In both our spiritual lives and daily experiences, we often encounter gaps—spaces or discrepancies between where we are and where we want to be. Whether it’s a gap in our understanding, our emotional healing, or our walk with God, these gaps can sometimes feel insurmountable. But just like fixing a gap in a wall or a schedule, closing a gap in our spiritual journey requires intention, action, and faith. Today, let’s reflect on how the story of the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5 offers profound insights into the concept of “closing the gap,” not just physically but spiritually and emotionally as well.
Context Is Key
In Mark 5, we meet an unnamed woman who has suffered for 12 long years from a chronic condition. Despite exhausting all her resources and seeing numerous physicians, she’s no closer to healing. Instead, she’s become an outcast, isolated by society due to her condition, which made her “unclean” under Levitical law. But one day, as she hears of Jesus’ miracles, something shifts inside her. Her faith compels her to take action. She steps through the crowd, presses through the noise, and reaches out to touch Jesus’ garment, believing that this simple act could heal her.
This moment is a powerful example of how faith can close the gap between suffering and healing. The gap in her life wasn’t just physical—it was emotional, social, and spiritual. And just like fixing a gap in a wall, she needed something to bridge that space—a faith-filled action that connected her to Jesus.
The People in This Passage
The Unnamed Woman: Her desperate faith is the key to her healing. Though she has nothing left, she believes that Jesus can restore her.
The Physicians: Representing all the human attempts to solve the problem, these physicians didn’t have the answers, no matter how hard they tried. They symbolize our efforts when we try to fill the gaps in our lives with temporary solutions.
Jesus: Jesus is the ultimate bridge, the one who not only heals but also affirms her faith. His response to her act of faith shows how He meets us where we are.
The Disciples and the Crowd: The disciples witness the miracle, and the crowd represents all the people who are watching from a distance, unaware of the deeper lessons that faith and action can teach.
The Setting: A Gap in Understanding
This story takes place near Capernaum, a place Jesus frequently visited, where people were already familiar with His ability to heal. The crowd’s presence isn’t just about numbers; it’s about the different responses to Jesus. Some seek Him for healing, others out of curiosity, and still others as mere spectators. The gap isn’t just in the woman’s health—it’s also in how the people perceive Jesus. Some know His power; others don’t yet understand it.
This helps us realize that the gap between us and God isn’t always physical; sometimes it’s a gap in understanding or perspective. We all come to Jesus with different needs and expectations, and the way we close that gap is unique to each of us.
Closing the Gap: Faith in Action
So, how do we close the gap between our present condition and the healing we seek? The woman’s story provides an answer: faith in action.
She didn’t wait for the perfect moment. She didn’t wait for Jesus to notice her. Instead, she took a bold step—pressing through the crowd and reaching out in faith. Her action wasn’t just a physical gesture; it was a declaration that she believed Jesus could heal her, no matter the cost.
In our own lives, the gaps we face can often feel like overwhelming obstacles—whether it’s a lack of knowledge, emotional pain, or spiritual dryness. The gap might look like a busy schedule, a financial hardship, or a long-standing health issue. But just as the woman reached out to Jesus, we too can take steps to close the gap through faith and action.
Sometimes, closing the gap involves adding something—perhaps a new perspective or habit that brings us closer to God. It may also mean bridging the gap with something already present in our lives—like prayer, scripture, or a community of believers. At other times, it’s about removing distractions or taking action to align our hearts with God’s will.
Discover It for Yourself: The Healing Power of Faith
As I read this passage, the word “plague” in Mark 5:29 stood out to me: “And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.” In studying this word, I thought about how plagues in scripture are sometimes seen as consequences of sin or disobedience. Though the woman’s condition wasn’t directly linked to sin, it made me wonder if her healing was both physical and spiritual. Could it be that in pressing through the crowd, she was humbling herself before God, turning back to Him in faith?
This realization spoke to me deeply. In the same way, closing the gaps in our lives—whether in knowledge, relationships, or healing—requires us to turn to God with all our hearts. Like the woman, we need to press past the distractions of life and seek the face of Jesus in prayer and action.
Walking by Faith, Not by Sight
The woman’s faith wasn’t passive—it was an active, bold decision to reach out to Jesus, even in the midst of her suffering. Her story challenges us to ask: How are we putting our faith into action today? It’s easy to wait for the right moment or the perfect circumstances, but faith calls us to move even when things aren’t perfect. Like the woman, we can reach out in faith, trusting that Jesus sees us, hears us, and will respond.
When Jesus calls her “daughter,” it’s more than a simple greeting. He’s affirming her identity, her worth, and her place in God’s family. For me, the word “daughter” resonates deeply. It’s not just a term of endearment—it’s a reminder that, through Jesus, we are all adopted into God’s family, healed and made whole.
The Best Time to Win Souls
Something that stands out in this story is that when a person’s faith is shaken—when they are at their lowest point—they are often the most open to receiving care, love, help, and encouragement. Just like this woman was desperately seeking healing, there are many around us who are searching for something to bridge the gap in their lives. People whose faith has been tested, whose hope is fading, are often looking for someone to fill that gap, to offer a word of comfort or a hand of help.
This moment of vulnerability is the perfect time for us to step in and share the love of Christ. When people are at their lowest, they are often ready to hear about the hope we have in Jesus. Whether through offering prayer, a listening ear, or simply sharing the message of salvation, we can be the ones to close the gap by showing them the love and power of God.
Comments