Estimated reading time: 12 minutes

Luke 8:40- 56 is one piece of passage that we can all relate to. The passage shows two people who approached Jesus differently and still received their healing. On one end, Jairus was not afraid to approach Jesus for the daughter’s healing. And on the other end, we see a woman with the issue of blood that did not feel worthy to approach Jesus and so she came from behind. In both cases, Jesus catered to their need and was personal to each one of them. Isn’t it amazing that Jesus doesn’t have a criterion that He looks at when you come to Him for healing? Anyway, let us look at some lessons we can learn from the context of the woman with the issue of blood. But one thing Jesus makes clear is that it is okay to come from behind.

Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman

⁴⁰ Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. ⁴¹ Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house ⁴² because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. ⁴³ And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,^[c] but no one could heal her. ⁴⁴ She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

⁴⁵ “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” ⁴⁶ But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” ⁴⁷ Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. ⁴⁸ Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” ⁴⁹ While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”

⁵⁰ Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” ⁵¹ When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. ⁵² Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” ⁵³ They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. ⁵⁴ But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” ⁵⁵ Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. ⁵⁶ Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

Lessons to learn.

When we read the scripture, the story of this woman comes in as a by the way. This is because Jesus was on His way to Jairus’ place when the woman touched the hem of His coat. She did not think she needed to be seen or receive any attention. She had allowed her circumstance to define her. You see the Bible clearly tells us she had sought physicians for years and had still not received her healing. Not only that, she had lost all her livelihood in pursuit of her healing. This had obviously taken a toll on her. The isolation also caused her to feel like a second-class citizen. She probably did not think that she deserved to be seen.

So looking at it, we can see that she had assumed that her problem was permanent and that she had to live with it. The woman with the issue of blood did not feel worthy or qualified enough for healing.

Yet this begs the question: why did Jesus recognize her? Why did he feel the need to announce her to the world? This scripture shows us that Jesus did this not only because He wanted to validate her, but also because He wanted her to feel seen and receive healing. For the longest time, she had been alone and lived in seclusion because of her situation. In the old testament, a woman was considered unclean anytime she was on her menstrual cycle. And before they could acclimate her back to society, she had to go through some cleansing ritual.

And the other thing was the fact that no one could come near her because they would also be considered unclean. This obviously caused her to lack friends and a sense of belonging. After all, no one wanted to associate with an unclean person. This meant that they too could not partake in the Sabbath activities. The woman’s predicament caused her seclusion.

She was used to living by herself. And Jesus recognizing her made her feel seen, and that was also when her journey to healing began. Jesus’ validation also meant that no one had the right to hold her past against her. Rather, it revealed to her a new beginning. So here are some lessons that stand out from the scripture.

It is okay to come from behind;

I know most of us at some point, have felt this way. Maybe you feel you do not deserve healing, happiness, favor, success, and prosperity. You could have counted yourself out and assumed that Jesus does not have time for you because you do not have what the others have. Maybe you have been dealing with the problem for so long that you have assumed it will always be a part of you. Or worse, you think you are going through this because of your past mistakes.

Have you experienced situations in your life that have caused you to write yourself off? Do you feel like all Jesus has for you is a bit of Him because you do not look or feel the part? Today I want to encourage you and tell you, that Jesus died for you too and He has room for you. You are not a second-class citizen, No! He has so much for you, healing and everything else you need is available for you too. You who feel unworthy and invisible. Jesus sees you too. You are not invisible to Him. That is why He recognized the woman and called out to her. He did not do this to embarrass her. He wanted to validate her because He knew that for years she had felt invisible.

Jesus wants you to know that it is okay to come from behind. He knows you don’t have the same confidence that Jairus had to come directly to Him. Whether it is because of your inadequacy or past, He knows. But guess what, He died for you too. He came to set you free, too. And He gets it. However you come to Him, all He wants is for you to come to Him. It is okay for you to come from behind. Don’t allow the enemy and your past to keep you from what God has for you. As long as you come, He will take you in.

The love of God will chase you down and pursue you. He has no problem taking the step toward you as long as you ask Him. The prodigal son received redemption because he went back to his father. He realized that the only way to get out of that mess was for him to go back. And when he did that, he received more than he had bargained for. God will always outdo Himself and He does the exceedingly at any given time. The woman with the issue of blood took the initiative to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. What initiative will you take in the pursuit of what you need?

Jesus will do His part as long as you do yours. Let this encourage you and help you realize it is okay to come from behind. Jesus has time for you and wants to listen to your story too.

Re-introduction

I find it funny that in such a crowd, no one noticed her touch the hem of Jesus’ coat. How? There must have been someone who did. But because they had disregarded her, they did not imagine that she could get the attention of Jesus. It is easy for us to think that low of ourselves, whether it is because of our past mistakes, failures, or even labels placed on us by others. When you are going through a trying situation, everyone’s initial response is empathy and pity. They want to be there for you, but after a while, when the situation doesn’t change, people label you the same. Isn’t it funny how the only way the woman could be described as the woman with the issue of blood? Surely she had a name.. What labels have people placed on you because of the surrounding circumstances?

Has your past become a part of you because others think it should define you? Maybe you have had a traumatic situation that has caused others to think that, that is how you will always be viewed. And this has caused you to define yourself in the same way. Has this been your story? If this is you, I want you to understand that you do not have to stay stuck in the past. You don’t have to allow your past to define you.

One beautiful character of Jesus portrayed here is his not using our circumstances regardless of how bad they are to define us. He knew that this was not all the woman was and neither are you. You are not your mistakes, failures, diseases, or past. There is so much more inside of you and Jesus wants to re-introduce you. For years, this woman lived her life invisible to others, fading to the background, but when she encountered Jesus, He introduced her again to the public and this time He called her daughter, not a woman but a daughter. This was His way of telling her they will no longer identify her with her former illness, but her new identity was that she was the daughter of the highest God. Jesus validated her.

Conclusion

Jesus wants to do the same for you today. He wants to re-introduce you. But realize that you have a role to play and that is coming to Jesus. Like I said earlier on, Jesus does not have a problem with the form you decide to come to Him in. Whether you will come to Him like Jairus unafraid and confident or like the woman renamed daughter of God, afraid and insecure as long as you come to Him. He wants to show you all He has for you and He is so ready to re-introduce you to the world, just like He always had in mind.

You don’t have to be ashamed of yourself. It is not okay for you to allow your situation to define you. Decide to come to Jesus today and don’t worry. He will still accept you when you come from behind.

You are not what others think, and it is time to let go of this chapter that you have assumed is your story. That is not all you are. There is so much more that God has placed inside of you and there is a fire inside of you that will not be quenched, but it is going to take you resolving to turn to Jesus. Touch His hem, leave the crowd and touch His hem. He sees you even in the crowd. He is all-knowing and all-seeing. Do not wait any longer. It is time to receive your healing and a new identity. Don’t mind the crowd, it is okay to come from behind!

• Don’t Worry, You Are Next.
• Why Your Breakthrough is Taking Long?
• Jesus Wants To Listen To Your Story Too.
• THIS TIME, IT WILL BE DIFFERENT!
• HOW TO EXPERIENCE JESUS IN THE STORM

Your story will encourage others to believe in God when they have no strength to do so. You see, when Jairus saw that the woman who had been sick for 12 years was healed, he had the faith to believe in the resurrection of his 12-year-old daughter. Your story matters and will help others get out of their predicament. But this will only happen when you decide to come out and touch the hem of Jesus’ garment.