If I Could Ask One Question of “The Woman With a Bleeding Disorder”, I would ask “What Did The Power of Jesus Feel Like?”

 “Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. Then Jesus asked, “Who touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and press in on you.” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me.” When the woman saw that she could not remain hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him, she declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” Luke 8:43-48

There were many disorders in the time of Jesus that would put someone outside of the community. These disorders would include leprosy, bleeding disorders, blindness, epilepsy, and many others. Most of these disorders were not curable, and so the people who suffered from them were permanently outside of the community – forced to beg – ostracized from their family and friends. Some diseases were considered to be caused by the sins of their parents – others by their own sins. No matter the cause, these people were outsiders – suffering – alone. I believe one of the situations in first century Palestine that caused Jesus the most pain was the way people treated those who were outcasts of the community, for no other reason than they suffered from a disease. For example, there was the time a man brought his son who was suffering from epilepsy. He begs Jesus to help his son – and Jesus says: “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly.” (Matthew 17:14-18) 

This helps us understand why so many begged Jesus to help them when he appeared in their villages. This is the case of the woman mentioned above. She took great risk to approach Jesus in the synagogue. And when she touched the hem of his clothing, “power went out from him.” That power would left Jesus and immediately entered into her body – healing her. We talk about the power of Jesus, wondering what it was like. Some knew exactly what it felt like. So I would want to ask her what it felt like – what it felt like to have the power of Jesus enter her body. It must have been electric. That is the question I would ask the woman with the bleeding disorder. What is your question for her?

Pastor Dave