And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. -Mark 5:25 & 26, NIV
Jewish law excluded her from living a normal life, and the Pharisees loved that. Every time she looked at the Pharisees spit and insult her, she was feeling an unbridled rage. Every time schoolchildren taunted her for having a sickness she can’t even control, her heart was losing its beat. Every day was a nightmare for this woman, a living Hell.
That day was her lucky day! The Man of Galilee was walking by to Jairus’ house! Such a joy, such a time! Everyone in the town wants to see him! But there was a problem: there was no room to see Him, not even a chance for Jesus to breathe! The disciples were passively-aggressively shoving them away; how nice!
When that woman saw those piercing eyes, that walk that exhumes authority, and that long, white cloak, she thought of something really, REALLY ambitious, something REALLY disruptive, something not even a person in the direst of needs would think of: “If I touch His clothes, I will be healed.” Not a “Maybe”, or an “At Least”, or even a “I Think”. She threw out a conditional: IF I touch His cloak, THEN I’ll be healed.” No doubt, or remorse; “no pain, no gain”, as people say.
She marched her bloody rear end to see Him. Even if it meant kicking and screaming, biting and pulling (being dramatic here; just using poetic hyperbole), she wanted to see the King; it was HER TIME to see the King! Just an index, just a thumb… She could yank a thread, she could grab it!
Thud! She fell on the floor. Jesus stopped. She was scared –of course, who wouldn’t be?-, and she tried to hide. When Jesus looked back, He noticed that something special flowed from that heart. It was something no one can explain, not even her. But at last; she was free from her misery, she was finally healed.
And, as people say, of course, the rest is history…