Suffering Jesus

Mark 5:25-29 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.
 
SHE was freed from her suffering. This is a miracle of new creation. Her faithful confession, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” is her submission to Jesus.
   She needed cleansing. She was suffering physically, and she was alone, suffering emotionally. God’s law said a woman of her condition was unclean. Anyone who touched her was required to go through a purification washing and a daylong separation from others. When the bleeding stopped, she was to wait seven days and go before the priest fo be declared clean. (Leviticus 15:25-30)   
   In truth, to be with others and to touch Jesus’ cloak, she broke the law of Moses. But remember, the law pointed to Jesus. The law revealed God’s benevolent care to heal his people from sin’s physical and emotional destruction. God had given Israel a view of his salvation work, promising he would provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:3) God had displayed his splendor many times in many ways throughout Israel’s history. But his people seemed to barely notice. Jesus was giving Israel another view of God’s splendor.
   For years the woman suffered. Then Jesus went to Capernaum. The Spirit brought the suffering woman to the Savior, and once again he displayed his splendor in Israel.
   Suffering is a penetrating hurt in your mind that is present behind every thought and action. How do you respond to your own suffering or that of a loved one?  
   It’s easy for someone to counsel, “Be like the bleeding woman. She went to Jesus, and he healed her.” But what would have happened if he had not healed her? Would you know her? No. You only hear of the healed. What happens to the lame who remain crippled, the feverish who remain sick, the lepers who remained unclean or the blind eyes that remained closed? Where ‘was Jesus in their suffering? Where’s Jesus in your suffering?
   He’s right there. Do you see him? He’s at the whipping post, suffering for you the unbearable lashes. Do you see him? The Roman executors are driving spikes through his wrists and legs. Now they are lifting his suffering body onto the brutal cross. Why did he suffer? Of course, he suffered, so you may be an oak of righteousness displaying the splendor of his faithfulness to call you into his kingdom.
   Yes, Jesus heals some “now” in an immediate “Yes.” answers to prayers. Some he heals after twelve years. And in the fulfilment of his Word, he heals into eternal life all who are unclean in sin, separated from God, when they go to touch him in faith. Jesus knows your suffering. He knows your suffering will become your glory in eternal life. Revelation 7:16 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”