In our men’s fellowship and Bible study recently, I made a statement that I am having second thoughts about. In Mark 5, we read about a woman with a severe menstrual issue lasting twelve years sneaking up through the crowd to touch the edge of Jesus’ cloak (the outer garment typical in those days). Upon the fearful yet fateful touch, she was instantly healed—the bleeding stopped (Mark 5:29). The miracle was terrific in its own right. We might suggest that Jesus discreetly did not mention her feminine issue. We might also spend time trying to unpack the meaning of the Lord’s feigned ignorance about who caused the healing power to flow out from Him: “Who touched me?” (Mark 5:30). We might also note the disciples’ preoccupation with what seemed a ludicrous question.

But one thing is not open for debate, Scripture is clear and unambiguous: the woman was healed! Regardless of what the disciples were focusing on, or what we present readers would like to obsess with, the central fact is indisputable. A miracle took place. And then Jesus uttered a remarkable thing: “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” Huh?

The phrase “made you well” is the same word that can also be translated as “saved you.” In fact, it is commonly used for spiritual salvation. My point at the study this morning, which I am now questioning, was that Jesus was referring to her spiritual state of wellness and not specifically to her physical healing. The verbal tense in the original language indicates that this comment, “your faith has made you well,” refers to an action already taken place, with the results continuing into the present. In other words, the woman was made well and continues to be well. The physical is clearly in view!

Yet, the last part of Jesus’ statement to her was the instruction: “be healed of your disease.” The implication seems to be there was still some healing needed; it wasn’t complete. Of course, storytelling conventions might lead us to interpret this as a summary statement or a recap of Jesus’, and not intended by the Gospel writer Mark to be taken in chronological sequence. Some commentaries write as though this is a sort of retroactive participation by Jesus in her healing—we don’t have time or space here to delve into that possibility, though it would make a worthy study.

But we do know, as a baseline, that “she was healed of her affliction” (Mark 5:29, Greek: mastigos), and we know that Jesus concluded with the instruction, “be healed of your affliction” (Mark 5:34, same Greek word, but in the imperative). Both are referring to the same incident. She was already healed, but she was not yet healed. What do we make of that? Putting it all together, Jesus said, “Your faith has made you well.” Paraphrasing Jesus’ statement may be helpful, “Daughter, continue to be well, continue to be healed.” The tense of this instruction conveys the sense of a present and ongoing activity. Continue with what began when you were healed.

Of course, Jesus is not telling her to take medically advised steps to avoid further menstrual problems. Nor is He suggesting that she needed to continue believing she was healed for the physical healing to take hold over the long term. The most natural interpretation is that Jesus shifted seamlessly from the physical issue of life at hand to the larger spiritual realm of true life. He used her physical wellness to convey that spiritual wellness comes through the same kind of faith. The need for physical healing comes from living in a fallen world. The need for spiritual healing and wholeness comes from living as fallen creatures. And this requires a living and abiding faith in the spiritual healer, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord, help me see the specific miracles You bring into my life, and living a life of spiritual wholeness.