The Hem of His Garment

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. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His cloak, because she though, “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.

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 it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at His feet and, trembling with fear, told Him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Mark 5:24-34, NIV, https://www.bible.com/bible/111/MRK.5.NIV

As mentioned in the “About” page, The Hem’s name is inspired by this story found in Mark 5. I find so much relatability, hope, and life in the retelling of this woman with the bleeding disorder. I’m sure it comes as no surprise that the story is one of my favorites.

To put her situation in a little more context, I think it’s important to dig into what we know of her life from the story and what kind of historical information we can find about the time. First off, we know that she had been suffering from a bleeding disorder for twelve years. Can you imagine?! The Bible doesn’t tell us what her exact diagnosis is, but it’s pretty easy to assume that hemophilia or uterine fibroids are likely causes. Based on Levitical law, her disease would have made her ceremonially unclean. She wouldn’t be allowed to touch or be touched by anyone, share objects with others, or be allowed into the synagogue. Not only was she shunned from religious life, but she was a complete social outcast. We know that for twelve years, she spent “all she had” on doctors and treatments to try to get better. But we also know that none of it worked. I can’t even imagine how exhausting those twelve years must have been. To be completely alone, scared, sick, and unwelcomed by your entire town…the word “suffering” puts in mildly.

The gospels of Matthew (9:20-22) and Luke (8:43-48) tell this story, too. No offense to them, but I think this woman’s story deserves more than just a couple of verses (Seriously, Matthew? Two?). I suppose, like for many, her story gets kind of swallowed up by the other major miracle happening before and after hers. I should’ve mentioned earlier that this story takes place during an interruption. Jairus, one of the synagogue leaders, had gone to find Jesus because his daughter was dying. In a stunning act of faith, he races across town to find this Healer, begs for help, and starts to bring Jesus back to his house.

*SCREEEEEEEECH*

The bleeding woman had also heard about this Jesus. For twelve, miserable years, no one had been able to help her. Something in her (Desperation? Hope?) forced her to act. Miracles often require movement. Knowing that she would have to subject herself to more ridicule and scorn, she elbowed her way through the crowd, desperate to get healing herself. I can picture her seeing the top of His head bobbing above the mass of people, slowly getting farther and farther away. Seizing her chance, she reached forward and touched the hem of His garment. Scripture tells us that not only was she immediately healed but she was immediately freed from her suffering. Who can relate to that? I suffer from severe anxiety; I’ve definitely had many moments where I felt like I was a prisoner to my mind.

Jesus immediately stopped. I wonder what Jairus thought in that moment? “Uh, my daughter is literally dying right now! Can you please pick up the pace?! Hello?! We’re surrounded by a ton of people right now! I’m sure at least 10 of them touched you! They’re touching me, too! Please, we need to hurry!” My guess is there was probably some more *colorful* language in there, too.

But He couldn’t just move on. Sure, this sick little girl was important, but the woman was, too. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us, “Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you.” Jesus cares. He felt the power flow out of Him, but it wasn’t enough just to know that someone had been healed; He needed more. I’m reminded of James 4:8, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

Jesus called out to the crowd, scanning every face. The woman, who had been treated like garbage for so many years, stepped forward. Scripture tells us that she was “trembling with fear.” Because of her “unclean status,” I imagine she must’ve been terrified of the reaction she would receive after touching such an important man. She “told Him the whole truth.” I wish we could know more about that conversation. Did Jesus listen quietly, taking in every word? Did He ask her questions, probing for more? Did He take her hand as she cried, recounting every horrific detail of the last twelve years? What we do know is that He called her “daughter.” This is the only time in the Bible Jesus refers to someone directly as that loving title. Jesus healed her physical body, but He also restored her dignity. And He reminds her that without her faith, it wouldn’t have happened.

Isn’t that what He does for us? We run to Him with our hurts, sorrows, and shame. He stops everything to listen, comfort, and embrace. His healing goes far beyond the physical—Our perfect Savior reminds us of who we are in Him. We aren’t just people in a crowd; we’re sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters of Christ.

Brandon Lake has an incredible song titled “Tear Off the Roof.” Some of the lyrics read:

“I didn't come here to hide in the crowd
I'm pressing through to You
I don't care how
Reaching out my hand to get the healing
I've got a faith beyond the bleeding
'Cause I didn't come here to hide in the crowd…

He has more in the hem of His garment
Than the camp of the enemy.”

I hope we can all rest in that truth today. The tiniest bit of Jesus is worth EVERYTHING. And don’t worry about Jairus—he got his miracle, too.

-Kasia

Jesus, thank You that You care so much for us. You are the Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who Heals. Right now I surrender everything to you—all of my suffering, my worries, my hurts, and my anxieties. I know that when I reach out for You, You will always stop for me. Refresh my soul and restore my heart. Walk with me today and always, for I know that You will never let me stumble. Amen.