:25 NKJV And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
Jesus’s miracle ministry has never ended!
Hebrews 13:8 NKJV Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
What Jesus did, He still does!
I want you to get to know Jesus in a deeper way!
As we study these miracles of Jesus, I want us to remember that Jesus WANTS to move on our behalf. All He is looking for is FAITH.
(I want to acknowledge the source of most of the material for these lessons is found in: The Miracles of Jesus Christ by Rick Renner. These video lessons can be found on Renner.org and on YouTube.)
Jesus Heals a Woman With an Issue of Blood
SCRIPTURES
Mark 5:21-34 KJV (21) And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea. (22) And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, (23) And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. (24) And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. (25) And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, (26) And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, (27) When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. (28) For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. (29) And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. (30) 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? (31) And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? (32) And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. (33) But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. (34) And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
GREEK WORDS
- “issue” — ῥύσις (rhusis): a flowing issue; nonstop bleeding
- “suffered” — πάσχω (pascho): to suffer; carries the idea of suffering, undergoing hardships, being ill-treated, or experiencing adversity; the tense means continual suffering
- “many things” — πολλὰ (polla): a lot; an enormous amount
- “of ” — ὑπὸ (hupo): under the care of
- “spent” — δαπανάω (dapanao): to incur expense; to waste or squander; pictures a wasted expense
- “all that she had” — τὰ παρ’ αὐτῆς (ta par autes): everything at her side; everything in her possession; everything that was available to her
- “bettered” — ὠφεληθεῖσα (opheletheisa): bettered; benefited; improved
- “worse” — χείρων (cheiron): worse; in this case, a sickness that is becoming more severe
- “of ” — τὰ περὶ (ta peri): things concerning
- “press” — ὄχλος (ochlus): a crowd, a mob, or a multitude of people “behind” — ὄπισθεν (opisthen): back; behind; from behind
- “touched” — ἅπτομαι (haptomai): to lay hold of; to fasten onto
- “said” — ἔλεγεν (elegen): saying repetitiously; in context, “[she] kept on saying and saying” (v. 28)
- “shall be whole” — σωθήσομαι (sothesomai): the future tense of σῴζω (sodzo): a touch of salvation that brings delivering and healing power that results in wholeness
- “straightway” — εὐθὺς (euthus): without delay; immediately
- “fountain” — πηγή (pege): the idea of something that gushes; a spring or fountain
- “felt” — ἔγνω (egno), a form of γινώσκω (ginosko): to know, perceive, or comprehend
- “plague” — μάστιγος (mastigos): plague; a word borrowed from the world of torture that denoted the act of recurrently beating a prisoner or victim; once a person’s wounds had mended, the torturers brought him back to the whipping post, where he was struck again and again and again; such beatings were sporadic but constant, and although they were not usually serious enough to kill, they kept a victim in constant pain and misery; it was torment and abuse, a scourge that caused great suffering and prolonged anguish; depicts a recurring sickness or physical affliction that keeps a sufferer in a protracted, repeated state of suffering
- “knowing” — ἐπίγνωσις (epignosis): a well-instructed, intensive, deep knowledge of the facts; pictures one who knows his facts like a professional; someone who is very knowledgeable
- “virtue” — δύναμις (dunamis): power; carries the idea of explosive, superhuman power that comes with enormous energy and produces phenomenal, extraordinary, and unparalleled results; the source of miraculous power or miraculous manifestations
- “go” — ὕπαγε (hupage): to go away under someone’s authority
SYNOPSIS
The city of Capernaum, also known as the city of Jesus during the First Century, was a city like no other. It was teeming with the miracles of Jesus. After He had delivered the two men of Gadara from demonic possession, including the man who was under the control of a legion of unclean spirits, He got back into the boat with His disciples and returned to Capernaum. Immediately, He was met by a swarm of people desiring to see Him and receive His healing touch. One of these people was Jairus, the ruler of the local synagogue. We will focus entirely on him in our next lesson. For now we will turn our attention to another desperate soul in the crowd — “a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years” (Mark 5:25).
The Woman’s Condition Was Critical
The Bible says this woman had an “issue” of blood. The word “issue” is the Greek word rhusis, and it describes a flowing issue; nonstop bleeding. What would normally start and stop each month became nonstop bleeding for 12 years. She lived in a state of physical exhaustion, and verse 26 says, “had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse.”
The word “suffered” is the Greek word pascho, which means to suffer, and in this verse it carries the idea of suffering, undergoing hardships, being ill-treated, or experiencing adversity. The tense means continual suffering. It says she suffered “many things,” which is the Greek word polla, meaning a lot; an enormous amount. The many hardships she endured were “of ” many physicians. This word “of ” in Greek is hupo, and it indicates under the care of, and in this case it was under the care of the doctors.
For years, she went from doctor to doctor, hoping and believing to find relief. It is likely that she was subjected to much experimental treatment — procedures that would be shocking and hideous by today’s standards. It is not that the doctors were maliciously trying to harm her. They did all that they knew to do to try to help her, but their efforts failed.
She Spent All She Had
In the process of being a guinea pig for experimental treatments, this woman “spent all that she had.” The word “spent” is the Greek word dapanao, which means to incur expense; to waste or squander. Her spending was considered a total waste since it yielded no positive results.
Also notice the phrase “all that she had.” The Greek here indicates everything at her side; everything in her possession; everything that was available to her. And when it was all said and done, the Bible says she “was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse.” The word “bettered” is the Greek word opheletheisa, which means bettered; benefited; improved. After spending every last penny, she was not improved but grew “worse” — the Greek word cheiron — which in this case describes a sickness that is becoming more and more severe.
She Lived in Isolation
In addition to the physical and financial pain and strain, she also endured deep emotional trauma. Having a nonstop bleeding issue for 12 years made her a social outcast in the community. According to Levitical law, she was considered unclean as long as she was bleeding (see Leviticus 15:19-27). Consequently, no one was to touch her, and she was to touch no one.
She was banned from sitting on the same chair with anyone or eating at the same table with others. If she was married, she couldn’t touch her husband, nor could he touch her. If she had children, she was forbidden to kiss or caress them in anyway or they, too, would become unclean. This woman lived in complete isolation — totally void of the warmth of relationship.
On multiple levels, she experienced a level of misery few can comprehend. Physically and financially she was drained. Socially, she was viewed as and treated as an outcast. Having not been touched for 12 years, she was left with an emotional deficit that is indescribable. It was in this depleted and depressed condition she heard about Jesus.
Then She Heard of Jesus
Mark 5:27 says, “When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.” Somehow on this particular day that Jesus returned to Capernaum, this woman was close enough to see and hear the crowds of people singing His praises and struggling to reach out and touch Him.
Scripture says that she heard “of” Jesus, and this word “of” is important. It is the Greek word ta peri, and it means things concerning. As this woman stood in a distant doorway, she likely heard things like, “I can see! My eyes have been opened!” and, “I can hear! My ears are healed!” and, “I can walk! Jesus restored my legs!” With each proclamation of praise she heard, faith began to arise in her heart.
She began moving forward in faith. This woman didn’t have a theological degree, and she may have never heard of Jesus until that day He had returned to Capernaum from the country of the Gadarenes. Nevertheless, as she heard the cries of joy and wonder from those who had received healing, a fire of hope was ignited within. This is confirmed in Mark 5:28, which tells us, “For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.”
The word “said” in verse 28 is the Greek word elegon, which means saying repetitiously. In the context of this verse, she kept on saying and saying and saying, “If I can just get near Him… If I can make my way through this crowd… If I can just get close enough to touch His clothes, I will be made whole and this wretched bleeding will stop.” The more she spoke to herself, the stronger her faith grew. With each step toward Jesus and each statement of reliance and trust in His ability to heal, her confidence expanded.
She came from behind and touched Jesus. The Bible says, “She came in the press behind.” The word “press” is the Greek word ochlus, which describes a crowd, a mob, or a multitude of people, and the word “behind” indicates she came from behind or from the back. That is, she waited until the mob of people had passed, then she came up from behind and “touched” His garment.
This word “touched” is the Greek term haptomai, which means to lay hold of; to fasten onto. When she reached out to touch Jesus, she seized His clothing. She was reaching with everything within her for the power of God that was on Jesus, believing that she would be made “whole.”
The phrase “shall be whole” in Mark 5:28 is the future tense of the Greek word sodzo, and it means a touch of salvation that brings delivering and healing power that results in wholeness. In the Jewish mindset, this is what it meant to be saved (sodzo), and this is what the woman with the issue of blood was reaching out to receive from Jesus.
She received her healing. “And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague” (Mark 5:29). The word “straightway” is the Greek word euthus, which means without delay; immediately. The word “fountain” is the Greek word pege, and it carries the idea of something that gushes; a spring or fountain. The use of this term lets us know that the woman’s condition was a gushing, nonstop flow of blood.
The Bible says that the moment she touched Jesus in faith, the gushing flow “dried up,” which in the Greek means it withered away immediately. The Scripture goes on to say, “…And she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.” The word “felt” in Greek is a form of the word ginosko, which means to really know, perceive, or comprehend. She didn’t go to a doctor to have her healing verified. She just knew within herself that she had been made whole.
The plague was gone. The meaning of the word “plague” used in Mark 5:29 is quite eye-opening. It is the Greek word mastigos, and it is a word borrowed from the world of torture that denoted the act of recurrently beating a prisoner or victim. Once a person’s wounds had mended, the torturers brought him back to the whipping post, where he was struck again and again. Such beatings were sporadic but constant. And although they were not usually serious enough to kill, they kept a victim in constant pain and misery. It was torment and abuse, a scourge that caused great suffering and prolonged anguish. In verse 29, this word “plague” (mastigos) depicts a recurring sickness or physical affliction that keeps a sufferer in a protracted, repeated state of suffering.
Any form of sickness that persists in you — any illness or condition that you think is gone and then comes back again and beats you down — would fall into the category of a “plague.” Chronic blood pressure problems, headaches, allergies, joint issues, and stomach problems are all examples. This woman had a recurring bleeding problem for 12 years, but the moment she seized Jesus’ garment, she was healed.
Jesus Knew Power Went Out of Him
Mark 5:30 says, “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?” The word “knowing” is the Greek word epignosis, which describes a well-instructed, intensive, deep knowledge of the facts. It pictures one who knows his facts like a professional; someone who is very knowledgeable. This tells us how aware Jesus was of the anointing on His life.
When it came to the anointing, Jesus was a professional. The moment “virtue” went out of Him, He instinctively knew it. The word “virtue” is the Greek word dunamis, and it carries the idea of explosive, superhuman power that comes with enormous energy and produces phenomenal, extraordinary, and unparalleled results. The Greek word translated dunamis is the source of miraculous power or miraculous manifestations.
Jesus said, “Who touched my clothes?” His disciples said to Him, “…Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?…” The rest of this passage says, “…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” (Mark 5:30-33).
The woman was “fearing and trembling” as a result of her knowledge of the Levitical law. Her issue of continual bleeding made her unclean, and being unclean meant she couldn’t touch anyone. The fact that she touched Jesus made her guilty of a crime and gave Him the right to stone her to death. But Jesus would have never done that.
Instead, “He said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague” (Mark 5:34). The Greek here literally says, “Your faith has healed you.” The last word to make note of here is the word “go.” It is the Greek word hupage, and it means to go away under someone’s authority. Jesus released this woman to go under the power and authority of His word — and His anointing — and she went home totally cured of her plague.
The emphasis of this lesson:
After 12 years of physical, financial, and emotional suffering, a woman with a nonstop bleeding issue was instantly cured when she touched the hem of Jesus’ clothing. She is an example of what happens when we come into contact with the healing power of Jesus.