So Jesus went with him.
A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.
~Mark 5:24-26
Choose three words that best describe the kind of suffering experienced by this woman who had been bleeding for twelve long years.
- pain, sadness, frustration
When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
~Mark 5:27-29
Probably this woman accidentally touched otherse in the crowd when she was trying to get to Jesus. What do you think the crowd would have said or done if they had known she was sick and was unclean? What did it take for this woman to accept such a risk?
- I think they may have screamed in outrage
- she probably had lots of guts to do what she did
Mark says this woman was thinking "If I just touch his cothes, I will be healed." What does this tell you about this woman? How does this relate to Jesus' statement in verse 34 that her faith has healed her?
- she was confident in what she needed to do
- she had faith
At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
“You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”
But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done ti.
~Mark 5: 30-32
How do you think Jesus knew someone had touched him? Obviously, the touch of this woman was different from the other touches by those around him. What made it different?
- he felt some power leave him
Describe how you might feel if you had the opportunity to actually touch Jesus physically. Is there anything about this woman - her suffering, her actions, her healing - that reminds you of yourself? What is it?
- I would feel very excited about having that opportunity
- unfortunately, I can't think of anything at the moment
Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.
~Mark 5:33
Why do you think this woman was afraid to admit she was the one in the crowd who had touched Jesus and been healed?
- maybe she thought someone would be able to spot or recognize her and know that she is unclean
Think of a time when something very special or miraculous happened to you. Were you eager or hesitant to share it with others? Why?
- I'm pretty sure I was very eager to share it with others because it was the first time I had the chance to spend some special time with someone
He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
~Mark 5:34
Why does Jesus call this woman "daughter"? How do you think the woman felt when Jesus spoke these words to her?
- being Christian is being part of one big family where Jesus, as God the Son, is more or lesss like a father to us
- she probably felt overjoyed
This woman had tried everything in order to be healed. When Jesus came to her village, she knew she had another option. How often do you try every other option to solve a problem before turning to God? Is he often a last resort for you? What would be a better way?
- I probably do it more often than necessary. I try not to make God a last resort to turn to, but I probaby should go to him quicker than what I have been doing
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