Tuesday, April 26, 2011

For Twelve Years


Mark 5:25-29 ESV

25 A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, 26 and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse— 27 after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. 28 For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.” 29 Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

"12 is a perfect number", 
E.W. Bullinger, Number in Scripture

The number connects the woman and girl, the fullness of time, and the perfection of God's plan. 

The woman healed as Jesus was on the way to heal the daughter of the synagogue ruler symbolizes Israel. Her hemorrhaging represents the flow of sacrificial blood that was spilled, but could not relieve sin. Jesus would heal her. Notice He was on His way elsewhere and she reached out in faith as He passed. 

We are told the daughter was healed and was twelve years old, again representing Israel. She is the age for accountability. 
The law was the teacher and guardian until the child became of age. 

Mark 5:36
36 But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, *said to the synagogue official, “ Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.”

As a child I thought as a child. It's time to put away foolish things and embrace the foolishness of God.  Only believe.

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