A friend of mine was recently sharing the story of the woman who was healed as she touched Jesus garment. I really appreciated the points he was making, but he didn’t answer my question, so I decided to spend some time reading the story and Seek God’s Heart in the matter.
Let’s start, shall we…
“A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse— after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.”
Question? Why did she approach Jesus in secret? She could have asked for healing. She could have waited for an opportunity to connect with Jesus, plenty of people were following him around. But she didn’t. Could it be she was ashamed? Could it be that she was afraid of rejection? Could it be she didn’t want to be exposed, she didn’t want the whole crowd of people to know her pain, her suffering?
Are we any different? I believe most, if not all, people hide their shame. We are afraid to be exposed. Not believing we are worthy, not believing we are important, not believing we are loved. So instead of risking exposure, instead of risking rejection, she conspired to touch Jesus’ robe and slip away unnoticed.
Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?” And His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”
I love it! “Who touched me?” Really? Seriously? Jesus didn’t know who touched him? Jesus had no idea today when he woke up this woman who had been suffering for 12 years would be reaching out to touch his garment and be healed. I don’t think so.
I imagine every day Jesus woke up with a heart of expectation, and anticipation at the things he would be doing that day, and today was no different. Today Jesus would finally get to meet ‘Her’. For 12 years she has been spending all her time, energy and resources to be healed of her affliction, and after 12 years, its only gotten worse. Oh, you can be sure Jesus was excited that today her suffering would end. Do you know Jesus feels the same way about you, every day he looks forward to seeing you, to experiencing you!
Once the woman has touched the hem of Jesus’ cloak, she was healed. Jesus could have just kept walking. He didn’t need to stop, he didn’t need to figure out who it was that drew power from Him. Jesus didn’t need to scold her or make an example of her. I believe Jesus wanted to see her face. He wanted to hear her voice. He wanted to connect with this woman who had been suffering for 12 years. Why?
And He looked around to see the woman who had done this.
I believe Jesus wanted her to know that she had been seen. He knew of her pain, and he knew she was suffering. Jesus wanted her to know she was worthy, she was valuable, and that she was loved. Jesus SEES her. How so many of us long to be seen. To be seen, and not judged. To be seen, and then accepted. To be seen and then loved; despite the list of things we know in our hearts should keep Jesus and others from loving us. Jesus sees us.
Jesus wanted her to know, she was seen, and she was important. She had value. It wasn’t enough to simply allow her to be healed on the outside, Jesus needed to heal the inside. He wanted to remove the shame and fear.
Finally, I love the way Jesus reflected the Father’s heart to her by referring to her as Daughter. He is reminding her of her true identity. Beloved Daughter. Child of the King.
Jesus longs for a relationship, with you, he longs for connection with you. He longs for healing, he longs to tell you how much he loves you, how important you are to Him, that you are worthy, that you are seen. And everything that Jesus sees – it’s all good!
A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse— after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.”
Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?” And His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”
And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.” Mark 5:25-34 NASB
Seeking God's Heart 
So, just to add historical information: if a person had open wounds they were deemed “unclean” and socially outcast for it. Even menstruating women went into a “red tent” so as to know their place during their cycle. She knew she was unclean and yet had faith in the healing. Jesus called her out (IMO) to also show that He has made pure what was once unclean.