Encounter: People Jesus Met, Then and NowSample

The Woman with the Bleed's Encounter

The woman in this encounter is desperate. She is out of time, out of money, and out of options. For 12 long years, she has suffered from constant bleeding, and despite seeking medical help, nothing has been able to heal her.

According to Jewish law, her condition makes her ceremonially unclean. This means she has spent over a decade in isolation, unable to enter the temple, get married, or participate in normal community life. She is not only suffering physically but also socially and spiritually excluded.

Her encounter with Jesus is no accident. She has heard about His power to heal, and in her desperation, she is determined to reach Him—no matter what it takes. Pushing through the crowd, she touches the edge of His cloak, believing that even this small act will be enough to heal her.

And it is.

Instantly, she knows she has been healed. Jesus knows it too. And because this miracle happens in a public setting, the crowd also witnesses it.

Jesus could have let her slip away quietly, but instead, He stops and calls her forward. He wants to do more than just heal her body—He wants to affirm her faith, restore her dignity, and publicly acknowledge her healing.

He tells her:

"Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." (Luke 8:48, NIV)

This moment highlights a powerful truth: faith plays a crucial role in the miraculous. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus often references faith—whether praising those who have it or challenging those who lack it. While Jesus is the one who heals, it is faith that unlocks the encounter.

This same kind of transformative healing is seen in the work of Dr Andrew Browning, an obstetrician and gynaecologist who has served in Africa for nearly 20 years.

Dr Browning specialises in fistula repair and maternal health, running several hospitals that restore hope and dignity to women who have suffered—some for decades. Like the woman in the Gospel, these women have experienced pain, isolation, and despair, but through his work, they find healing, love, and renewal.

Dr Browning’s work is about more than physical healing. His care, generosity, and compassion also bring emotional and spiritual restoration. When these women are treated, they encounter God’s love in a tangible way.

This is the power of serving God in every job, interaction, and act of service. No matter where we are or what we do, we have the opportunity to bring healing, hope, and the love of Christ to those around us.

Application

Are there people in your life who are suffering or feeling excluded? How can you bring God’s love and healing to them today?