Unnamed but not Unseen: The Unclean Woman

She slips into the crowd unseen and pulls at her head covering so that her face is not easily recognized.  She wants to be one of the crowd, unknown and unseen because she is unclean. 

She bleeds, but not as women naturally do.  She bleeds every day and has for 12 years.  As her body loses blood, she loses energy, friends, and life.

She has heard about Jesus and his healing.  She has come, hoping.  But there is a crowd between her and Jesus. 

She had witnessed the ruler as he came to Jesus with his grief because his daughter was dying. How could Jesus pay attention to her small problem compared to his? She would not try to stop him, just get close enough to touch his robe.  It was all she could hope for. 

And then, she was there, an arm's length away from his back.  And she reached out her arm and touched just the hem of his robe.

Suddenly, Jesus turned around.  It was so quick that it startled her. His piercing eyes saw her. 

“Who touched me?” he said. 

She knew he didn’t say it to the crowd because he looked straight into her eyes. But his look wasn’t a reprimand; it was a release. 

Then, he spoke directly to her:: "Daughter, your faith has made you whole.”

Immediately, she felt something move through her body. Not the weakness she fought each day.  Not the hopelessness she wrestled.  Something bright and sweet. And she knew that she was healed. 

As quickly as the encounter happened, it was over. The crowd moved, but she did not.  She simply stood there with a hope she had not had for twelve years.

We know this story. But have we ever put ourselves where the woman stood, where other people were closer to Jesus than she was?  Have we held our pain in, masked it, hid our hopelessness, covered up our regrets, and put on a smile which had no healing in it?

The biggest message in this story is that Jesus always knows when someone reaches out, even in hidden ways.  And he’s ready to turn around and let you know that He sees you. He knows you by your pains and regrets and lost hope. He knows where you struggle and question, and are tempted to give up just a little more.

But the marvelous truth in this story is that it doesn’t take much to get to Jesus.  And the companion truth is even more redemptive; He has been waiting for you to come. 

Don’t see this story simply as a physical healing story.  This story shares healing for the wounds that any disease, reversal, or broken dream leaves. This is turnaround healing.  This is healing that moves you forward. 

We all hide something from the people around us.  We can trick them, but not Jesus.  Stay with the crowd that follows him.  Get closer to Jesus than you thought you could.  Wait for the moment you know he sees you.  Then, open your heart, for there is healing you never imagined you could find.  Then, you will stand with the woman who was unknown but never unseen!