How does Mark 5:25 encourage us to approach Jesus with our deepest needs? The Verse That Opens the Scene “ And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.” – Mark 5:25 A Long, Private Battle • Twelve years signals more than discomfort; it points to relentless, exhausting struggle. • Her need was physical, emotional, social, and spiritual—every layer of life felt the loss. • The verse’s quiet introduction—“a woman was there”—reminds us that Jesus knows the unnoticed, unheard stories. Encouragement Hidden in Her Pain • Perseverance: She kept seeking relief after years of disappointment. We can keep coming when answers delay (Luke 18:1). • Hope beyond human help: Physicians failed her (Mark 5:26), yet she believed Jesus would not. Our deepest needs are safest with Him (Psalm 34:18). • Personal approach: She did not wait for an invitation; she took the initiative (Mark 5:27). We are free to draw near “with confidence” (Hebrews 4:16). Barriers She Pushed Through • Physical weakness—bleeding drains strength; yet she moved toward Him. • Cultural stigma—her condition labeled her “unclean” (Leviticus 15:25-27). Shame did not stop her. • Crowd pressure—many pressed around Jesus (Mark 5:24). She pressed harder. • Fear of rejection—touching Him could provoke rebuke, yet she risked it (Mark 5:33). How Her Action Mirrors Saving Faith • Silent but determined: Faith is not measured by volume but by confidence in Christ (Isaiah 30:15). • Contact with Christ: She believed a single touch could do what years of treatment could not (Mark 5:28). Salvation and help flow from direct reliance on Him (John 6:37). • Instant response: “Immediately her bleeding stopped” (Mark 5:29). Jesus meets genuine faith without delay in His timing and purpose (Ephesians 3:20). Living the Lesson Today • Bring long-standing struggles to Jesus; no issue is too chronic or complicated. • Refuse to let shame, fear, or past failures barricade you from His presence. • Approach personally—He hears the quiet cry as clearly as the shouted plea. • Trust His sufficiency; what medical, financial, or relational resources fail to mend, Christ can restore. • Expect His compassionate acknowledgment; He called her “Daughter” (Mark 5:34). Our identity is secured when we come to Him. Scriptures Echoing the Invitation • Matthew 11:28 – “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” • 1 Peter 5:7 – “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” • Hebrews 4:15-16 – “For we do not have a high priest unable to sympathize with our weaknesses…let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.” Mark 5:25 opens the door; the woman’s steps through that door urge us to do the same—come, touch, believe, and find that Jesus is ready for our deepest needs. |
    |