Do You See This Woman?Sample

Devotional:

The Woman Jesus Healed

Today, we’ll explore the story of a woman who was in desperate need of grace. She had been physically sick for 12 long years, and due to her condition, the religious leaders considered her unclean. 

We’ll also meet a 12-year-old little girl who was literally at death’s door. We’ll discover that the desperate woman, the synagogue leader, and the young girl all needed the healing touch of Christ. 

For context, under Jewish law, a woman who was menstruating wasn’t permitted to worship in the temple until she had completed her cycle. I know this seems like a weird rule, but this strange law offered women protection and privacy. 

We don’t know specifically which blood disorder this woman had, but we do know that she would’ve been considered permanently unclean—and anyone she touched would’ve become unclean, too. As the director of the synagogue, Jairus would’ve certainly shooed this woman away anytime she tried to enter and worship.

This isolated woman had spent everything she had trying to get well. When she saw Jesus, she knew that He was her last hope. She took the risk of touching the fringe of His robe, believing in faith that He was king and Lord. 

This woman had been invisible and untouchable by her community for 12 long years, but Jesus saw her. Even as He was pushing through a crowd of people, He noticed the touch of this woman and felt healing power leave His body. 

Immediately, the woman knew and felt that she had been freed from her suffering. She had been healed!

Don’t miss this: This is the only time in the Bible that Jesus refers to a woman as “daughter.” To Jesus, this woman wasn’t an unclean outcast. She was a daughter of the most high God, and she was included in His family. Jesus wanted everyone to see that she didn’t need to have it all together to come to Him. None of us do. 

This is what Jesus does for us, too. When we reach out to Him in prayer and recognize Him as Lord, He hears our prayers, sees us in the crowd, heals us, and adopts us into His family. 

Also, by miraculously healing this woman, Jesus showed Jairus that her touch wouldn’t make Him unclean. Jesus actually made her clean—a complete reversal and fulfillment of the law. 

Jesus then told this woman to take courage. I love that: He gave her courage, healing, and identity, then told her to take it. 

As believers, we have to take courage, too. We don’t need to fear any bad news, diagnosis, or future heartbreak. We just have to believe that God is good, that He’ll make a way, and that He is who He says He is. We can trust Him even in our worst-case scenarios. 

After healing this woman, Jesus performed another incredible miracle: He brought Jairus’s daughter back from the dead. He not only saved this little girl’s life, but also saved Jairus from the pain and loneliness of losing his only daughter. 

Jesus is still in the business of miracles today. He’s a personal God who meets each of us in our unique circumstances and brings His miraculous power. 

Jesus calls you “daughter” and holds your hand. He’s right there in the storm with you, commanding you to trust Him and not be afraid. Our spiritual enemy comes to destroy and isolate you, but Jesus came to bring you abundant life. 

Get up and take courage! Jesus holds you in His hand. 

Reflect:

• What does this story reveal about the healing power of Jesus?
• How can you take courage in the situations you’re facing today?