Touching The Hem
Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 01/12/2025
Foundation Scriptures:
And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
Mark 5:25-34 KJV
1. Desperation.
a. This woman was desperate.
b. She had an issue of blood for twelve years.
c. She was desperate to be healed.
d. She had consulted many physicians.
e. She had tried many types of therapies and cures.
f. She spent all that she had.
g. But her condition only became worse.
2. She Heard of Jesus.
a. When she heard of Jesus, something happened.
b. Faith arose.
c. She said: “If I can just touch His clothes, I shall be made whole.”
d. Because of her condition, she was not even allowed to be out in public.
e. She could not just come publicly to Jesus and tell Him what her problem was and ask for Him to heal her, like the others did.
f. But she was determined to receive her healing anyway.
g. People can be in a large crowd and yet not notice the individuals around them.
h. Which is what she must have been hoping for.
i. An issue of blood would have left a person physically weak—but this woman was desperate and determined.
j. She made her way through the throngs of people without notice.
k. When she found Jesus, she reached out and touched the hem of His garment.
l. The word “touched” means to touch; to attach one’s self to; to fasten one’s self to; adhere to; cling to.
m. She touched Him.
n. And straight away—immediately—the fountain of blood was dried up.
o. And she felt in her body she was healed of that plague.
p. She was made whole in a moment, and she felt immediate health and strength return to her body.
3. Who Touched Me?
a. Immediately, Jesus—knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him—turned around and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
b. In the mass and press of all the people thronging Him, He felt a touch that was different from all the others.
c. He felt virtue—power—anointing flowing out of Him and into someone else.
d. He knew that someone had made a connection—with their faith and expectation—and drawn the power out of Him with a touch.
e. The disciples were confused.
f. They were in the crowd with Jesus and all of them were being touched and jostled by the multitude of people.
g. They could not understand why Jesus would ask such a seemingly ridiculous question as, “Who touched Me?”
h. Jesus ignored their disrespect and continued searching for the person who touched Him.
i. Jesus was not looking for the woman to reprove her presumption, but to commend and encourage her faith.
4. Making a Connection.
a. The people around Jesus may have been oblivious.
b. But Jesus knew.
c. He knew that virtue (dynamis) had flowed out of Him.
d. Virtue, the anointing, miracle working power, flowed out of Him.
e. The anointing is tangible.
f. Jesus felt it flow out of Him, and she felt it flow into her.
g. The woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before Him.
h. She told Him the truth about her condition and her plan to furtively receive her healing from Him.
i. Jesus told her, “Daughter, your faith has made you whole. Go in peace and be whole of your plague.”
j. The woman was cured and made completely whole and sound.
k. Jesus does not just heal us, but He makes us whole and gives us back our lives.
5. Faith Places a Demand.
a. This woman’s faith placed a demand on the anointing upon the life and ministry of Jesus.
b. And so did many after her, including the people of Gennesaret.
c. Mark 6:56 KJV –– And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.
d. That anointing is here today.
e. What do you need?
f. Touch the hem.
g. He will touch you.