Daughter, Go in Peace

Draft, under review

Mark 5:25–34

25And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.

26She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, her condition had only grown worse.

27When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak.

28For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be healed.”

29Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

30At once Jesus was aware that power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched My garments?”

31His disciples answered, “You can see the crowd pressing in on You, and yet You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’”

32But He kept looking around to see who had done this.

33Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him trembling in fear, and she told Him the whole truth.

34“Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

Berean Standard Bible. Read the full chapter

Reflection

For twelve years she had been bleeding. She had suffered under many doctors and spent everything she had, and instead of improving she had grown worse (Mark 5:25–26). Mark tells us this to show how desperate she was, not to pass judgment on medicine. Luke, a physician, was one of Paul's dear companions (Col 4:14). Under the law, her condition also left her ritually unclean, cut off from ordinary touch and worship (Lev 15:25–27).

So she came up behind Jesus in the crowd, thinking that if she could only touch His clothes, she would be made well. She did, and the bleeding stopped at once (Mark 5:27–29).

Jesus stopped too. He felt the healing strength leave Him, and He turned to find her (Mark 5:30–32). Shaking with fear, she came forward, knelt, and told Him her whole story (Mark 5:33). He didn't scold her. He called her daughter and told her that her faith had made her well and to go in peace (Mark 5:34). Her faith was an empty hand reaching for Him. The power was His.

Not every illness is healed now. Paul's thorn stayed, and grace met him there (2 Cor 12:7–9). If you are sick, you can reach for Jesus as she did. Ask Him freely for healing, keep seeing your doctor, and let others pray with you (Jas 5:14). Whatever happens to your body, He knows you by name. One day He will make every body whole (Rom 8:23; Rev 21:4).

Word study: verified (STEPBible)

thugater (Greek, Strong's G2364): daughter (Mark 5:34). With one word, Jesus restores a woman who had been isolated for years to the family of God. In the same verse, her disease is called a mastix (scourge, affliction, G3148).

Cross-reference trail

  1. Lev 15:25-27: Why her illness also meant isolation.
  2. Mark 5:21-24: Jairus's daughter, the story wrapped around hers.
  3. Luke 8:43-48: Luke's account of the same healing.
  4. 2 Cor 12:7-9: Grace when the thorn stays.
  5. Rom 8:23: Waiting for the redemption of our bodies.

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Prayer

Jesus, I reach for You with an empty hand. Heal me if You will, keep me in Your peace, and hold me as Your own.

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