Lion + LambEsimerkki

Prayer: Jesus, You are my Healer. I bring my shame and my brokenness to You. All of it. Thank You for forgiving me and making me whole. Help me to believe that nothing is impossible for You!   

The Lamb’s Healing Power

Have you ever struggled with something for so long that it felt like it became a part of your identity? After so much time, maybe you gave up hope of experiencing any freedom so you allowed the struggle to consume every aspect of your life. If you can’t relate to this personally, you probably know someone close to you who is so stuck and desperate for healing. 

That’s where we find the bleeding woman we read about in today’s passage. At the time she encountered Jesus, she was at the end of herself. For 12 whole years, this woman suffered alone–completely isolated and without any resources. This medical condition had taken away all of her community, all of her money, and all of her sense of worth. She tried everything that the world had to offer to fix her brokenness, yet nothing worked.

You might not be 12 years into a hopeless situation like this, but every one of us has experienced brokenness. It is our human tendency to run to the things of this world to pacify our pain and cover up our shame, but it will never be enough. The world will always leave us more empty and broken than before. It is impossible to fix ourselves. We need a Healer.

This woman heard about Jesus and believed that He could save her, and she was right. With just one touch, the bleeding immediately stopped. Only Jesus has the power to heal and restore the brokenness in our lives. No matter how long the crippling sin or suffering has consumed your life, there is always hope in Jesus. He is gracious and compassionate and he longs to heal you. Do you believe him? 

Look in the Word: 

1. Read Mark 5:21-43 and Luke 8:40-56. What else do you learn about this woman’s situation from the other synoptic Gospel accounts? 
2. Is there something that is gripping your life and causing you to be isolated from the people who love you? 
3. In what ways do you tend to turn to the world for a solution to your problems? 
4. Look at Matthew 9:22. How does Jesus address the bleeding woman after she touched him? What does this tell you about how he feels about your brokenness?   

What’s Next?

1. Ask God to search your heart and reveal any sin or brokenness that is keeping you from experiencing his fullness.
2. Write out the areas of your life where you desire healing and pray that God’s healing power would set you free!
3. Thank Jesus for his gentleness and kindness. Thank him that he calls you “son” or “daughter” and longs to look you in the face and heal you.