Mark 5:25-34
Twelve Years and One Touch
Read the passage
25And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.
26She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, her condition had only grown worse.
27When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak.
28For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be healed.”
29Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
30At once Jesus was aware that power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched My garments?”
31His disciples answered, “You can see the crowd pressing in on You, and yet You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’”
32But He kept looking around to see who had done this.
33Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him trembling in fear, and she told Him the whole truth.
34“Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
While Jesus is on the way to Jairus’s daughter, a woman comes through the crowd behind Him. She has been bleeding for twelve years. Treatment has brought suffering rather than relief, spent all she had and left her worse.
Leviticus describes an ongoing discharge of blood as a condition of ceremonial uncleanness. That gives context for her situation, alongside the physical and financial cost Mark names. It does not mean she is morally guilty for being ill.
Having heard about Jesus, she believes that touching His garments will bring healing. She reaches His cloak, and immediately the bleeding stops. She feels the change in her body.
Jesus notices that power has gone out from Him and asks who touched His clothing. The disciples point to the crowd pressing around Him, but He continues looking. The woman comes forward trembling, falls before Him and tells the whole truth.
His answer is tender:
“Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”
She receives more than an unexplained change in her symptoms. Jesus speaks to her personally, acknowledges her faith and sends her in peace. The power is His; her faith has reached toward Him. Her fearful account is met with reassurance, not rejection.
How We Know
Leviticus 15:25–27 describes an ongoing discharge of blood and the ceremonial uncleanness associated with the woman’s bed and seating. It provides relevant context for her condition. The law does not tell us every social experience she had or justify the claim that nobody had touched her for twelve years.
Questions
1 What had twelve years of illness cost the woman?
AnswerShe had suffered under many physicians, spent all she had and grown worse. Mark lets us see how much had already been tried before she came to Jesus.
2 What does she believe when she reaches for His clothing?
AnswerThat touching His garments will bring healing. Her hope is directed toward Jesus, whose power brings the change.
3 How does Jesus respond when she comes forward afraid?
AnswerHe calls her daughter, speaks of her faith and sends her in peace, free of her affliction. She receives personal reassurance from the One who healed her.
4 What should this account keep us from assuming about someone still ill?
AnswerWe should not conclude that continuing illness proves inadequate faith. This is an account of Jesus’ mercy to this woman, not a rule by which to judge every sufferer.
What This Means for Us
Long illness can wear down hope as well as resources. Jesus does not treat this woman as an interruption beneath His attention. Her need matters to Him even on the way to another urgent appeal.
We can bring Him needs that have lasted much longer than we expected. If we are caring for someone else, listen without pressing for private details or explaining their illness by a failure of faith. The tenderness of Jesus’ words should shape how we speak to people who are already weary.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your tenderness toward this weary woman. Hear those living with long illness and sustain them in Your care. Give us patience to listen and wisdom to offer help without blame. Amen.