42 As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. 43 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. 44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. 45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
Have you ever been to the Vans Warped Tour and weaved your way up close to the stage? Even better yet, maybe you have wanted to see someone famous in a big crowd, but had to work against the crowd to get close enough to catch a glimpse. People pushing and shoving, unintentionally groping you as everyone pushes forward. Mutterings of "Oh, sorry!" and "Excuse me!" are heard, but as the crowd gets tighter the pleasantries turn to profanities. Still you push and shove to keep from getting crushed. This should give you an idea of what is going on in the second half of verse 42, where our story starts. Luke writes "the people pressed around him", speaking of Jesus. People wanted to be healed, hear his teachings, ask him questions, debate with him, get a Facebook photo (because it didn't happen if there isn't a picture, right?). Jesus moved through the surging crowd as best as he could.
In the crowd there is a woman, a ceremonially unclean woman. Why is she unclean? She has a discharge of blood, which she has had for twelve years. We don't know if it was a uterine problem, but we do know she has had this for a very long time. Leviticus 15:19-30 explains no one was to touch her or anything she touched or they would be unclean. She had spent all of her living on physicians, it says in the back half of the verse. It well could have been that Luke, being a physician, knew of this woman, either personally or through colleagues. He did know she had spent all of her living, which means money going to doctors to help her. Each of us probably knows of someone like this, someone who has spent all of their insurance benefits, maxed their credit cards, friends and family have had benefit barbecues and poker runs to raise money. They have met the wicks end! They are broke, frustrated, and still in miserable condition. They have limited options like this woman did and their desperation pushes them to their limits. They will give anything a shot, just as the woman did fighting the crowd. No one could help her or heal her. She had nothing left to lose. She pushed through the crowd, rubbing shoulders and twisting to squeeze through to get just close enough to reach out for a corner of his clothes. A little piece of the cloth, his cloth, would be just enough.
She had been bleeding for 12 years. 12 long years of no contact. Her kids couldn't hug her, her husband couldn't be intimate with her, none of her friends could come over. Any touch for any reason made a person unclean. She had gone through twelve Hanukkahs, Yom Kippurs, and Roshashanhs celebrating alone, if she celebrated at all. She missed festivals, weddings, and special moments in her life and in the lives of those close to her. The risk of being in the crowd was great, but the potential healing touch was greater. Everyone she touched in the crowd was now unclean. She risked making a scene over her uncleanliness to get close enough to Jesus to be healed. Sanitary products in those days were limited and even less useful. As she went through the crowd, more of an opening to Jesus happened. People recognized her which began a small part in crowd. Her chance at healing was getting closer. People moved to not be made unclean, even when the crowd surged forward. Her faith told her a little touch was all she needed.
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