July 21, 2026

From Desperation to Transformation

Mark 5:25–34 is one of my favorite stories in the gospels–as you can imagine, I have several! It is the healing of an unnamed, desperate woman in Capernaum who had suffered hemorrhaging for twelve years. Her encounter with Jesus describes a miracle, healing from shame, and bold faith. It’s also a window into the heart of the Savior. Let’s read it:

“And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment, for she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

“And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 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? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

“And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 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)

Luke 8:43-48 and Matthew 9:20-22 also relate this story; Mark, however, gives more details. This woman would have been weak and frail after this long season of blood loss, but that most likely wasn’t the most difficult aspect of her suffering. In Jewish life, chronic bleeding did not simply mean physical pain–it created ongoing religious and social consequences.

Many of the Jewish laws in Leviticus were mandated for purposes of individual health and the prevention of the public spread of disease. This was one of them. Under Jewish ceremonial law (Leviticus 15:25–27), a woman with a continuous discharge of blood was considered “unclean.” She could not visit the synagogue, participate in temple sacrifices, or touch others, including family. For over a decade, she had lived without physical affection, public worship, or contact with others. Her isolation would have been heartbreaking and very depressing.

Mark tells us that she had “spent all her money” on doctors and “was no better, but rather grew worse” (v. 26). This not only reveals her difficult financial condition, but also highlights her weariness and hopelessness. Medical help had failed. That phrase “grew worse” indicates that her body continued deteriorating even while she pursued a cure. She was desperate.

Then she heard about Jesus (verse 27). And He was in town!

But how could she approach Him? Because of her “unclean-ness,” a decision to even be in the crowd would have been a huge risk and very frightening for her. She would have been aware that approaching Jesus violated very strict boundaries. Even if He wouldn’t be concerned about the boundaries in the way others were, the social reality was that many people would interpret her touching them as contamination. AND what if by touching Him or His clothing she DID actually transfer uncleanness to him? Her decision? She would go for it, touching His garment secretly (verses 27-28).

Touching the Hem of Jesus’ Garment

Some theologians speculate that there was a hidden meaning in the woman touching the hem of Christ’s garment. In Hebrew, the word for the corner or fringe of a garment is kanaph,(1) which also translates to "wing." The prophet Malachi has a widely known messianic promise: "But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings [kanaph]" (Malachi 4:2). The speculation is that in reaching for the kanaph of Jesus’ robe, she was declaring her belief that He was the promised Messiah who carried God's healing power. Perhaps this is what generated her faith; we don’t know for sure.

What we do know is that the instant the woman touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, the flow of blood stopped. Jesus even felt the power flow from Him! It is striking to me that the woman’s faith was this strong. Jesus even spoke of it (verse 34). She, with her faith, initiated the miracle, not Jesus. I realize it was His power, but her faith and determination literally drew it from Him. By the time He realized it was happening, she was healed! Many others were touching Him, by the way, but not with hands of faith.

Jesus stopped the moving crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" (verse 30). I believe Jesus knew who had touched Him, but stopped because He wasn’t finished with her healing; He refused to let her slip away with merely a hidden physical cure. He called her forward so she could receive complete restoration!

By having her share her testimony before the crowd, Jesus publicly validated her healing, declaring to the entire community that she was no longer unclean. He then addressed her with the tender words, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease" (verse 34).

This is the only time in the gospels where Jesus explicitly calls a woman "Daughter."

Through a single act of desperate, risky faith, a woman who was desperately ill, penniless, physically exhausted, and a social outcast was fully restored–not just in body, but emotionally, spiritually, and in the community.

Application for Today

Perhaps you are one who is desperate for a miracle from the Savior. Maybe you, like this woman, have tried everything else. Many, myself included, believe we have entered a season when miracles are on the increase. My brother, Tim, and several friends of ours determined a year or so ago to press into this, to create opportunities for Holy Spirit to release His healing power. We have conducted several healing services at Tim’s church, The Oasis, in Middletown, Ohio.

Numerous people have received healings, including many as they watched and joined with us online. Several hundred churches have also participated through the livestream, praying for individuals in their sanctuaries as we do so in Middletown. In no way are we suggesting that people must come to us to receive healing. We are encouraging people to join their faith with ours for healing and miracles to occur in churches, homes, hospitals - anywhere and everywhere. And we are not believing for this only on that evening, but that as the body of Christ agrees in faith, gifts of healing and the working of miracles will be released to individuals for ongoing ministry.

The next Healing Summit is coming up soon on Friday night, August 14th. If you need a miracle, consider coming and allowing us to join our faith with yours. We anoint and lay our hands on everyone who comes for prayer, according to Mark 16:18. Yes, it is always hundreds of people, but we do so. Let’s reach out together and touch Him. If you are unable to come, join us by livestream. And pastors, let’s believe God together for this fresh release of miracles to increase.

Pray with me:

Father, thank You for Holy Spirit. Thank You for the power He brings us to witness of You, to work for You, and to overcome in life. Thank You for the example of Jesus, who went about doing good and healing those oppressed by the devil (Acts 10:38). Today, we especially thank You for the story of the woman with the 12-year, constant flow of blood. Thank You for demonstrating through her, Your willingness to respond to faith.

As we gather in Middletown on August 14th, and in many places around the nation and nations via the internet, pour out the power of Holy Spirit. Heal and transform, deliver those oppressed by the devil. Free people from disease, depression, addictions, all manner of sickness and infirmity. Give us miracles. And use the coming release of signs and wonders to not only heal those in need, but to point people to Jesus and spark the revival that has begun. All of this we ask in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

Our decree:

We declare that Jesus is still releasing His power to do good, heal the sick, and deliver those oppressed by the devil (Acts 10:38).

The upcoming Healing Summit will take place on August 14, 2026, at the Oasis Church in Middletown, OH. Attendance is free, but we need you to register. You can do so by going to: TheOasisWired.org

Click on the link below to watch the full video.

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1. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 3671.