WHO TOUCHED ME ?

The moving story of a woman with 'an issue of blood' is found in Mark 5:25-34 ...

And a certain woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. 

When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

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?

And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

Even though Jesus knew what had taken place and could have continued on His way without acknowledging it ... He stopped.

Hendriksen - Faith concealed must become faith revealed. The woman is impelled to bring her testimony: (a) for her own strengthening in the faith, (b) for the benefit of others, and (c) for the glory of God.

Why did Jesus have the woman publicly confess what had happened?

1. She felt in her body that she was rid of her affliction, but this woman was like any other person. She could soon begin to doubt, wondering if the healing was real and whether the ailment might return. Jesus called her out so that she would know that she was truly healed.

2. This woman had an ailment that no one could see yet made her a public outcast. It would sound suspicious if she merely announced that she was healed. People would think that she made it up just to be considered 'clean' again. Jesus called her out so that others would know that she was healed.

3. When He said, “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole,” it showed the woman that it wasn’t the touching of His clothing that healed her. It was her faith in Jesus and what He could do for her. Jesus called her out so that the woman would know 'why' she was healed. 

Spurgeon - It was His garment which she touched, but it was her faith which had touched it; therefore our Lord said, “Thy faith hath made thee whole”; and thus He put the crown upon the head of her faith because her faith had already set the crown upon His head. 

Salvation is received like that. When you trust in the sufficiency of Christ's atoning sacrifice, your sin-laden soul is cleansed forever. Churches are filled with people who superficially 'press Him' like the crowd did that day ... but it is only when you 'touch Him' by faith that His power sets you free.