Luke 8:42-48
A Sick, Yet Persistent Woman
42 As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. 44She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
45"Who touched me?" Jesus asked.
When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you."
46But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me."
47Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."
Jesus teaches us to be persistent in our prayers, and in praying...I do not know why this is, but it seems that some of our prayers are to be often and continuous and everyday...We must pray again and again for some prayers to be answered...Maybe suffering and rejection (our our first, second, and third prayers) strengthen us somehow...But some of our prayers are to be repeated and repeated...Jesus teaches us to be persistent, and persistent in prayer...
A woman wanting to see or touch Jesus had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could help her...But she did not give up hope in those twelve years...I think she continued to pray...I actually think she have prayed, and prayed often that her LORD would heal her...Then this woman heard about a man named Jesus...She heard about some Great Healer, who talked about and preached the Word of God...Somehow and for some reason, this suffering woman knew if she touched the hem of Jesus' garment, she would be healed, even after twelve years...She had kept the faith and hope for twelve long years...She touched Jesus, and He feels that He has lost some power...Something has happened (with the woman)...An act of faith has happened...Someone has had faith in Him and touched Him...Their touching Him, would heal them...Jesus knew who it was, because He knows all things...The woman humbly came trembling and fell at His feet, in the presence of the crowd...
After twelve years of rejection and prayers, Jesus says to the now healed woman, "Daughter, your faith has healed you...Go in peace."...Her faith has healed her...