Woman with Issue of Blood & Forgiveness

When you think of how long you may have suffered from something without knowing what it was how long would you say? The woman with the issue of blood in Matthew 9 is a testimony on many great levels with much to learn from. Forgiveness is one such area where this testimony may shed light to your own personal journey with the Lord.

This woman’s issue; which by the way her name is never mentioned. This is curious although if you knew her name would it matter because she probably would still be identified by her issue and not her name but I digress. Her suffering was 12 years in the making before she reached Jesus. An issue of blood for a woman during her days would be much different than for women today. We may think of such an issue today as endometriosis or something related. Her condition was such that kept her ailing for many years; much like those who walk in unforgiveness.

What is most fascinating about the testimony is her perseverance for healing; for answers.So picture Jesus healing other people and being the great I AM and mobbed by people everywhere and then as it is written in scripture ‘suddenly’ He is touched by a woman. Now for her it probably was not ‘suddenly’ but rather a long, arduous, painful journey that led her to receive her ‘suddenly’ as in ‘suddenly healed’. She tried everything. What isn’t known is how many other times she tried to find Jesus or of this is the first; although what is clear is that when she got to Him she get her healing. It is written in the King James Matthew 9:21 ,’ For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.’ What must be made clear are several things:

1- She knew what she must do in order to be made whole- which was get to Jesus.

2- She wasn’t whole because if she were she wouldn’t have needed to get to Him at all.

3- She learned that obviously through 12 years of searching she needed something more than what she had been given or found.

4- Man in all his infinite wisdom still does not have the answers.

5- There is no wholeness or restoration to the full without the touch of Jesus.

When we relate this to forgiveness; there is no fullness of forgiveness without Jesus. Sure people daily can say some words that sound great; but that’s lipsmack. That doesn’t mean anything. When there is forgiveness there is a healing that takes place; a wholeness.  There is a complete transformation within! One cannot simply transform their own selves in their own thinking that caused them the problems in the first place. It is not possible.  If it were; then most people would not be in the situations they are in in the first place. Nothing that any of us do without Jesus can bring wholeness. Nothing!

This woman is proof of this! She is proof of what occurs when simply touching the hem of His garment. His garment!  She is proof of what happens when we get to the end of ourselves and our quests for something that can only be done through and by Him. Your personal level of forgiveness is equally the same. You may try and try in all your might; yet your attempt is futile because without Him you will tire yourself and still be in need of something more. With Jesus; everything comes with Him.

As the testimony continues Jesus knew the power moved from Him as He felt it. It was that strong! “But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.” (v22) What we can learn from this is that is was her faith that made the way. Her faith!

You see; many people who harbor unforgiveness also lack faith but not in the way most think. Sure they may have faith that that their favorite team will win the championship; but they don’t have the measure of faith to believe that through Jesus they can forgive; that they can trust Him to heal their pains and that He really is on their side. They don’t have the faith to believe that when they give the burdens to Jesus He will carry the load. And so on the cycle of misery goes; along with more medications and anger management classes. Year after year.

I didn’t know the depth of forgiveness until I was faced with it. I had faith in the Lord for many things but when it came to forgiveness; it was being vulnerable in the most vulnerable way possible. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do because it meant I had to trust that Jesus would be there; that He would bring justice to me and for me. And He did; but I had to step; like the woman with the issue of blood.

Reflect on her  for a moment. How vulnerable do you think she had to be to even get herself to a place where Jesus was? People everywhere and if she were found out then what? How embarrassing right? To be caught with such an issue would be humuliating to say the least! And yet she sought. She had faith that if she got there her life would be changed. And we read again ‘”But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.” (v22)

It’s so simple that we complicate it. All we need to is take the step. There is no reason for anyone to suffer unnecessarily; not even you. When you get to that place of being sick and tired of being sick and tired go to Jesus. Reach out and touch Him and you will feel His Presence. You will feel the healing that comes in that instant like it did for the woman with the issue of blood. You will be made whole; restored. You can’t not be. He is the Redeemer. He is the Healer. He is the Almighty! He is also there waiting just for you.

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