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In Mark 5 we read the story of the woman with a flow of blood. This historical parable offers a dynamic spiritual portrait of salvation by the grace (unmerited favor) of God in many, many ways.
Note in verse 21 of Mark 5 that Jesus crossed over in a boat and He stayed by the seashore. The fact that the people "gathered unto Him" gives us a spiritual picture of a true child of God delighting in the welcome news; the good news which is the gospel of Christ.
The woman herself is a picture of everyone on earth. Before anyone becomes saved, they are contaminated by the uncleanliness of sin.
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:8-21).
Again:
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound
Dear friends, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, but Christ came and set us free from the law; it entered (past tense) that offense might about, but Christ came even so GRACE MIGHT REIGN .... He paid an enormous price for this, the shedding of His blood through crucifixion on Calvary. He was mocked, humiliated, viciously scourged and while bleeding profusely, made to carry a 40+ pound cross to which they would nail Him. He did this for His people.
The courage and God instilled faith of this woman is truly remarkable. She had this ailment 12 years, many would have given up hope for a cure. Again note the number 12 is interesting and it also points to another aspect of salvation. The number 12 often signifies fullness, i.e., the 12 apostles or 12 tribes of Judah. Although this woman had seen many physicians, there is only One physician who can heal us spiritually, of course that is Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).
Dear reader, let's take a moment to look at this too. Without our LORD Jesus in your life where else can you go? Where can you turn to? You do have alternatives, you can become a muslim, a hindu, an atheist, or simply acknowledge Jehovah God but fall back into the world. Sorry, but that's about all the choices on the menu.
That is why we must ask ourselves daily ---- are we reaching out to touch His garment? We also know we could never even think to do so without His grace working in us. Are we broken? Are we in SPIRITUAL BANKRUPCY? If not, why not? Pray about this.
"Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem." (Psalm 51:14-18).
That's pretty clear, in Psalm 51:17 God tells us He will not despise the brokenhearted, and we know God is altogether true to His Word:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1:1-14).
Of course Jesus knew immediately who touched Him. This points to the fact that He know all things; nothing we do can escape His knowing it; He knows it before we even do it.
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:8-10).
We will sin. All people do and if we say we do not, we are liars and the truth is not in us. Jesus knows all our sins, but beautifully and wonderfully He has paid for all the sins of His children: past, present and future. However, there may not be much future left. 1 Peter 4 tells us that the end of all things is at hand and to love because love covers a multitude of sins (true love instilled through Christ and made manifest in our life); we must hold fast together with the beloved of Christ because judgement has begun with the house of God and the chapter closes with a climax teaching us to DO what is right.
"The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER? Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right." (1 Peter 4:7-19) nas.
In closing, lets be doers, and not just hearers. To God be all the glory and praise, Amen and Amen:
"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was." (James 1:22-24).
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