Miracle of Jesus healing the woman with the blood issue.

The miracle of Jesus healing the woman with the issue of blood is recorded in Matthew 9:20–22, Mark 5:25–34, and Luke 8:43–48. This event reveals profound truths about human depravity, sovereign grace, effectual calling, and saving faith.

The woman had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years. According to Levitical law (Leviticus 15:25–27), this condition rendered her ceremonially unclean. This uncleanness isolated her socially, religiously, and spiritually. She would have been excluded from public worship, avoided by others, and unable to participate in the covenant community as a ceremonially clean member. This not merely a physical illness, but a picture of sin’s defiling nature. Just as her condition made her unclean and unable to restore herself, so fallen humanity is spiritually unclean and powerless to remedy its own condition. Her twelve-year suffering underscores the total inability of man to save himself—a key doctrine known as total depravity.

The text emphasizes that she had spent all she had on physicians, yet none could heal her. This illustrates the futility of human effort to achieve spiritual healing through works, religious systems, or human wisdom. No earthly remedy could accomplish what only Christ could do. This aligns with sola gratia—grace alone. Salvation and restoration come entirely from Christ, not from human effort.

Despite her uncleanness and likely shame, the woman came in faith, saying to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” This faith itself is not self-generated but is the result of God’s sovereign grace working within her. Faith is the instrument, not the cause, of salvation. God effectually called her, drawing her to Christ. Her approach was humble and desperate, recognizing that even the smallest contact with Christ was sufficient. This reflects the nature of true saving faith—it rests not in the strength of the believer, but in the sufficiency of the Savior.

When she touched Jesus’ garment, she was immediately healed. This demonstrates Christ’s sovereign power and authority. Significantly, instead of Jesus becoming unclean by her touch, His holiness and power flowed to her, making her clean. This illustrates the great exchange at the heart of the gospel: Christ does not become defiled by sinners; rather, He removes their defilement. His holiness overcomes impurity. This points forward to the cross, where Christ would bear the uncleanness of His people and grant them His righteousness.

Jesus then publicly acknowledged her, asking, “Who touched me?” Though He knew, He drew her out to make her faith visible and to assure her personally. He addressed her tenderly as “Daughter,” signifying her full restoration not only physically but covenantally. She was no longer an outcast but a restored member of God’s family. This reflects adoption—the believer is brought into the family of God by grace.

Finally, Jesus said, “Your faith has made you well; go in peace.” This does not mean her faith had power in itself, but that faith was the means through which Christ’s saving power was applied. Her healing demonstrates that Christ saves completely—physically, spiritually, and covenantally—all whom He effectually calls.

This miracle ultimately reveals Christ as the sovereign Savior who cleanses the unclean, restores the outcast, and saves by grace alone through faith alone, according to God’s sovereign will.