UASV’s Daily Devotional All Things Bible, Monday, April 28, 2025

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What Does the Faith of the Woman Who Touched Jesus’ Garment Teach Us About Trust and Healing?

A Daily Devotional on Christian Living Based on Mark 5:28

“For she was saying, ‘If I just touch his garments, I will get well.’” — Mark 5:28

Among the many profound encounters recorded in the ministry of Jesus, the story of the woman with the flow of blood stands out as a powerful testimony of faith, humility, and trust in the healing power of Christ. In Mark 5:28, we find the heart of her conviction: “If I just touch his garments, I will get well.” This declaration, simple yet profound, reflects a confidence not in superstition or magical thinking, but in the belief that Jesus possesses the authority and compassion to heal those who come to Him in faith.

This account, recorded also in Matthew 9:20–22 and Luke 8:43–48, occurs during Jesus’ journey to the home of Jairus, a synagogue leader whose daughter was near death. Amid the urgency of that mission, a nameless woman quietly approaches, unnoticed by the crowds but fully known to Jehovah. Her action interrupts the narrative, yet it becomes the focus of divine attention.

The woman’s condition was both physically debilitating and socially devastating. For twelve years she had suffered from a hemorrhage, a chronic issue that rendered her ceremonially unclean under the Law of Moses (Leviticus 15:25–27). This uncleanness meant exclusion from religious worship, social isolation, and personal shame. She had spent all her resources on physicians, but her situation had only worsened (Mark 5:26). Her disease was not only a medical condition—it was a source of spiritual, emotional, and social pain.

Yet despite these obstacles, this woman possessed faith. Faith that reached beyond despair. Faith that believed that a single touch, even of the fringe of Jesus’ garment, was enough to bring healing. Her words in Mark 5:28 encapsulate the confidence of one who recognizes Christ’s authority and responds with trust.

This devotional will examine the significance of the woman’s faith, why her action was more than superstition, how Jesus responded to her courage, and what this encounter teaches believers today about the nature of true faith, divine compassion, and the healing that Christ provides.

The Woman’s Condition: Desperation Meets Hope

The account begins by highlighting the severity of the woman’s situation. For twelve years, she had been afflicted by a hemorrhage, possibly a menstrual disorder, which under the Mosaic Law rendered her ritually impure. According to Leviticus 15:25–27, such impurity required separation from others and forbade participation in temple worship. Anyone she touched would also become unclean, which only deepened her isolation.

Physically, she was exhausted and deteriorating. Financially, she was destitute, having spent all her livelihood on treatments that failed. Spiritually and emotionally, she carried the burden of shame, rejection, and hopelessness. Yet in her brokenness, she heard about Jesus—the one who healed the sick, cast out demons, and cleansed lepers. This was not merely rumor; it was testimony of divine intervention that stirred her heart to hope.

Her determination to approach Jesus, despite the crowds and her ceremonial uncleanness, reveals both courage and desperation. But her plan was marked not by recklessness but by faith. She believed that even indirect contact with Jesus’ garment could bring about the healing that no physician could provide. She did not demand His attention. She did not cry out for public acknowledgment. She simply resolved, “If I just touch his garments, I will get well.”

The Greek phrase ἐὰν ἅψωμαι κἂν τῶν ἱματίων αὐτοῦ (ean hapsōmai kan tōn himatiōn autou) reflects her confidence that even the smallest contact with Christ would be sufficient. Her faith did not require physical proximity to His person—she trusted that His power extended even to the fringe of His cloak.

Faith Versus Superstition: The Difference Is the Object of Trust

It is crucial to understand that the woman’s action was not driven by superstition but by informed faith. In the ancient world, many believed in magical powers associated with relics or garments of revered individuals. But this woman was not operating on pagan assumptions. She was a daughter of Israel, aware of the promises of Jehovah and convinced by what she had heard about Jesus. Her action was not an attempt to manipulate divine power through ritual; it was an expression of trust in the person of Jesus as the source of healing.

Her belief resonates with the promise in Malachi 4:2: “But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.” The word for “wings” here also means “edges” or “corners,” often associated with the tassels (tzitzit) worn on the corners of a Jewish man’s garment (Numbers 15:38–39). Whether or not the woman consciously linked her action to this prophecy, her faith was directed toward the person of the Messiah, not toward an impersonal force.

Jesus Himself confirms that it was her faith, not superstition, that made her well: “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction” (Mark 5:34). This affirmation underscores that healing flows from the will of God in response to genuine faith, not from the mechanical performance of actions.

Jesus’ Response: Compassion and Public Restoration

When the woman touched Jesus’ garment, “immediately the flow of her blood was dried up” (Mark 5:29). Her body responded at once. But the physical healing, while miraculous, was only part of what occurred. Jesus, perceiving that power had gone out from Him, turned and asked, “Who touched my garments?” (Mark 5:30). The disciples, incredulous at the question amid the pressing crowd, failed to understand the significance of His inquiry.

Jesus was not ignorant of who touched Him. As the omniscient Son of God, He knew all things (John 2:24–25). His question was not for His own information but for her benefit and for the instruction of the crowd. By calling her forward, He drew her out of anonymity and gave her the opportunity to publicly confess what she had done and why.

In fear and trembling, the woman came forward and told Him the whole truth (Mark 5:33). Her fear was not irrational; according to the Law, she had touched others in the crowd, perhaps even Jesus Himself, while being ceremonially unclean. She might have expected rebuke. But instead, Jesus addressed her with the tender term “Daughter”—the only time in the Gospels He uses this specific term of endearment. His words not only affirmed her healing but also restored her publicly to the community from which she had been excluded.

His statement, “Your faith has made you well” (literally, your faith has saved you), points to a broader restoration than physical health alone. The Greek word σέσωκέν (sesōken, from sōzō) often carries the meaning of salvation, deliverance, or rescue. While the primary context here is physical healing, the use of this term suggests that her faith had positioned her not only for bodily restoration but also for spiritual blessing.

The Nature of True Faith: Bold, Humble, Persistent

The woman’s faith exemplifies several critical aspects of genuine biblical faith:

Boldness: She approached Jesus despite social and ceremonial barriers, confident that He alone could help her.
Humility: She did not demand attention or healing on her terms but sought simply to touch the hem of His garment.
Persistence: After twelve years of suffering and disappointment, she did not surrender to despair but acted upon what she had heard about Jesus.

This combination of boldness and humility reflects the heart of true discipleship. Faith approaches God confidently because of His character, not because of one’s own merit (Hebrews 4:16). It acknowledges need without presumption, trusting in God’s mercy and power.

Application: Learning from the Woman’s Faith Today

The account of the woman who touched Jesus’ garment teaches enduring lessons for believers today:

Bring Every Need to Jesus: Like the woman, we may carry burdens of physical illness, emotional pain, or spiritual struggle. The first step toward healing is recognizing our need and bringing it to Christ.
Trust in Christ’s Power and Compassion: Faith rests not in rituals or methods but in the person of Jesus, who is both willing and able to heal according to the will of the Father.
Persevere Despite Delay: The woman suffered for twelve long years, yet she did not abandon hope. Faith persists even when answers seem delayed or distant.
Confess Christ Publicly: Jesus called the woman to step forward and testify. Likewise, believers are called to confess their faith before others (Matthew 10:32).
Receive Full Restoration: The healing Jesus provides goes beyond the physical. His power reaches the soul, offering peace, reconciliation with God, and the hope of eternal life (zōē aiōnion, ζωήν αἰώνιον).

Conclusion: Faith That Touches, Faith That Heals

The woman’s declaration in Mark 5:28—“If I just touch his garments, I will get well”—stands as one of the most beautiful expressions of trust in the Gospels. Her story is not about superstition or mere desperation. It is about faith rightly placed in the one who holds the power to heal, restore, and save.

For all who suffer, who wait, who hope, this account offers encouragement: the Lord sees, knows, and responds to faith that seeks Him sincerely. His power is not limited by circumstances, nor is His compassion hindered by the crowd. Those who reach out in faith, trusting in His goodness, will find in Him the healing that only the Son of God can give.

May every believer, like this woman, approach the Savior with humble confidence, trusting not in methods, but in the matchless power and wisdom of Christ, who remains the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).