The woman lost everything. Twelve years of misery, searching for solutions and depleting her resources. Twelve years of blood and shunning, bearing the shame of hearing “unclean.” She lost everything, including hope.
Her suffering seemed like proof of being forgotten by God or somehow cursed. Would it ever end? Many of us have stood in the same place on the edge of the end, with no answers, but One.
We can empathize with this dear woman, who exhausted all her options, and saw no healing nor future in sight. Have you ever been there? Have you tried to fight back sickness or darkness or loss and found yourself at the end?
The news came. Rabbi Yeshua had arrived in Capernaum. People said He was the Messiah come to save. Could He be the answer to her pain? The words of the prophet Malachi stirred in her spirit.
But unto you that fear my name, shall the Sun of righteousness arise
with healing in his wings;
and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Malachi 4:2
King James Version
Emphasis mine
The woman found strength to get up and go to find Yeshua. The Messiah was rising and in the fringe of His garment, she would find her healing.
Hems & Fringes
In ancient times, the hem of your garment held great significance, defining your status in the community. Intricate hems with fringes and tassels indicated royalty, wealth and power.
God commanded the Israelites to wear fringes called Tzitzit on the corners of their garments. (Numbers 15:37-41) They tied the tzitzit with white linen strands except for one, made of blue wool. The blue dye was the same used for the high priest’s garments. Likewise, mixing linen and wool together was only permitted for priests. Thus, in a way, each Israelite, great and small, wore the fringe as a sign of being set apart for God as a royal holy nation. (Exodus 19:6)
A man’s prayer shawl also bore the tzitzit on the four corners. Malachi’s prophecy is a play on words, as the outstretched edges of the prayer shawl are known as the “wings.” The tradition was that healing would come from the tzitzit of the Messiah’s garment.
Jesus, the Messiah wore the tzitzit on the hem of His garment.
Touching The Hem
I can only imagine how challenging it was for the woman in Capernaum to navigate the crowds that day. The people pushed and pulled, all trying to get to Him. Being weak, I can imagine her stumbling and crawling along the way. Healing journeys can be ugly, yet this woman didn’t care and pushed through in desperation.
21 For she kept saying to herself,
“If only I touch His garment, I will be healed.”
Matthew 9:21
Tree of Life Version
The prophecy promised healing in Messiah. As Yeshua passed by, she reached out her hand to touch the fringe.
43 And there was a woman with a blood flow for twelve years,
who could not be healed by anyone.
44 She came up from behind and touched the tzitzit of Yeshua’s garment.
Immediately, her blood flow stopped.
Luke 8:43-44
Tree of Life Version
The healing was immediate. The moment her fingers touched the tzitzit, the bleeding ceased.
The Miracle
The people gasped! How could this sick woman dare to touch a man, a Rabbi?
We may not understand why this was scandalous, but in that time, the law forbade women from touching a man not of their family, especially a Rabbi. Yet, despair drove her to get to Jesus, despite violating social laws.
Jesus stopped and asked who touched Him. He felt the healing power leave His body. (Matthew 8:43-48) After a few moments, the woman came forth in fear and trembling, admitting it was she that touched Him.
Was Jesus angry? We know the answer.
He said to her,
“Daughter, your faith has made you well.
Go in shalom.”
Luke 8:48
Tree of Life Version
When the crowd realized the sick woman was healed, they rejoiced. Moreover, because the healing came as a result of touching the fringe of Yeshua’s garment, it proved Jesus was truly the Messiah, according to the prophecy.
The Sun of righteousness will rise
with healing in His wings.
Just Believe
Miracles come in many ways. Sometimes it is physical healing, sometimes mental peace, stability, a smooth path, a breakthrough, etc. God gives us many promises in His Word.
Many times, when I struggle, I stop fighting for the breakthrough. I give up. But not this lady. Her faith in Messiah Jesus carried her to her healing.
I have faith, so why do I give up before my miracle comes?
It all comes back to unbelief in one way or another. The sick woman chose to absolutely believe in the promise of healing by touching Messiah’s hem. It could not be a half-way kind of believing, it was all or nothing. Why else venture out into the crowds?
If I ask myself if I believe the promises in God’s Word are literally true, it’s a wishy-washy answer. It’s sometimes yes and sometimes no; sometimes possible, yet not always. I have one foot in faith and one foot in unbelief.
The woman of Capernaum absolutely believed that Jesus was the Messiah. If not, why take the risk of touching Him? Her faith was hot!
I say I believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior, all powerful, loving and just. But my love for Him is often cold and I don’t act like the Word is really true. When I struggle, I don’t look to Him with expectation for relief, I try and figure it out myself.
Are You Willing to Lay it Down?
Weak with sickness, this woman was willing to do anything to get to Jesus; push, fight, crawl, scratch, even die on the way if necessary. He was her desire and sole source of hope.
Pride often stops us. All too often, we are not willing to humble ourselves to overcome. We are not willing to get down and fight to get close to Jesus.
The truth is if we fully believed that the promises of God are “Yes and Amen” then we would fight harder to possess them.
He Is Not Angry
Jesus, our strong high priest is not angry. In fact, when we scrap with the enemy and obstacles just to get close to Him, He cheers us on. When we believe He is Who He says He is, Heaven rejoices. When we dare to fully believe His promises are true, He meets us there.
Jesus is calling to us, “Fight to come close to Me!”
He is calling us to fight the “good fight” of faith. We wrestle with the enemy who comes at us in thoughts, through people and circumstances. The enemy tries to stop us, but when we truly believe that getting close enough to touch the hem of His garment will heal us, we are unstoppable.
Jesus in His great love, made the Way for us to come close through His blood, where we are sheltered under His outstretched arms. The fringe of His shawl covers us, and we are healed.
Fight for it!
Reach for that hem!
OTHER ARTICLES on FAITH
ARTICLES on HEMS and FRINGES
https://www.thetabernacleman.com/post/touching-the-hem-of-his-garment-jewish-tallit-or-prayer-shawl-matthew-14-34-36-dr-terry-harman
https://www.ourancientpaths.org/post/2017/06/04/tassels-luke-843-44-to-wear-or-not-to-wear
Her persistence is really amazing. She was determined to get her healing. I never knew that the wings referred to the prayer shawl. Love your word picture.
Amen Lisa! Sometimes when I am feeling undone, I wrap myself in my prayer shawl and pray to remind myself that I am covered, loved and protected.