Reak Mark 5:23-34
This morning we continue our series entitled, “The Year of Supernatural Manifestation”, with our mini-series on “The Miracles of Jesus”. We just spent three days on the story of Jairus and his daughter. In the middle of that story there was a woman who had an issue of blood. We will discuss her issue for the next few days.
As Jesus and His disciples walked with Jairus to his home, the crowd walked with them. Jesus was coming from ministering a breakthrough (casting out a legion of demons in the land of Gad), and He was headed towards ministering a breakthrough (bringing Jairus’ daughter back to life). Sandwiched between the two is a woman who is looking for a breakthrough herself. The Bible says that she had an issue of blood for 12 years. This meant that her menstrual cycle had literally not stopped in 12 long years. She was physically debilitated because of the constant loss of blood. She was psychologically scarred because of the legal parameters surrounding her condition. The Hebraic Law considered her “unclean” and she would make anything or anyone she came in contact with “unclean” as well. This meant the woman had to stay away from everyone while she was bleeding. This was hard enough for a woman to deal with for a few days a month, but it was unbearable for 12 long years. This woman was basically a prisoner in her own body (see Leviticus 15:19-31).
Take a moment to identify with this woman. She was physically drained, emotionally scarred, and socially outcast. To make a bad situation worse, she spent all her money on doctors and did not get any better. She grew worse. So there she was: financially broke, physically bleeding, and psychologically distraught. But when she heard about Jesus she mustered up the faith to attempt something new. She spoke the language of faith to herself, saying, “If I can only but touch His clothes, I shall be made whole!” She said that to herself over and over again. She then took her chance. Jesus was coming by. He was walking with the local synagogue ruler. Jesus’ team was with Him, but a large crowd surrounded Him. The woman knew she was not supposed to be in the crowd. Whenever she touched anyone she was supposed to cry out and say, “UNCLEAN! UNCLEAN!”, to warn people of her condition. But after 12 years she was sick of rules. She needed a breakthrough. She pressed her way through the crowd without saying anything. And when she finally got close enough, SHE DID IT! She reached out her hand and touched Jesus’ clothes. Immediately the bleeding stopped! She knew she was changed. She knew she had received her breakthrough.
I will stop here for today and we will pick it up from here tomorrow.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
- Rules cannot make you right. Rules can only show you when you are wrong. The woman with the issue of blood was confined by the rules of religion, but she got her breakthrough when Jesus came on the scene. Jesus offered what the rules never could. Jesus offered love and He offered power! One touch from Jesus and this woman’s life was changed forever.
- You will never experience intimacy with your heavenly Father by focusing on rules. Rules, ritual, routine and religion were introduced to show you the need for a true relationship with God.
- The woman with the issue of blood had tried every natural option and it left her physically tired, financially broke, and socially outcast. So she decided to try a supernatural option. Living by faith means you are willing to attempt things only God can do. Living by faith requires a departure from the limits of humanity.
- The woman with the issue of blood attempted something that made no sense in the natural. She kept saying to herself, “If I can only but touch His clothes, I shall be made whole!” Guess what? As soon as she touched Jesus’ clothes, she was made whole. This was not something a doctor could explain. This is not something a lawyer to justify. This was something that was birthed in her heart, by God’s grace, and she had the audacity to launch out in faith to attempt it.
- You will never experience what you are not willing to attempt. Stop living within the confines of human limits. For this year to be a year of supernatural manifestation and great victory, you are going to have to launch OUT in faith beyond your limits.
- Living by faith will cause you to get beyond your limits, beyond your comfort zone, at the risk of looking foolish. This is how you will get to experience the supernatural. You will never walk on water if you are too afraid to get out of the boat!
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. This year I will experience supernatural manifestation like never before! This is my season! This is my time! This is my year! I am no longer focused on ritual, routine or religion. I have a relationship with You and I am committed to experiencing You and Your power. I am not afraid of attempting whatever You lead me to do. I will do what You tell me to do, even at the risk of looking foolish. Even when it is something I have never done. Even when it is something that cannot be done in the natural. My eyes are upon You. My confidence is in You! My life is all about You! I am ready to launch out IN FAITH to experience Your best this year! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and prosper!
