No Need To Wait

By Reverend Michael Farias

There is a time to take action.

Mark 5:25-28 Now a certain woman had an issue of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.  When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.  For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

In this passage, we are introduced to a woman who has battled a lengthy disease.  For 12 years, she sought relief with no results. She tried everything, and spent every resource she could scrape together to find a solution to her pain.  

This woman had a medical issue, but all types of issues can become afflictions that shackle us and rob us of our freedom. This woman's new found freedom began the day she first heard of Jesus.

I can only imagine what she may have heard about Him.  He had turned water into wine, healed a man’s son, provided miraculous financial provision for some fishermen,       cleansed a leper, straightened a withered hand, calmed a storm, and more.  Maybe, just maybe, He was the freedom and healing she so desperately sought.           

This woman had an interest in Jesus, not because of what He had done for others, but because of what she believed He could do for her.  She was about to take action, and there was no need to wait.

We are all dealing with issues.

I want to take a look at the issue of blood. I'm not talking about bleeding out, or of something that can be fixed by a visit to the emergency room. I'm talking about something we have no control over, something we have no say in, and something that was not our choice.  Some have it way worse than others. The issue of blood I'm referring to is your bloodline, your family of origin, or your family tree.

The deck may have been stacked against you from birth.

I wonder about this woman; we know she had this issue of blood for 12 years.

But what about her family?  Were there parents, a husband, and children?  Was she abandoned because of her issue?  Was she lonely and alone because of her issue?

We know she spent her all, everything she had, because of her issue, but is that also why she lost everything she had?  Had she lost her dignity?  Had she lost hope?  I think we can see that she was fed up with her issue, because she took extraordinary measures.

Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. Mark 5:29  

And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” Mark 5:30  

Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”  Mark 5:34  

He can do for you whatever it is you need done.  What is your pain, your affliction, your torment?   What is it in your life that you have spent a lifetime trying to get relief from?

Like the woman in this story, it is time for you to take action.  There is no need to wait.

She pressed through the crowd, believing that she only needed a touch from Jesus.

Huge masses of people were everywhere he went. He was surrounded by his closest men.  There was probably security keeping the crowds from getting too close, and pandemonium control, but she knew the time was now.

In her weakness and frailty she pressed through the throngs of people.  What chance did she have?  She wasn't one of the beautiful people. I doubt she was ever called princess.  She was likely poor, having spent her all trying to find comfort and relief.  She didn't look like church people or act like church people, yet she pressed because there was no need to wait.

She received her miracle.  There would be no more pain and heartache, no more wasting her money on pain killing remedies that didn’t work.  Her life would become a story that the whole world would hear for centuries to come; a story that would change lives.

Her story became my story and can also become your story.  Are you ready to touch Him?  Are you willing to press? There is no need to wait.