We continue today with the tenth and final Prayer Covenant theme from the prayer covenant for women, Authority.
Jesus Heals
Jesus often demonstrated His authority over sickness and disease when He healed the afflicted. The book of Mark, chapter 5, records the moving story of the woman with an issue of blood. She had suffered with this condition for twelve years. There seemed to be no cure. She had spent all her money on doctors in the hope she would be cured, but instead of being healed, her condition continued to get worse.
And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”
The Healing Faith In Jesus
This nameless woman understood Jesus’ authority. Mark tells us that when she heard about Jesus, and His power to heal, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” This woman possessed great faith. She extended her hand to simply touch Jesus’ garment and she was immediately healed. Mark writes, Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
Jesus knew someone had touched Him because the passage reads, At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” I have to laugh reading the disciples’ response to Jesus’ question. “Jesus, you’re standing in the middle of a huge crowd! How can You ask, ‘Who touched My clothes?’”
Be Free From Your Suffering
The woman immediately fell at Jesus’ feet. She was frightened and trembling with fear, and told Him what happened. I love Jesus’ compassionate response, Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.
Jesus, the name above all names, the One to whom all authority has been given, our Healer, our Redeemer, our Advocate, our Friend. Jesus filled this woman with His power when He healed her. He filled her with His love when He acknowledged her presence and her need.
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them (Psalm 145:18-19).
When we come to Jesus, when we surrender ourselves to His authority, He graciously extends His hand, He calls us daughter, and He fills us to overflowing with His love and power.
