Why Did He Stop?

There's an interesting fact about the woman with the issue of blood that we often overlook. This unnamed woman is mentioned in three of the Gospels, and her miraculous healing has been the subject of millions of sermons in churches all around the globe. The account is known and cherished by Christians throughout the world, but we seldom think about its context.

Here's the account as recorded by Mark:

"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." (Mk. 5:25-34)

At first glance, this seems to be a complete account with no need to read the context, but take a moment to consider the verses that come before this account.

"And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him." (Mk. 5:22-24)

And now look at the verse which comes after the account of this miracle.

"While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?" (Mk. 5:35)

When I was reading this passage yesterday, the Lord drew my attention to the fact that this miracle happened while Jesus was on His way to work a different miracle for Jairus the ruler of the synagogue in Capernaum. Jairus was a well-known public figure. I'm sure everyone in town looked up to him as a religious leader. Healing his daughter would be certain to elevate Jesus in the eyes of the people, and I'm sure that many in the crowd were there more because of who was going to receive a miracle than because of who was about to perform the miracle. As Jesus walked to the house of Jairus, a massive crowd gathered around to see Jairus blessed by Jesus.

And then, out of the blue, and for no apparent reason ... Jesus stopped.

Why did He stop?

The natural response is to think that He stopped, so He could heal the woman with the issue of blood, but read the passage again. The woman was healed as soon as she touched His clothes. She was already healed before He stopped. So why did He stop?

I think Jesus stopped as a message to the crowd. The crowd was there to see a miracle done at the request of a great man, but Jesus stopped to draw their attention to a poor humble woman who received the exact same miracle Jairus had requested for his daughter, but she sought her miracle quietly without any pomp or applause. She didn't have money or influence to persuade Jesus to heal her. All she had was her faith, and that was enough.

I think Jesus stopped to show us that He cares about the poor and downtrodden just as much as He cares about the wealthy and powerful. He could have provided a private healing in response to a shy and humble faith, but He stopped to teach us that no one is too lowly for His full attention and care.