Jesus immediately sets out to go to Jairus’ house. On the way though a dramatic miracle takes place. We are introduced to a desperate woman just like Jairus. Desperate to meet Jesus. She is very different than Jairus though in all human ways. While Jairus was at the top of the social spectrum she was not on it all. This is due to the chronic illness that she was suffering from. An illness that was a discharge of blood for more than a decade. One that she tried all options to solve medically, but one that was not resolved. What we have to understand is that she was not just suffering physically, but this hemorrhage had ruined her whole life. According to the law of Moses, a woman with a discharge of blood was considered ceremonially unclean. She was not allowed to enter the temple or participate in public worship. No amount of ceremonial cleaning would do. She was not even allowed to touch other people, because if she did they too would become defiled. People suffering from chronic illness often suffer from isolation. Their physical limitations cut them off from social interaction. Imagine the depth of this woman’s pain. She was alienated. She was an outcast. She would have had to pull away from all human contact. For the last twelve years not having any contact with her family. For the last twelve years, this woman never received so much as a hug that I am sure she desperately desired and needed. But she believed that Jesus could be the answer. Even if she could just touch the hem of her garment. 

We all find ourselves desperate for a cure in some way. Whether that cure is physical or spiritual. There is suffering in all of our lives due to the fallen nature of this world and we are powerless to stop ourselves. It could be a besetting sin, a broken relationship, an incurable disease, a chronic illness, the list could go on and on. All of those things leave us discouraged, defeated, and isolated at times. When all hope seems lost for us we need to remember our God who loves us and cares for us and is far more powerful than we could ever hope for or imagine.