‘When the woman realized she couldn’t remain hidden’…wow that got me.

She was hiding because she was not supposed to be near other people.
She was considered unclean and impure because of her condition.
They believed that she was being punished by God as a result of her sin or un-holiness.
This was a direct violation of the law, ‘be holy as I am holy'(Lev 19:2), so she would have been forced to the unclean camps on the outside of town.

She’s hiding because everyone knew her. The text says she had been to every doctor and spent every last dime she had trying to be healed to no avail.
Don’t you know each failed attempt hurled more shame her way?
Whatever she had done must have seemed pretty unforgivable.

Being in the town, especially in a crowd so large it nearly crushed Jesus, would have had major consequences. She knows she can’t risk letting others see her so she slips in from behind, hidden. Careful not to touch HIM, she reaches for just his HEM, and her suffering is over.

I know what it’s like to be so full of shame that I can only bring myself to sheepishly, in passing, make minimal contact with the Holiest of Holies.
If only she had known the one she was trembling before had come to fulfill the law for her.
To take on the punishment of those willing to come out of hiding.

‘You took a risk trusting me’ he says, ‘now you’re healed and whole’.
Healed AND whole.
Healed from her ailment and whole in her soul.
Justified. Redeemed. Restored. Forgiven.

I’ve thought it strange for many years that Jesus didn’t know who touched his hem. How could he not? Rereading this morning, I think maybe he did.

I think he knew telling her story of how she moved towards him in her shame and received her healing in front of all of those who had ostracized her would undo the shame and reveal his character. It was for her benefit to tell her story but also for the benefit of all of those listening.

There’s an Accuser that wants to keep you hidden in shame, left to the punishment you deserve, but-
‘They defeated him through the blood of the Lamb and the bold word of their witness.’ Rev 12:11

Tell your ‘whole’ story.

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