Tami’s Meandering Thoughts

“Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
Mark 5:34

Last week I began my journey towards a Master’s degree (we’ll see if that journey ends in completion or not!). And I’ll admit that I began with all the regular feelings of shyness, pit-of-the-stomach tightening, and questioning. As I read the syllabus of the expected work the mountain loomed high! Then Saturday’s retreat began with an area pastor having us close our eyes as he read the account of Jesus healing the woman who had bleeding for 12 years (Mark 5:25-34). As he began reading my thoughts raced: “What a waste of time. I know this story. How many times have I read this?” As I began to really listen, however, God helped me refocus on this woman and Jesus’ reaction to her.

Here’s a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. We have no idea what type of bleeding she experienced. Internal? External? A 12 year period? Although we don’t know her exact problem, we see the symptom, and that symptom not only gave her pain but led to her becoming a social outcast. In Jewish society contact with blood meant you became ceremonially unclean. Thus, no one would have wanted to have this woman in their presence. Just try to put yourself in her shoes. In fact, I know some of you can to an extent. She has a disease that no doctor seems to understand or procedure seemed to fix. No medicine helped. Society did not want her there. Imagine her internal turmoil, her utter hopelessness, and her spiritual questioning. Then Jesus walks her way. In desperation and hope she reaches out to brush up against his coat.

Jesus immediately knows he healed someone. As the woman fearfully falls at his feet to admit to her healing he gazes down at her. Now, here’s the part that struck me. He does not condemn her for not approaching him boldly. He does not turn this into an object lesson for his disciples and say, “See, I told you that I healed someone – when will you learn to trust what I say?!?” He does not even point out to the crowd how much faith she has. Instead I see this as an intimate moment between two people.

His words? “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” What did he call her? Daughter. He didn’t refer to her in the third person, call her “Woman”, or even call her “Friend”. He gazed down at her lying at his feet and said, “Daughter”. In my mind that word conjures up feelings of love and protection. Daughter.

After this personal, relational address, he reassures her that it was her faith that made her well. Then, get this, “Go in peace”. What is this man allowing this woman to do? Continue her life in peace. Peace in the knowledge that she had an encounter with the Almighty. Peace in the realization that God, GOD, gave her love and protection. Peace knowing that God forgave her, healed her and loved her. Peace.

So, as I sat in that room on Saturday morning, I rested again in Jesus’ peace. I too am his daughter. I too lie at his feet awaiting his judgment. I too bring my life to him for purpose, healing and salvation. And the words I heard? “Daughter, go in peace”.

I know a little of the struggles some of you have. Obviously I don’t know all the struggles or even all of you. However, my reassurance to you is that, no matter what life has for you right now, no matter what mountains you are climbing, Jesus gives peace. Not an easily understood, easily explained peace. But one that descends as we fall at His feet asking for his reassurance as his daughters. May you go in peace.