In the first story, YAHSHUA was challenged by the authorities for having forgiven the crippled man, before He had healed him. The blindness of the Jews’ authority kept them in ignorance of Whom YAHSHUA was, even when He continually performed miracles. A thing that a mere man as they were, could never do. Their religious traditions opposed the wonderful things YAHSHUA was doing for the nation. They valued the Sabbath more than the needs of people; so, they sought to kill YAHSHUA for having healed this man on a Sabbath. They constituted the main obstacle to the healing of their own people for jealousy and hatred for their Messiah, YAHSHUA. In the first incident, a roof presented itself as an obstacle, but it was conquered and the man was forgiven and physically healed. They were people of great faith and that faith was one that broke into the presence of our Lord. That was the faith that removed the “mountain” that was impeding the possibility of healing. But hope and faith together conquered it and YAHSHUA was amazed. That paralytic left the place with the burden of sin and its consequence lifted up through the healing he received that day.
A woman suffering years with continual bleeding, in fact twelve years, was considered as ceremonially unclean under the Jewish law. For her to be considered normal and clean, her flow of blood had to stop. Hopeless, having spent much of her money on doctors, without help, she turned to YAHSHUA. She had heard about Him and believed that He could heal her as He had done to so many others. So, her journey starts, with a thought: If I could only touch the fringe of His clothing, I would be healed. With daring faith, she went to meet this Man. Arriving at the place, she couldn’t get through the crowd- an obstacle of great stature. But her faith stood tall, with a strong will and hope to be healed. Facing the crowd, with no way to Him, she hoped at least to touch YAHSHUA’S garment, believing His healing power. The Bible says that she had endured much suffering under the hands of] many physicians and had spent all that she had and was no better but instead grew worse. Her faith kept firm as she walked toward YAHSHUA’S garment, saying, “If I only touch His garments, I shall be restored to health” and immediately her flow of blood was dried up at the source, she felt in her body that she was healed of her ailment (Mark 5:25-29). This woman’s healing did not go unnoticed by the Lord. Now she had to confront Him, alarmed and frightened and trembling, she fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. She felt afraid of what the crowd would do to her, since she was considered unclean, as a leper was. Would the Lord treat her as unclean? Of course not, He said to her, Daughter, your faith has restored you to health. Go in peace and be continually healed and freed from your disease (Mark 5:34). Filled with compassion, our Lord assured her that everything was alright. No one in the crowd had the right to condemn her, if He wouldn’t do it. Imagine, a woman been chained up with disease for twelve years? She was probably left alone and had no social life of her own. He Lord’s compassion toward her made all the difference in her life. She lived with the memory of that day for the rest of her life. Twelve years are a long time to be suffering the loss of blood. She probably suffered anemia. But the Creator stood ready to do something for her- the best thing that has happened in her life in twelve years, of that I am sure. Nothing is said of her after that incident, but I think she shared her victory with all her friends.
We know that blood is life; we can’t live without it. It carries life to our entire body. But when it is abnormally low, we are prone to all kinds of diseases. Seemly, she had been protected until that day, when the Life Giver gave her life back to her. Like that of these people, we too find many obstacles to obtain the things we need. One of them is our healing. Why do we carry diseases in our bodies when our Lord YAHSHUA bore them as part of YAHSHUA’S atonement? This raises a question: How do we accept His atonement for our salvation and not for our healing? It is something to consider to enrich our life of spiritual knowledge and discernment. We are missing great blessings for not linking one with the other, and making YAHSHUA’S atonement incomplete, when He said, It is finished! It is complete. Could it be that our healing has not been manifested because of it? The word of God is filled with the promise of healing; God said that He has sent His word and healed them; His word sent forth will not return to Him void, but will accomplish that for which was sent; By His stripes we are healed and made whole; These are God’s words and He does not lie. Applying His words to our life to receive His healing is right and pleasing to Him. Hope and faith work together to bring about God’s power to work against our diseases.
Both the paralytic man and the woman with blood problem, had what was necessary to receive their healing, and that was faith and hope. In fact, faith is the spark plug that activate God’s power to bring healing to our body.
The psalmist, in response to the answer of his prayer, said, Come and hear, all you who reverently and worshipfully fear God, and I will declare what He has done for me! I cried aloud to Him; He was extolled and high praise was under my tongue; if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me; but certainly, God has heard me; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, Who has not rejected my prayer nor removed His mercy and loving-kindness from being with me (Ps. 66:16-20).
Perhaps, this was the testimony of the paralytic man and the woman. They couldn’t keep the joy inside them for the gift of healing they received. They could enjoy life and be normal as everybody was. Thank you YAHSHUA! You are the same yesterday, today and forever. Bless the Lord o my soul, bless His holy name; bless the Lord O my soul and forget none of His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems you from the pit and crown you with lovingkindness and tender mercy; Who satisfies your mouth with good so that your youth renewed, is like the eagles’. (Ps 103:1-5). He can do the same for me and for you today, when we mingle faith and hope, together with His power, healing will happen. Be encouraged!
Light from the Word 