Healing of the Woman with an Issue of Blood
The story of the woman with an issue of blood, as recorded in Mark 5, is a powerful testament to the healing power of Jesus and the importance of faith in the Christian life. This account not only highlights the miraculous healing that took place but also reveals profound spiritual truths about desperation, faith, and divine compassion. Let’s journey through this narrative and uncover the lessons it holds for us today.
This sermon is part of the series Healing Sermon Series: +10 Studies on on Divine Healing, Faith, and Restoration
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A Faith That Touches Jesus Generates Complete Healing
Theme: Active and Persevering Faith Produces Healing in Body, Soul, and Spirit
Scripture Base: Mark 5:24b–34; Matthew 9:20–22; Luke 8:43–48
Introduction: The Manifestation of the Kingdom
The essential meaning of all the miracles performed by Jesus was to declare that the Kingdom of God had arrived (Matthew 12:28). These miracles point directly to His absolute, total dominion over everything and everyone, whether visible or invisible, spiritual or physical.
Everything must bow before the person of Jesus and the authority of His Word—be it sickness, demons, nature, or even death itself. Therefore, Jesus did not perform these miracles for self-glory, human popularity, or to satisfy selfish human whims.
They were divine signs designed to call humanity to repentance, leading people out of a life of sin and into a brand-new existence.
Faith in the power
Within the Gospel narratives, faith in the power and person of Jesus is the vital key to experiencing this life-altering reality. In the Gospel of Mark, commendations for personal faith are rare and highly significant.
Jesus praises the faith of the friends of the paralytic (Mark 2:5), the faith of blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:52), and, in our text today, the faith of this suffering woman (Mark 5:34).
Many people in the ancient world entered into physical contact with Jesus as He walked through their towns, but not all of them experienced the restored life of the Kingdom.
I. A Humanly Impossible Situation (Mark 5:25–26; Luke 8:43)
The story of this woman is strategically embedded within a series of intense miracle accounts (Luke 8:22–56). Her crisis is described right in the middle of the narrative concerning the healing of Jairus’s daughter (Luke 8:40–42, 49–56). While Jesus is on His way to rescue a dying young girl, this woman steps from the shadows of a deep pit of endless suffering.
1. Long-Term Suffering
For twelve long years, this woman suffered from a continuous, agonizing hemorrhage. At that time, surgical treatments were dangerously primitive due to a total lack of basic anatomical and physiological knowledge; medical interventions were strictly limited to the drainage of abscesses, cauterization, the scraping of wounds (curettage), and the setting of fractured bones. Her condition was completely debilitating, far out of reach for the medical knowledge, sorcerers, and human healers of her era.
2. Financial and Physical Ruin
She had spent all her money and liquid resources on endless physicians, trying to buy a cure. Instead of finding relief, she suffered immensely under their treatments and continually grew worse. She was physically drained, emotionally exhausted, and financially bankrupt.
3. Total Exclusion
According to the Levitical Law, her continuous discharge of blood rendered her ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 15). Anyone or anything she touched became unclean. Consequently, she was barred from the Temple, separated from her community, and condemned to complete social and religious isolation.
The Kingdom Lesson: There are crises in life that completely evade human control and exhaust all earthly solutions. God frequently allows these humanly impossible situations to shatter our self-sufficiency, using our deepest pain to drive us into absolute dependence on Him.
II. A Faith That Moves and Overcomes Barriers (Mark 5:27–28; Matthew 9:21; Luke 8:44a)
How does a woman in such a hopeless condition find the strength to move?
The text provides the precise answer: “When she heard about Jesus…” (Mark 5:27). Her active faith was birthed the exact moment she heard testimonies of Christ’s power, confirming that faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). These true reports fed her dying hope and ignited a fire within her spirit.
1. The Strategy of Faith
Both Matthew and Mark reveal her internal monologue: "If I may only touch His clothes, I shall be healed" (Mark 5:28; Matthew 9:21). She formulated a secret plan. She believed she could slip quietly into the massive crowd, reach Jesus without being noticed, touch Him, and slide away unnoticed.
2. The Part of the Garment (Luke 8:44a)
Luke specifies the exact part of the clothing she targeted: the “fringe of His garment.” This was the a sacred border attached by a blue cord to each of the four corners of the Jewish outer vestment. Touching this specific piece demonstrated her deep recognition of His messianic authority.
This hidden action was a monumental act of faith. If she had not possessed absolute certainty that she would be healed by simply touching Him, she never would have risked the exposure. True faith is never passive; it is dynamically active. Her faith forced her to conquer three massive barriers: her profound physical weakness, the cultural shame of her legal impurity, and the physical obstacle of a dense, pressing crowd.
III. The Transformative Touch and Discharged Power (Mark 5:29–32; Luke 8:44b–46)
When her hand finally connected with the fringe of His garment, an immediate supernatural event took place.
1. Instant Deliverance
The moment she touched the cloth, her flow of blood dried up instantly (Mark 5:29). After twelve years of constant failure, the disease stopped in an instant. She felt inside her own body that she was entirely delivered from her affliction. A powerful, life-giving energy had been unleashed through her specific touch.
2. The Distinction of the Touch
Immediately, Jesus stopped. He turned around in the middle of the moving crowd and asked a surprising question: “Who touched My clothes?” (Mark 5:30). His disciples were bewildered, pointing out that hundreds of people were pressing tightly against Him from every side (Mark 5:31; Luke 8:45).
But Jesus clarified the difference: “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me” (Luke 8:46).
The Kingdom Lesson: There is a profound difference between crowding Jesus and catching His attention. The thronging multitude pressed against Him out of curiosity, social excitement, or casual interest, yet nothing happened to them. But one desperate woman touched Him with purposeful, intentional faith, and that single touch drew divine power straight out of the Savior.
IV. The Confession That Restores the Soul (Mark 5:33; Luke 8:47)
Jesus intentionally refused to keep walking. He scanned the crowd to see who had done this thing (Mark 5:32). He did not do this to humiliate the woman, but to bring her out of hiding.
Knowing she could no longer remain hidden, the woman stepped out of her anonymity. She came forward trembling with fear, fell prostrate at His feet, and declared publically before the entire crowd “all the truth” (Mark 5:33; Luke 8:47). She explained exactly why she had touched Him and how she had been healed instantly.
Experiencing the profound mystery of God’s grace in the person of Jesus Christ is so intense and transformative that it cannot remain locked away in secret intimacy. It demands a public testimony! Her public confession was vital for her complete restoration: it banished her lingering shame, vindicated her presence before the community that had cast her out, and anchored her mind in the reality of what God had done.
V. The Word of Complete Restorational Healing (Mark 5:34; Matthew 9:22; Luke 8:48)
Once her public testimony was complete, Jesus spoke words over her that sealed her healing across every dimension of her being:
"Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction." — Mark 5:34
1. A Restored Identity
He addressed her as "Daughter." This is the only instance in the entire New Testament where Jesus addresses a woman using this specific term of endearment. With a single word, He restored her familial identity, welcoming her back into the family of God.
2. Radical Whole Healing
He declared, "Your faith has saved you" (from the Greek sōzō, meaning to save, heal, and make completely whole). Jesus did not want her to sneak away with a stolen physical cure while leaving her soul burdened with fear, isolation, and spiritual hiding. He wanted to give her a complete restoration of body, soul, and spirit.
3. A New Beginning
He dismissed her by saying, "Go in peace." He gave her a new lease on life, a fresh start completely free from the physical and emotional torments that had defined her existence for over a decade.
Conclusion: When All Else Fails, Faith Still Works
The historic account of the hemorrhaging woman stands as an enduring truth: when every human remedy completely fails, faith in Jesus Christ still works. Her journey provides an unshakeable model for us today:
1. Do not let your pain isolate you; let it push you toward the Savior.
2. Listen to testimonies of His grace, allowing the Word to build active faith in your heart.
3. Break through the barriers of fear, weakness, and worldly opinions to reach the Master.
4. Do not settle for a casual relationship with Jesus; reach out and touch Him with intentional faith.
5. Be ready to stand and testify of His goodness, confessing the whole truth of His power.
Jesus Christ is passing by this morning. Do not just stand in the crowd, watching from a distance or casually pressing against Him through routine religion. Reach out with an active, bold, and persevering faith. Touch the fringe of His garment, and allow His divine power to make you completely whole today.
Woman with Issue of Blood Outiline
1. The Woman's Desperation and Her Condition (Mark 5:25):
"And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years." The woman’s condition was dire and had persisted for twelve long years. She was physically weakened, socially ostracized due to her condition, and emotionally drained. This prolonged suffering left her in a state of desperation, seeking any possible means for relief. Her condition represents the deep and persistent struggles that many face in life, where hope seems distant.
2. The Relentless Search for Healing (Mark 5:26):
"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." Despite her relentless efforts and the resources she exhausted, she found no relief. This relentless pursuit of healing reflects the human tendency to search for solutions in every possible direction, often leading to disappointment. It shows that human efforts, no matter how sincere, are sometimes insufficient to address the deepest needs of the heart.
3. Faith Born in the Midst of Adversity – Hearing about Jesus (Mark 5:27):
"When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak." In the midst of her suffering, she heard about Jesus. Her faith was ignited by the reports of His healing power. In adversity, faith can be born when we hear of Jesus’ ability to save, heal, and restore. Her decision to approach Jesus was a testament to the faith that had grown in her heart, despite the overwhelming circumstances.
4. The Power of Touching Jesus' Garment (Mark 5:28):
"Because she thought, ‘If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.’" Her faith was so strong that she believed merely touching the hem of Jesus' garment would bring her healing. This act of faith demonstrates that sometimes, faith is expressed in simple but profound actions. It wasn't about the physical act of touching, but the faith behind it that mattered. Her belief in Jesus' power, even through a mere touch, was enough to unlock divine healing.
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5. God’s Immediate Response to Faith (Mark 5:29):
"Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering." The moment she touched His garment, her healing was instantaneous. This verse underscores the fact that God responds immediately to genuine faith. The power of God is always available, and faith is the key that unlocks it. Her suffering, which had lasted for twelve years, was ended in an instant because of her faith in Jesus.
6. Jesus’ Recognition (Mark 5:30):
"At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, ‘Who touched my clothes?’" Jesus recognized the touch of faith. Even in a pressing crowd, her touch was distinct because it was driven by faith. This moment shows that Jesus is aware of every act of faith, no matter how small or unnoticed by others it may seem. His recognition signifies that faith never goes unnoticed by God.
7. The Woman's Fear and Confession (Mark 5:33):
"Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth." After experiencing her healing, the woman approached Jesus with fear and trembling, confessing everything. Her fear was perhaps due to her condition and the boldness it took to touch Jesus. Yet, she chose to confess openly. This moment of vulnerability illustrates that true encounters with Jesus lead to humility and transparency before Him.
8. Jesus’ Compassion and Encouragement (Mark 5:34):
"He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.’" Jesus responded not with rebuke but with compassion. He called her "daughter," affirming her identity and relationship with Him. He acknowledged her faith as the reason for her healing and sent her away in peace. Jesus’ response shows His deep compassion and desire to encourage those who come to Him in faith. He doesn’t just heal physically but also brings peace to the soul.
9. The Importance of Faith in the Christian Life (Hebrews 11:6):
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." This entire account highlights the centrality of faith in the Christian life. Faith is not just a belief in God's existence but a trust in His ability to intervene in our lives. It is through faith that we experience God’s power, grace, and miracles. The story of the woman with the issue of blood is a powerful reminder that faith is essential to our relationship with God and our walk with Christ.
Conclusion:
The healing of the woman with the issue of blood is more than just a miracle story; it is a profound lesson on the power of faith, the compassion of Jesus, and the immediate response of God to those who seek Him. In our own lives, we may face long seasons of suffering and desperation, but this story reminds us that faith, even in the smallest acts, can bring about divine intervention. Let us be encouraged to approach Jesus with the same faith, knowing that He sees, He cares, and He responds to those who earnestly seek Him. May our faith in Christ continue to grow, leading us to experience His power and peace in every area of our lives. Amen.
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Ronaldo Gomes da Silva is a Professor of Homiletics and Education Specialist (UFF, Brazil). A recognized authority in ministerial training, his homiletical frameworks are used globally and were recently cited by the newspaperCEADEMA of State Convention (June 2025).
