Mark 5:30Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, while the Lord chose to feign ignorance regarding outward matters for the sake of benefit, He swiftly demonstrated His foreknowledge, revealing His ability to perceive even the concealed.

Had the woman, after receiving healing from her affliction, left unnoticed, not only would the miracle have remained secret from the crowd, but she herself would have departed still burdened spiritually. For while she may have recognized Christ as a righteous man due to her cure, if He had been unaware of her plight, it could have led her to question His divinity. While some righteous individuals healed others without knowledge of their identities, the Lord wished for this woman to have a complete understanding of her healing, thereby ensuring she would not remain spiritually unwell. Hence, He inquired, “Who has touched My garments?”

Why did the Lord ask, “Who touched Me?” He aimed to make known to the healed woman that He was aware of her faith, ensuring that she recognized her healing was not a hidden fact to Him. Through her restored health, she learned that He is the Healer of all, and from His question, she understood His authority over all. Realizing that nothing escapes His notice, she acknowledged that all is visible to Him. By affirming her awareness of Christ’s ability to heal physical wounds, she also grasped that He understands the deepest secrets of the heart. The One who mends bodily afflictions and discerns inner thoughts is truly the Lord of both body and spirit. As the Lord of the body, He comforted her physical suffering, and as the Judge of the spirit, He illuminated her understanding.

The woman likely feared violating His commandments, believing she was always under the gaze of the One who had seen her touch His robe. She was keenly aware that even her innermost thoughts were not hidden from Him, for He had shown her that nothing escapes His knowledge. The question, “Who touched Me?” indicates that the Lord sought out the one who grasped His divine power, aiming to address those who may disregard the treasures He offers. Those with weak faith encountered spiritual poverty, while the strong in faith boldly sought His healing. “Who touched Me?... Power has gone out from Me.” The One who sensed the energy leaving Him could not remain unaware of where it had landed. Was it possible that such power was taken from Him without His consent?

Yet just like certain healing medicines can restore health unbeknownst to the bearer, the Lord sought to convey to the healed woman that He, who had granted her recovery, thoroughly understands her. He is not merely like a medication that automatically heals all who partake; rather, He intentionally heals those who revere Him. This healing power stemmed from the fullness of the Divine essence, restoring her from the impurity under the law to illustrate that the Divine presence never withdraws from those embodying true faith. Faith serves as the foundation for divine blessings. While impure associations with the law may corrupt, true faith sanctifies and unites. Though the law required separation from the unclean, Elijah, through faith, attained purity without opposing the law.

The words reported about the Lord reflect this: “Who touched Me?... I know that great power has gone forth from Me.” Another Evangelist conveys that “abundant power... proceeded... from Him... and healed everyone” (cf. Lk. 6:19). The Lord noted that His power uniquely emanated from Him in this particular instance. Why this singular acknowledgment? He understood His origin and knew those who would reject His birthright. Therefore, He allowed His power to enter a defiled womb, so they might recognize that His holiness emerged from the purest origins. “Who touched Me, for great power has come from Me?” Such a declaration regarding our Physician is unprecedented, for no other affliction has encountered Him in this way.

“Power has gone out from Me.” With these words, He encouraged those hesitant in their faith to remain steadfast, affirming His faithfulness as they awaited spiritual returns, as the seeds sown will yield abundantly. There are seeds ready for immediate harvest, while others bear fruit at the end of time, and some blossom at the moment of sowing. When He mentions, “sevenfold shall receive now” (cf. Mk. 10:30), this pertains to seeds gathered shortly after planting. In speaking of future judgment, He states, “Then the King will say to those on the right side” (Mt. 25:34), indicating those reaped at the end of times. The woman, who approached and touched the edge of His garment, represents a seed yielding immediate reward. Just as earthly grain, despite growing amidst weeds, reaches fruition, the seed of faith hidden in a brave heart was nurtured by God's power and blossomed.

She has suffered from her affliction for twelve years and spent all her resources on physicians without finding relief, yet now she has been healed by merely touching the edge of my garment. Her healing came through the faith she exercised in reaching out to me. Witness this, and let your own faith be strengthened." Just after the Lord spoke these words, news arrived for Jairus that his daughter had passed away.

Yet, since Matthew does not mention any messengers arriving to inform Jairus of his daughter’s passing, the phrase αΰτη ετελέυτησεν aligns more coherently with the situation: it stands to reason that Jairus’s initial petition for healing transformed into an unvoiced plea for resurrection upon hearing of her death.

The woman suffering from hemorrhage was understandably reluctant to approach Jesus directly for her need, particularly due to her condition rendering her ceremonially unclean (Luke 15). Nevertheless, her faith was so profound that she believed merely touching the fringe of His garment (κρασπεδον Mt. 20. Lk. 44 cf. Num. 15:38. Matthew 14:36. 23, 5. Lk. 8:44. Mk. 6:56) would suffice for her healing. The Lord called her to publicly acknowledge her faith and the miracle that occurred, asking, "Who is it that touches Me?” He recognized that power had gone out from Him (Luke). The Lord’s statement may imply that miraculous power sometimes emanated from Him involuntarily. Nevertheless, it is clear that Jesus was aware of the woman's intentions and actions when she reached out to Him; He reassured her with the words, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well” (which He spoke to comfort her shortly thereafter, addressing her openly). Despite the throngs pressing against Him, only this woman’s faith elicited the miraculous power from Him. Her act of touching Him bore significance, not for Christ Himself, but for her, symbolizing a heartfelt expression of her faith through which she genuinely reached out to Him.

The woman, trembling with fear, aware of the healing she had received and unable to remain hidden, approached Him. She fell at His feet and confessed the entire truth, explaining why she had reached out to touch Him and how she was instantly restored. The Lord revealed her identity to affirm her faith and inspire others to believe, as well as to alleviate any guilt she might feel for receiving healing as if it were stolen. "Courage, my daughter," He told her, "Your faith has made you whole; go in peace and be freed from your affliction."

Tradition has preserved the name of this healed woman—Veronica, a Gentile from Caesarea Philippi, or Paneas. In the city, she erected a monument near the fountain to honor her miraculous healing by Jesus Christ. This monument portrayed Him in long robes. Later, devout Christians placed an image of Veronica kneeling in prayer before the likeness of Christ. However, this monument was destroyed by the decree of Julian the Apostate.