The Life of Christ

It is possible that this synagogue ruler might have earlier been a silent scoffer of Jesus before this event, as most were.

• But when crisis comes, pride has a way of giving place to critical need.

There does seem to be some discrepancy whether she is dying or already dead.

• The R.S.V. translation reads, “he beseecheth Him much,” meaning when he started asking Jesus, he assumed she was still alive; near the end of his request, he may have changed his mind regarding her condition.

Mk. 5:25 “And a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years….”

The disease from which this woman had suffered for twelve years rendered her Levitically unclean.

• For this particular malady, the Talmud listed eleven different remedies; some were actual tonics, while most fell more under the category of superstitions connected to witchcraft.

Because of her uncleanness, people kept their distance from her:

• Her own husband and children weren't lawfully allowed to even touch her.

• Lev. 15:20, 26 prohibited others from even sitting in a chair she recently occupied.

Mk. 5:26 “…and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse,”

Back then every town had a physician; we remember this to be Luke’ s profession.

• In some ways they were rather advanced; selected minor surgeries were performed; even cataracts were removable.

However, as far as internal medicine was concerned, they were still quite primitive and relied more upon superstitions and charlatanry such as: • Burning new grape vines while inhaling the smoke or experiencing a sudden fright • Bathing in a churning river during winter • Pouring mud on yourself before sitting in the courtyard of the temple • Walking about without shoes all winter • Bloodletting from various parts of the body Mk. 5:27-28 “…after hearing about Jesus, came up in the crowd behind Him, and touched His cloak. 28 For she thought, ‘If I just touch His garments, I shall get well .’”

To touch the hem of His garment meant to touch the decorative hem at the bottom of His tunic.

• Her faith was so strong that to touch, not even the body of Jesus, but only His garment that had prior contact with Him would be enough!

• It’s quite possible that in her respect for Jesus, and not wanting to impart her uncleanness, she decided to touch His clothes rather that His actual body.

150