Holy Bible Online 
This familiar story of the woman who had been subject to bleeding shows how someone suffering greatly demonstrated incredible faith in Jesus and His ability to heal her. It can be found in three of the four gospels (Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:24-34; Luke 8:43-48).
This biblical account is not only famous but powerful, and its message can change people’s lives. The story of this woman teaches us that in Jesus, we find the solution to our problems. With faith and willingness, we can have an encounter with God.
Let’s look at the biblical text as Matthew recounts it:
Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
- Matthew 9:20-22
Story summary
A woman had been suffering from bleeding for 12 years and had already spent all her money on doctors, but no one could help her. The cause of the disease was unknown, the medicines didn't work and she was only getting worse. There was no solution.
But one day she heard of Jesus. Something new awoke in the heart of this sick and desperate woman: faith! She believed that Jesus could save her and so she acted. The woman with the flow of blood, weak and frail, left her home, made her way through a large crowd, and approached Jesus.
A single touch on his cloak was enough. That was the size of this woman's faith! She knew that Jesus was so powerful that just touching his cloak could heal her. So she did, and at that very moment, she was healed.
Jesus asked who had touched her, but to the disciples, this question seemed ridiculous because Jesus was being squeezed by a crowd, so many people had touched him! But the touch of the sick woman was different: it was a deliberate act of faith!
This woman then confessed that it had been her. This took a lot of courage on her part because women who were menstruating or suffering from this type of illness were considered unclean and ought to only stay at home. Contrary to the rules, she ran towards her salvation and was healed. Having confessed this to Jesus, he blessed her.
The Significance of These Events
Sometimes we encounter situations that seem impossible to solve, problems that are too big for our limited strength. We try everything, but there's no solution, so we feel weak and hopeless. But that's not the end of it!
Jesus came to save us and give us the solutions we need. We may not even know what the solution is, but when we seek Jesus, he solves our problems. When you're trapped, remember: in Jesus, we find everything we need.
The faith of the woman in this story was practical because she didn't stand around waiting for Jesus to come to her. She went out to meet him and tried to get close to him. In the same way, we too need to seek God in times of difficulty. We can't just sit back! True faith should lead us to act.
Many people put their trust in great signs, prophecies or powerful acts in order to receive what they need. But in reality, all we need is the presence of Jesus! That is the power of our God, a simple touch from him can change everything.
The story of the woman with the issue of blood as captured in Mark 5:24-34 and Luke 8:43-48
Mark 5:24-34
24 So Jesus went with him.
A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”
32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
- Mark 5:24-34
Luke 8:43-48
43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”
46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”
47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
- Luke 8:43-48
Other articles and Bible stories that show the power of God:
- The Multiplication of The Loaves And Fishes: Explanation, Lessons, And Practical Application (Bible Study)
- Mary and Martha: A Bible Study on the Importance of the Right Priorities in Life
- The Story of Rahab in The Bible (And What We Learn From Her)
- The story of Queen Esther in The Bible
- A Collection of Bible Stories