Pastor Scott Andrews | January 26, 2025
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Luke 8:42b-48
Some of you may be aware that 2025 is a so-called Year of Jubilee in the Catholic Church. Every 25 years, the Pope declares the Year of Jubilee – to be clear, not being critical, just an observation, there is no biblical warrant for such an event. Yes, there was a year of jubilee in the OT with the nation of Israel, but it wasn’t for the church, nor is it what the church does with it. You see, if you observe the year and participate in certain pilgrimages during this year – primarily to Rome, but it could include certain national sites – by visiting certain holy sites or viewing relics, you can gain a plenary indulgence. Now, what is a plenary indulgence? It’s an indulgence, a release, which means you can bypass purgatory and go straight to heaven when you die. Quite the deal. By the way, all the money paid during these pilgrimages will go to renovate the dome of a church in Italy.
I bring that to your attention because during the Jubilee, they name Jubilee saints, and the 2025 saints are St. Jude and St. Simon. In fact, you should know that Jude’s arm – a relic – which has not left Rome for 1700 years, is actually on tour here in the US – you can make a pilgrimage to see this particular relic of this year’s Jubilee saint, if you’d like. Why do I bring that to your attention? Because these sections of the four miracles in the synoptic gospels that we’ve been studying are called the St. Jude chapters of the Bible.
So, why are Matthew 8, Mark 5, and Luke 8 called the St. Jude chapters of the Bible? Because, St. Jude is called the patron saint of helpless or impossible causes. That’s why Jude’s arm is currently on tour in the US and thousands are flocking to it. You may receive your own impossible miracle. But why is Jude called the patron saint of helpless and impossible causes? Stay with me. Because, his name is actually Judas. But, to avoid confusion with Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus, our English translations call him Jude. But again, because his real name was Judas, he was the ignored saint. You see, because his name was the same as the traitor, few, if any faithful Catholic Christians pray for his intervention, out of the mistaken belief that they would be praying to Judas Iscariot.
As a result, St. Jude was little used, and so he became eager to assist any who asked him, to the point of intervening in even the most dire circumstances. And the Church, wanting to encourage veneration of this forgotten disciple, maintained that St. Jude would intervene in any lost cause to prove his saintliness and zeal for Christ, and thus St. Jude became the patron of lost causes. You’ll even see that most pictures of St. Jude – not actually pictures – paintings depict him as holding a picture of Jesus, including this one. It’s like he’s saying, see, I like Jesus.
Are you still with me? Where else could you get such useless information? So why would the three chapters containing these four miracles be called the St. Jude chapters of the Bible? Well, think of the amazing miracles that have taken place in these chapters. It started with Jesus and His band of disciples being caught in an incredible storm, but they were miraculously delivered from a hopeless situation. Upon landing on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, there to meet them was this demon-possessed guy who lived in the tombs. Chains were no longer able to subdue the guy – no one was able to do anything about his condition. He was helpless, hopeless. An impossible situation, a lost cause. Enter Jesus. He healed him – clothed him and restored him to a right mind.
Next is Jairus’ daughter – well, at least the beginning of the story. We’ll save her for next week. This synagogue ruler named Jairus, who likely opposed Jesus in the recent past, came to Jesus and bowed at His feet. You see, his daughter was at the point of death. No doubt Jairus had exhausted all his resources – no one was able to help her. She was helpless and hopeless. Not only terribly sick – she died. Don’t bother the Teacher anymore – she’s dead. An impossible situation. Enter Jesus. He went to Jairus’ house, put out the mourners, took the little girl by the hand and said little girl, arise. And she did. Again, that’s next week, but she was helpless, hopeless – dead – until Jesus showed up.
Of course, Jude wasn’t there that day. So really, all that about St. Jude and the Year of Jubilee really has nothing to do with the text today, but hey, Jude.
Which brings us to today’s story – another of a hopeless, helpless situation. Enter Jesus. It’s called a sandwich narrative – one story told within another – this one, one miracle told within another – the only place in the gospels that happens. In it, the synoptic authors – Matthew, Mark and Luke – start a story, interrupt it to tell another story before finishing the first story. We’ll look at the beginning and ending of the main story next week, but let’s look at the interruption this week. Let’s read our text, the middle of the sandwich to get started. Luke 8:40-48.
Another incredible story of healing in the midst of a chapter full of healings of helpless, hopeless people. But don’t miss this. We’ve seen Jesus’ power over nature, His power over a horde of demons. Next, we’ll see His power over death – He’ll raise a 12-year-old from the dead. How does this story belong here? It seems a bit out of place. We’ll come back to that, later. Here’s the outline of the text:
- First, we’ll Meet the Woman
- Then, we’ll See the Healing
- Then, we’ll See the Glory of the Healing
Luke has carefully noted Jesus’ growing popularity – people are coming from all over to see Him such that there were ever-present crowds. Many were seeking to be near Him, to touch Him, and no wonder. He provided help and healing when no one else could. In verse 40, when Jesus and the disciples got back from the eastern shore, a large crowd was waiting for Him. Matthew says He had to stay by the seashore – there were so many in front of Him, at least behind Him He was free from the onslaught. But, a synagogue official named Jairus fell before Him – again, we’ll look at that next week, but Jairus made his request, so they started making their way to his house. But we see in verse 42, so did the crowd. They are all still gathered around. Get the picture – He could hardly move.
And in the midst of that jostling mass of humanity, we meet the woman. A woman having a hemorrhage for twelve years. Literally, she bled for 12 years – most likely with menstrual bleeding. This is important. Not only was she sick, her sickness made her ceremonially unclean. The OT Law was very clear about this in Leviticus 15. Every bed she slept on became unclean. Every chair she sat on became unclean. Her own husband, if he was still around, wasn’t allowed to touch her. She was not allowed to go to the Temple or to the synagogue. Her life had been miserable, ostracized, leper-like, for 12 very long years. Meaning, not only was she sick, but she was cut off from the social and religious life and relationships within the covenant community. Again, cut off – not unlike the demon-possessed man. She was desperate – sounds like a perfect candidate for the kingdom. Maybe that’s why Jesus stopped for her that day.
Having endured, literally, Mark says, enduring much at the hands of many physicians – don’t miss the extent of her suffering – having endured much at the hands of many physicians, she gained nothing. By the way, Luke leaves that part out – perhaps because he was a doctor. She had spent all she had and was not helped. She was now not only sick and unclean, but now destitute. She had spent all her resources on a cure, to no avail. Why, she hadn’t been embraced, even touched for twelve long years. Maybe her condition was life threatening – maybe not, but something had undoubtedly died in her many years ago.
Let’s stop right there and take a little aside. What might medical science have offered her in the way of help at this time? Several of my commentaries list the common cures for maladies of this type. He said the Talmud lists eleven cures for this specific illness. Some were potions, but others were mere superstitious folly. For example:
“Take of the gum of Alexandria the weight of a small silver coin; of alum the same; of crocus the same. Let them be bruised together, and given in wine to the woman that has an issue of blood. If this does not benefit take of Persian onions three pints; boil them in wine, and give her to drink, and say, ‘Arise from thy flux.’ If this does not cure her, set her in a place where two ways meet, and let her hold a cup of wine in her right hand, and let someone come behind and frighten her (kind of like you’re getting rid of hiccups), and say, ‘Arise from thy flux.’”
In another place, the Talmud recommended the afflicted woman carry barley corn that had been taken from the droppings of a white female donkey. Another cure said she needed to carry the ashes of an ostrich egg in a linen bag in the summer and in a cotton bag in the winter. Notice, none of that helped her by the way – wonder why. As sadly humorous as all that may be, let’s not miss the pain and shame and embarrassment of this woman – and her desperate measures to find a cure.
Again, Mark tells us having visited many doctors and spent all her money, she was still helpless and hopeless – no cure. And so, possibly from Capernaum and hearing about Jesus – all those stories – all those healings He had been performing throughout the area. He was healing everyone who came to Him. And hearing He was back – she made her way to her only hope – not Jude, Jesus.
She came up behind Him so as not to be seen or even noticed. And she touched the fringe of His cloak. She thought if she could touch His garments, unknown, secretly, she would get well. She made her way through the crowd, thinking, believing, if I can only touch the fringe of his cloak – probably one of the blue tassels that Jesus, like every Jewish man, wore on the corners of his coat to remind them of the covenant and the necessity to keep the Law – if only I can touch one of those, I can be healed. Then I’ll just slip away into obscurity, and no one will know. But here’s the question – would that help if no one knew?
Now, throughout the New Testament, there is almost this magical, mystical, superstitious thinking about healing and miracles. Later, we’ll read they tried to position themselves to get in Peter’s shadow, or touch Paul’s handkerchief. The authors of the NT don’t deal with these superstitious beliefs but rather make clear that healing is by faith in God and His resulting power – not in some magical potion or touch.
But, this is how they thought then – and many have capitalized on that superstition today – and if you watch certain religious broadcasting, you’ll find someone promising if you just send a certain amount of money, they’ll send you a blessed handkerchief, and you can be healed. Let me help that idea – skip the money and the handkerchief – just trust God for His sovereign power and ability to heal your life. Notice, however, it is sovereign power – He will choose to accomplish His great purposes – that which is best for you, and most glorious for Him.
Back to the woman. Why did she act like this? Why did she come secretly rather than crying out like so many others. Was it fear? Was it because she was ceremonially unclean? Was it because she, like the leper, like the paralytic, like the demon-possessed guy – had become an outcast of society? Was it because she was unimportant; she knew she didn’t deserve His attention? Maybe that’s why Jesus took the time.
So she came up behind Him, not wanting to be seen, to interrupt. I don’t want to bother Him, I know He’s really busy – He’s on His way to Jairus’ house, for Pete’s sake – to do something really important for someone really important. God knows I don’t deserve it – but God also knew her faith. Maybe, just maybe she thought, if I could just touch His cloak, I’ll be healed. And her plan worked, up to a point. She desperately made her way through the crowd – all the while, touching them by the way – touched His clothes – she didn’t even touch Him – and immediately she was healed. A couple years ago, Pastor Stephen Broome preached this story and showed this painting – a huge wall in Madala where Mary Magdelene is from – which pictures the event.
So, she touched His cloak and could feel the power of healing coursing through her body – she’d been made whole. Now, overjoyed, she turned to melt away into the crowd. She was undeserving, you see – she was nothing like Jairus.
Again, we read the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed. Don’t miss it – in response to her faith, Jesus healed her. Jesus will tell her that – it wasn’t from some mystical touch, but a result of her faith and His power. Now, verses 45 and 46 are quite interesting and produce lots of discussion. Jesus immediately perceived that this healing power had gone from Him, so He turned around and asks, “Who is the one who touched Me?” Are you kidding – this is a jostling crowd.
Here’s the discussion. Some suggest this is great picture of Jesus as the God-man. He was 100% God, and 100% man. That’s true. But, they say, when Jesus became a man, He emptied Himself of the divine use of His attributes – or at least the freedom to use them. So, while as God He was able to heal everyone, as a man, He was limited in knowing whom He healed. I suppose that’s possible, I don’t buy it. Yes, there are times He limited His knowledge of certain things – like the time of His second coming. He told the disciples, no one knows the time – not Me, not the angels, only My Father in heaven. So, some say, since He emptied Himself of the free use of His divine attributes, in His humanity He didn’t know who touched Him.
Again, I’m not going with that explanation. Rather, I think Jesus knew exactly who touched Him. And here, He had the woman in mind. He was enlarging her faith. You see, she just wanted to slink away. Who touched Me? You had the faith to believe I could heal, and I have. Now have the courage to declare your faith. Not only that – I think He wanted everyone there to know – this woman who had been unclean for twelve years – and likely shunned by all of you – she’s now clean. He was giving her an opportunity to confess Him before people.
Well, the disciples were quite perplexed. They look at Him and say, “Are you kidding us? You see the people – they’re crowding you, pressing in on You. Crowding carries the idea of hemming or locking Him in, pressing was used to speak of crushing. Dozens, maybe hundreds have touched You. How can you ask, ‘Who is the one who touched Me?’” Who hasn’t touched You is the question.
Let me just make a point here before we move on. In the midst of the clamoring of a crowd, Jesus could discern the heart cry of one who needed Him. Does anyone here need to know that? You show up on Sunday morning. You’re in the middle of a pretty big crowd – hundreds of people – everyone smiling – seem happy. You’re pretty inconspicuous – hardly anyone notices you. And you have a need – but the crowds are so big – the needs are so great. Will Jesus even notice? Listen, Jesus always hears the heart of one who cries out desperately to Him. While the crowds may not – Jesus will. He knows right where you are, and He knows just what you need. Reach out and touch Him – He will respond to your call, because He sees you.
Jesus ignored the Peter’s question and kept looking around, giving opportunity for the woman to respond. Now, there is a challenging part here. Jesus said nope, someone touched Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me. What does that mean? It’s like hocus pocus – as if power was a commodity that was taken from Him against His wishes. No, this simply speaks of the power of God to heal. Jesus knew that someone had been healed – not against His wishes, or His knowledge. He’s simply stating He knew healing power had gone from Him, and He was doing something about that now.
So the woman, fearing and trembling, aware of what happened to her – aware she had been healed – came and fell down before Him and told Him the truth. Stop right there. She’s likely fearful because she had just touched Jesus when she was unclean – along with everyone else as she made her way through the crowd. Would He take back her healing. No, again, I believe Jesus was calling her to declare her faith. Think about that – He’d typically called for the Messianic Secret – so there would be no premature, forcing Him to be the political, military ruler/messiah they wanted. He wouldn’t be that. You see, He’d come to deal with sin and its destruction – like a 12-year hemorrhage.
But then, as now, Jesus would have no secret followers. He would have us declare our faith in Him. So He called this woman to declare her faith, and she does – she told Him the truth. I can see Jesus reaching down, taking her by the arm, raising her to her feet, looking her in those fearful and trembling eyes, and gently calls her daughter. The only place He calls a woman daughter in the gospel accounts. Why here? She’s on her face. And to give her loving, calm assurance, Daughter, your faith has made you well. Not that surreptitious touch – not magic, not mysticism. Your faith. Go in peace – find the shalom, the peace for which you’ve spent all you have. And so all could hear, He said, be healed of your affliction. Everyone knew she was no longer sick, she was no longer unclean.
Which brings us to our conclusion. Here’s this woman – we don’t even know her name. We know Jairus’ name, because you know, he’s important. We even know the demons’ name – Legion. We don’t know hers. A destitute woman. An outcast because of her particular issue. Likely divorced because of her issue. Hopeless and hopeless. Easy to overlook – for everyone except Jesus. Why would Jesus single her out in all that crowd? Certainly others needed healing. Certainly, He was in control of the healing power going out. Why her?
Because she is exactly the kind of person Jesus is looking for to populate His kingdom. Poor, destitute, hopeless, helpless, my only hope is You kind of people. Here’s my point. You don’t have to have it all together to come to Jesus. Quite the opposite. While the Marines might be looking for a few good men – Jesus is looking for broken, pathetic, pitiful, helpless, hopeless people who turn to Him in broken, trembling, grateful faith.
You see, at this people saw her sickness as a symptom of a deeper problem – sin. And there is a sense in which that is true – we get sick, we die, because of sin. It may not be you’re sick with a a particular sickness because of particular sin. Be we get sick generally because our sin and brokenness. Well, that’s how sickness was viewed then – especially of this intensity – she must be a real sinner. Again, maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t. But like all of us, she was a sinner – and she needed to be made spiritually well. And so Jesus looks her in the eye and says, daughter, your faith has made you well.
Understand, when Jesus said to her, your faith has made you well, it’s literally, your faith has saved you. It’s the typical word for saving faith in the NT. I, and most believe, by her faith in Jesus, now declared before people – she received more than physical healing – she received spiritual healing – she received salvation as well. He’d already physically healed her, now He was meeting her greater need. Understand, that’s what miracles and healings are all about anyway. To strengthen faith, to produce faith. And it did – He called her Daughter – He was speaking of the family relationship she now enjoyed. While everyone had shunned her for 12 years, she was now, by faith, in the family of God. Does anyone need to hear that?
Think about it – why is this here? Why, in the middle of a really big miracle, a resurrection, do we have this lady being healed of bleeding? I mean, really, couldn’t this be seen as a bit of an irritation, interruption? I’m sure Jairus thought so. Come on, get out of the way, lady, we’re on our way to a real miracle – we’re going to a resurrection – we don’t have time for little problems like bleeding. But Jesus did. Is there anyone here who needs to hear that?
Jesus is a big God. He’s got big things to take care of – He’s running a whole universe. And you may think, I won’t bother Him with my little problem – He’s got bigger things to worry about. In this story, He had a resurrection waiting for Him. Wasn’t this a small thing compared to the big thing that clamored for His attention.
I’ve got good news for you – while Jesus keeps planets from running into each other – while He keeps the stars suspended in space – while He’s taking care of resurrections – He cares about you. He cares that you’re hurting, in need of a touch. And He’ll stop and meet your need right where you are. That’s the kind of God we have. Jesus cares for you. He’s just waiting for you to reach out and touch Him. He’ll meet your need and give you the grace you need for everything you’re facing.
Will you hear Jesus say to you this morning – yes, I raise people from the dead. I am a busy God. But I have omniscient and omnipotent power. So, I’m not too busy for you. I’ll stop the whole crowd; I’ll stop the hurting. I even still heal. I’ll take care of you – while the whole crowd is clamoring around me – I’ve got time to look you in the eye and say, son, daughter, take courage. Your faith has made you well. Live in peace.