Differing Perspectives
While reading through the Gospels, there recently has been something that has caught my attention. You see it is important to read through all of the Gospels, even though at times they present the same situation you get a different persons perspective on the event. In doing so, you are able to pick up on lessons that otherwise would have been missed. For me, this occurred while reading about the hemorrhaging woman. The account of this woman occurs in Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:23-34; and Luke 8:43-48.
20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.
Matthew 9:20-22
So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
Mark 5:24-34
“And a man named Jairus came, and he was an official of the synagogue; and he fell at Jesus’ feet, and began urging Him to come to his house; 42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. But as He went, the crowds were pressing against Him. 43 And a woman who had suffered a chronic flow of blood for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone, 44 came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. 45 And Jesus said, “Who is the one who touched Me?” And while they were all denying it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing in on You.” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had left Me.” 47 Now when the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and admitted in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
Luke 8:41-48
If you only ever read Matthew’s description, you wouldn’t think beyond how once again Jesus was able to heal someone who was suffering. However, through Mark and Luke’s description we are able to see that there is more to this situation. What Mark and Luke provide is that there was a large crowd and they were all pressing in on Jesus, meaning that He was being touched by multiple people. And yet, from these accounts it is only the woman who believed that simply touching His clothes would heal her. No other is mentioned as being healed from amongst this crowd and Jesus makes a point to state that it is her faith that has made her well.
I do want to state here that this post is not meant to say that with enough faith we can be healed from any disease. After all, the woman suffered for twelve years in her condition. We do know that God is a physician and can heal according to His plan. What I am wanting to point out here is that we must not overlook repetitive situations that are described in the word of God. In each situation, there is something to be learned. Think of it this way: a car accident is witnessed by several different people. Each person would have a slightly different account based on their perspective, but the result would be the same; I.e. car A ran into car B. Or in this case, a woman who was suffering was healed. Only through reading each account, do we find out more to the situation. A woman who was suffering was healed amongst a crowd of people who all were attempting to get the attention of the Messiah. This woman had the faith that He would heal her and so it was her faith that made her well. I hope now that when you come across a situation in the Bible that is repetitive to somewhere else, you will take the time to go and look at all accounts. If you do this, I am sure that you will see that there is much to be discovered.
Seek the truth and encourage one another,
Alex