This story shows up in Matthew and Mark as well with little alteration. Biblical interpreters (esp. Joel Green: Luke, New International Commentary on the New Testament.) note that while the woman’s bleeding condition may have been healed by touching a fringe on Jesus’ clothes, her real healing doesn’t come until Jesus pushes until she reveals herself to the crowds.
This may seem almost mean of Jesus. If he is always kind and loving why would he put this woman on the spot. Why can’t she just touch him, be healed, and then go on without bothering him further?
Why? Because that wouldn’t be real healing. We are told that this woman has been suffering for twelve years and spent all that she had. She’s now poor, hopeless, and desperate. I’ve said before that people would often become ritually unclean. It was no big deal. You just waited the proper time, performed the proper cleansing rituals, and then you were clean again. But twelve years of bleeding meant twelve years of perpetual uncleanliness. Not only was she barred from the temple and holy places, she shouldn’t be in public at all. Everyone and everything she touches would be made unclean by her. Just like today, dirtiness rubs off on cleanliness. Cleanliness does not rub off of uncleanliness.
We don’t know exactly what happened before she touched Jesus, but she seems to have slipped out, she wants to secretly touch Jesus without being noticed, and the slip back into the shadows. Is Jesus going to let that happen? It that really going to heal her?
This woman reminds me of the song Rachel Racinda by Lost and Found. Let’s listen to it. (This is about the saddest song I’ve ever heard.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ECHwyM_Wac
Rachel Racinda's small sister Melindas
had come to the end of her rope
trying and vying and sighing and crying
and dying to meet the boy Hope
[Verse 2]
but Melindas stayed firmly and tightly secure
inside her house where her life could be sure
the windows were bolted and doors they were locked
and every day Hope came to visit and knocked
but Rachel Racinda's small sister Melindas
made certain the entrance was blocked
[Verse 3]
he couldn't come in and she wouldn't come out
no matter how loudly she'd scream and he'd shout
the walls were too thick and the glass was too strong
and even though both of them knew it was wrong
Rachel Racinda's small sister Melindas
had been in her house for too long
[Verse 4]
she saw herself ugly and called herself dumb
but Hope had seen beauty and brilliance and fun
the world was too scary she wouldn't partake
but Hope talked of what a fine leader she'd make
she lowered the shade and she fastened the curtain
her future was scary and love was uncertain
Rachel Racinda's small sister Melindas
knew all she had known was at stake
[Verse 5]
no matter how Hope begged her please to come out
she valued her fears and she trusted her doubt
and soon even she couldn't open the lock
or break out the window of turn back the clock
or let Hope come inside and show her his care
her house was too solid, her house was despair
And Rachel Racinda's small sister Melindas
grew used to her life and stayed there
[Verse 6]
she talked of adventure, but dreamed from inside
and most of the days, well she slept or she cried
and even though Hope and the others had tried
Rachel Racinda's small sister Melindas
learned early and well how to hide
Whether or not this song actually fits this woman’s situation, I think it is a faithful way to interpret her and all the miracles we read.
Is she really healed, is she really restored to wholeness of life if she continues to live in the shadows of uncleanliness?
In the raising of the dead girl of the synagogue leader Jesus does more than just resuscitate a corpse. She is the only child in the family – the family’s future. Jesus restores the family to wholeness.
In the dramatic and lengthy story of the casting out of the legion of demons from the guy from Gerasene Jesus does more than just restore him to mental health. The man gets his entire life back. He had been living in tombs instead of a house. He was kept under guard. He was shackled and chained. He would do self-harm. And as an absolute contrast to the hemorrhaging woman, he escapes and breaks free. He comes to Jesus screaming at the top of his lungs.
We get a sense of the violence of this man when the whole herd of swine that the demons enter into drown themselves in the lake. What’s going on there is a whole different sermon. We’ve talked about that before and I don’t want to sidetrack into that today. So despite the violence of this man, Jesus’ healing restores him to productive life. When the townspeople come they see him seated at the feet of Jesus. He is clothed. He is calm. He is in his right mind.
And then going back one scene earlier – the calming of the storm. It’s more than just stopping wind and waves. It’s about getting the disciples back to a place of safety.
In Jesus there is calm. There is healing. There is wholeness of life. It is not a wholeness that lurks scared in the shadows. It is wholeness that wants to engage the world. Every person we encountered in our gospel today was equipped to go out and witness to what God had done. This was not some street corner evangelism with a megaphone. This was authentic sharing of God’s goodness.
In the video series we’re using for Lent we learned last week that, “When you fear, love, and trust God above all things, you are freed to be a good neighbor, not worrying about what people are thinking about you, and not pretending to be something you’re not. You live in peace, caring for God’s creation knowing that on the last day God will raise you and give you eternal life. This is most certainly true.”
And that is the wholeness Jesus will relentlessly pursue you to bring about.
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