In this week’s text, Jesus demonstrates his power to heal in healing “a woman who had suffered a chronic flow of blood for twelve years and could not be healed by anyone” (v 43). This woman, because of her disease, was a pariah to society. She was considered ceremonially unclean and needed to be cleansed to go to the temple or synagogue. But through her faith, she was healed by the Lord Jesus. Even through everything she has experienced over the past twelve years, she did not lose faith. It was her faith that led her to go into the midst of the crowd to find Jesus and become healed by him. Jesus recognizes what happened and brings attention to this woman whom he honors for her faith.
Jesus honors living, active, and practicing faith; faith that is not dead. Despite the woman’s chronic condition and unable to find healing, her faith led her to find Jesus, and believed she would be healed by touching the fringe of his cloak (v 43b). The word “touch” used here refers to “clutching” or “clinging”. She held on until she would be healed fully believing Jesus was able. Jesus, with the crowd pressing in on him, shows his unlimited availability to heal anyone with this kind of faith.
Even though all Christians are given the gift of faith from God when they are saved, some do not practice their faith always. The main reason why some Christians stop practicing their faith is holding onto idols that compete in their commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. Holiness and sin cannot dwell harmoniously. As all sins have been repented of at conversion, believers must not welcome any idols into their hearts. Holding onto idols is a lack of trust in Christ. Therefore, exercising faith is putting one’s trust in the Lord.
The faith that Jesus honors only comes from the Lord. The result of true saving faith ends up in a saving and ongoing personal relationship with the Lord. When Jesus honors faith in a believer, the result is love and obedience to God’s word. False faith cannot produce obedience. Two common types of false faiths are the Sunday Christian who rarely practices faith in daily life and the active churchgoer who practices lawlessness. Is our life dictated by the self, resulting in unbelief and lawlessness, or the will of God, resulting in righteousness and salvation? This woman is an example of what true saving faith looks like. She entered the narrow gate and continued walking on the narrow path. Jesus affirms her faith and that is what made her well (v 48).
Moreover, Jesus calls the woman his daughter having been adopted into God’s family. The Lord not only confirms her physical healing but also her spiritual healing. Only with the Lord Jesus Christ’s affirmation can one have the assurance of salvation on this side of glory. Today, the Christian’s public water baptism is how the Lord declares one’s faith and salvation.
And as the woman was told to go in peace by the Lord, the Christian also has peace with God and is given strength as they live with the peace of God on this side of glory. This kind of peace is only found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Those that possess this peace unceasingly pray and are known as peacemakers.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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