LIFE OF CHRIST VIII

Healing of the Woman with an Issue of Blood
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Picture in the Blake Archive

Much of Jesus' teaching came through his healing ministry. In the fifth chapter of Mark and the eighth chapter of Matthew we find accounts of two healings which are linked by a common time frame. The healing of the woman with the flow of blood occurs while Jesus is accompanying Jairus to minister to his dying daughter.
This post will treat the healing of the woman and the next post on the Life of Christ will follow the healing of Jairus' daughter.

This incident concerns itself with realities which are not natural but spiritual. Jesus felt the touch of the woman because they were joined in spirit as the healing energy flowed to supply her need and make her whole. Jesus is pictured among a group of people but most of them make no contact with him; their eyes are averted, or are cast down, or stare blankly. Only the children look through their eyes rather than with their eyes and see the potential of Jesus for love and healing. The woman who knew her need and his power reached out to touch the hem of his garment because the troubles she endured made her receptive to seeking his blessing in the simplest and most humble way.   

Mark 5
[25] And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
[26] And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
[27] When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
[28] For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
[29] And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
[30] And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
[31] And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
[32] And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
[33] But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
[34] And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.  

Milton, Plate 26 [28], (E 124)
"So they are born on Earth, & every Class is determinate
But not by Natural but by Spiritual power alone, Because         
The Natural power continually seeks & tends to Destruction
Ending in Death: which would of itself be Eternal Death
And all are Class'd by Spiritual, & not by Natural power.

And every Natural Effect has a Spiritual Cause, and Not
A Natural: for a Natural Cause only seems, it is a Delusion      
Of Ulro: & a ratio of the perishing Vegetable Memory."

Letters, to Thomas Butts, (E 728)
"Accept of my thanks for your kind & heartening Letter You
have Faith in the Endeavours of Me your weak brother & fellow
Disciple. how great must be your faith in our Divine Master.  You
are to me a Lesson of Humility while you Exalt me by such
distinguishing commendations.  I know that you see certain merits
in me which by Gods Grace shall be made fully apparent & perfect
in Eternity. in the mean time I must not bury the Talents in the
Earth but do my endeavour to live to the Glory of our Lord &
Saviour & I am also grateful to the kind hand that endeavours to
lift me out of despondency even if it lifts me too high--"

Auguries of Innocence, (E 492)
"We are led to Believe a Lie 
When we see not Thro the Eye"