“25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” ” Mark 5:25-30
In Mark 5:21-30, amidst the urgency of Jairus’s plea for his daughter’s healing, another narrative unfolds – seemingly interrupting the story. A woman, afflicted with an ailment for twelve long years, ventures out in faith to touch Jesus’s garment, believing in His power to heal her. Let’s jump into this encounter and explore why Jesus is worthy of our courageous faith.
Worthy Of A Courageous Faith
This woman’s condition was dire. Despite exhausting her resources on medical treatments, her suffering only worsened. Yet, upon hearing about Jesus, she dared to hope. Driven by newfound confidence in Him, she resolved to touch His garment, convinced that even this small act would bring about her healing. Her faith was not passive; it propelled her toward courageous action.
Courageous faith is marked by confident and assured dependence. It moves forward boldly, trusting in the promises and power of Jesus. This woman’s faith was grounded in the reports she had heard about Jesus – His identity and His miraculous deeds. Her courageous step of faith was a testament to her unwavering belief in His ability to bring about her restoration.
The Power Of Jesus
Throughout this encounter, we learn about faith. But, more importantly, we learn about Jesus. This incident reveals Jesus’s unparalleled power to heal and restore. He possesses a power beyond human comprehension – a power to bring forth healing where all other efforts fail. And this is the ground of our courageous faith. We move forward with boldness, not because of self-confidence, but because we have come to know the power of Jesus. So, courageous faith in Jesus involves obeying Him even when it defies logic or societal norms – whether in matters of morality, integrity, or self-sacrifice. We move forward with Jesus, not because it always makes perfect sense to us, but because we trust that He is Lord.
A Time For Courage
Jesus calls us to a faith that is courageous – to trust in His power and promises even when circumstances seem bleak. As we navigate life’s challenges, let’s emulate the faith of the woman who dared to reach out to Jesus in her desperation. May we step out boldly, obeying His commands and trusting in His unfailing power. There may be no better time in history than right now to embrace the courage that comes from Jesus. We can move out on the limb because He will hold us fast.
