The Woman With The Issue Of Blood

In the Biblical account of Mark 5:25.34, there is a woman mentioned who had been
suffering from a twelve year ailment. The narrative does not mention this woman
by name; however, she will be very familiar to us all because of her unique faith
of an historic proportion. The physicians of that day had tried to make her
physically whole, but unfortunately, the things they did try only made her worsen
by the day. For twelve painful years, she had suffered under this horrible
disease and now the author of Mark tells us she spent her entire life savings to
obtain freedom from this curse she had. The importance of the background reveals
to us in verse 24 that a large crowd had been following Jesus and His disciples,
and the crowds of people were literally pressing in on Him. In addition to verse
24, it shows how needful the people were and how desperate they had become for
their healing to begin through their Jehovah Rapha. That day there were many
people following Adonai, and while they were pressing in on Him to get a physical
touch by their God, Jesus Christ felt His power had gone forth from Him. Then the
Messiah had said, “Who touched Me.” Moreover, while Jesus was looking for the
person that touched Him, the disciples responded back to their Master, “You see
the crowd pressing in on you how can you say, ‘Who touched me’.” This very
statement has given us an important clue on what is going to happen next.

Before we venture further into the mystery of the woman with the issue of blood
there is another factor the Western minds need to consider, mainly surrounding the
episode on Eastern culture. During the Old Testament period, God had commanded
Moses, in Numbers chapter 15:37-41, to tell the Israelites to make fringes onto
their garments. “The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites, and tell them
to make tzitzit (fringes) on the corners of their garments throughout their
generations and to put a blue cord on the tzitzit (fringe) at each corner. You
have the tzitzit (fringe) so that, when you see it, you will remember all the
commandments of the Lord and do them, and not follow the lust of your own heart
and your own eyes. So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and you
shall be holy to your God. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the
land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God”. The important aspect of
this unique tradition is to be practiced throughout all generations, for when God
commands an action, it is always an eternal decree to be carried out on earth.
Our Western thoughts conceptually are not in tune with Eastern ancient customs.
In addition, most congregations have not been equipped to teach the Hebraic roots
of the Old Testament and the New Testament. Therefore, we are as Paul the Apostle
mentions in First Corinthians chapter 3:2. “I fed you with milk, not solid food,
for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, for you
are still of the flesh.”

The important significance of the Hebrew people making a Tallit (prayer shawl) and
adding the blue fringes (tzitzit in the Hebrew) on the garment is astounding. The
very prayer shawl Jesus Christ wore connects with Malachi chapter 4:2. As Jehovah
Rapha was wearing the Tallit (prayer shawl), a miraculous event occurred when the
woman with the issue of blood had touched the fringes of His prayer shawl. As we
go to Malachi, the writer mentions “But for you who revere My name the sun of
righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.” This mystery woman could
have possibly heard Malachi chapter 4:2. It may have been spoken in the
synagogues or perhaps her family had this manuscript in their possession it is
obvious she had heard of Malachi 4:2, just for the fact that this miraculous event
occurred once she had touched the fringes on His prayer shawl. She knew the
Hebraic impact it would have on her once she did touch Jehovah Rapha’s prayer
shawl, or else she would not have acted on her faith.

Is the phrase in Malachi 4:2, with healing in its wings, referring to Jesus Christ
as having actual feathery wings like that of a bird? The answer would be a
resounding no. The author of Malachi was speaking metaphorically. However, if we
take it at face value in its literalism, this would cause injustice to the text.
Jesus the Messiah did come to earth in the flesh. The woman with the issue of
blood knew the Hebraic and ancient customs connected with the word tzitzit
(fringe.) She knew that the word fringe in Hebrew is “wings.” Therefore, when
she was reaching out at the prayer shawl that Jesus Christ was wearing she had
found healing in His wings. Verses 28 and 29 said she had acted out on her faith
it says, “For she said, if I but touch His clothes I will be made well.
Immediately her hemorrhage stopped and she felt in her body that she was healed of
her disease.”

This story similarly parallels that of John chapter 9:1, 41. As he walked along,
he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this
man, or his parents that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “neither this man
nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in
him.” The woman had not sinned, nor had her parents sinned to cause her issue of
blood. Similarly with the blind man, Jesus Christ commanded him to go to the pool
of Siloam (which means sent) to be fully healed. After touching the fringes of
his Tallit (prayer shawl), and after speaking to Jehovah Rapha, the woman most
likely reflected on Psalms 91:1. “You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my
fortress my God in whom I trust.”

By Michael Jones