Mark 5:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.

NIV: Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

NASB: And immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.

CSB: Instantly her flow of blood ceased, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

NLT: Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition.

KJV: And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

NKJV: Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.

A woman who has had an issue of blood for twelve years has just touched Jesus' cloak. She does not want to be noticed, and she certainly doesn't want Jesus to know that her touch has made Him ceremonially unclean. Still, she has faith that a touch is all it will take for His power and authority to reach her.

The Greek root word for "disease" is mastix. Interestingly, this term literally means "a whipping or scourging." This reflects the general superstition of that era: disease was a calamity God sent for punishment of sin. The Mosaic Covenant is clear that if the Israelites obey, God will prosper them, and if they disobey, God will punish them. The blessings are outlined in Deuteronomy 28:1–14 and the curses in Deuteronomy 28:15–68Despite the lesson of Job, the Jews believed illness was always a sign of God's displeasure of an individual.

"Healed" is from the Greek root word iaomai which means physical healing, but the term also has the connotation of "being made whole," "having one's sins removed," or "gaining salvation." Jesus draws an analogy between physical healing and salvation in Mark 2:1–12, when He declares the paralytic's sins forgiven on the basis of his faith before He provides physical healing. When the woman realizes she is healed physically, she most likely also takes her miraculous healing to mean she is ceremonially clean and saved in accordance with the requirements of the Mosaic Law.

Mark 5:25–34 interrupts a depiction of Jesus healing a synagogue leader's daughter. Before He can get through the crowd, He feels power flowing out of Him. A woman who has been hemorrhaging for twelve years touches His robe and God heals her. This passage shows that God is sovereign over our distractions; He will sometimes give us important work in the midst of other tasks. It also shows that we are not a nuisance to Him. He always has time for us. This account is also found in Matthew 9:20–22 and Luke 8:43–48.

Jesus arrives on the other side of the Sea of Galilee and heals a man afflicted by a ''legion'' of demons. In the aftermath of this event, Jesus once again crosses the waters within this region, known as the Decapolis. There, He is approached by a synagogue leader, begging Him to come and save a dying girl. In the midst of this trip, Jesus stops the crowd to identify a woman who attempted to covertly touch his robes; her faithful act results in healing. Jesus then continues on to the home of the synagogue leader and resurrects his recently-deceased child.

Mark 4:35—5:43 sees an increase in the scope of Jesus' miracles. He has just calmed a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee. Now, He expels a legion of demons, heals a woman without overtly acting, and brings a girl back to life. All three situations—related to tombs, blood, and death—show Jesus bringing healing to unclean circumstances. In chapter 6, the tone of His ministry will develop. He will be rejected by those who should know Him best, He will send out His followers to do His work, and His direct link to the Old Testament prophets will be explained.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.