Mark 5:31Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Observe how the crowd surrounded Him on all sides, yet not a single person made contact with Him. In contrast, the woman who approached Him with no such constraints was able to touch Him. This reveals the profound truth that among those preoccupied with numerous earthly concerns, none truly reach Christ; they merely impose upon Him. Conversely, those who refrain from burdening their minds with trivialities and do not weigh down Jesus are the ones who genuinely connect with Him.

All the afflicted strive to reach out and touch His garment; among them was the woman who had been hemorrhaging. Upon her healing, she considered retreating. However, Jesus did not hasten past her; He paused, turned toward the multitude, and inquired, ‘Who touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me?’ He scanned the crowd, and ultimately, the woman, realizing she could not remain concealed, approached Him trembling and revealed the entire story. Jesus praised her faith, proclaiming, ‘Courage, your faith has made you whole.’ Why did He do this? Did He, who instructed the demons not to speak of Him, seek praise from others? The Savior aimed to bolster Jairus' faith. He said to Jairus, ‘Do you observe this woman?

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jairus reports to Jesus that his daughter has already passed away (ετελέυτησεν v. 18), prompting him to seek a resurrection. However, the accounts in Mark (εσχάτως έχει v. 23) and Luke (αυτη άπεθνισκεν v. 42) indicate that she was merely at the brink of death, leading Jairus to initially request healing for his daughter, only later receiving news of her death. Given the circumstances of the ailing woman and Jairus's emotional state, it's reasonable to conclude that his words may not have been entirely certain. He likely intended to convey that by the time he had left his home, his daughter was experiencing her final moments, and now she may have passed on.

The response of the apostle Peter indicates that he and the other disciples had yet to grasp the true nature of Jesus and lacked genuine faith in Him. They presumed that Jesus, unaware of who had touched Him, had asked them to identify the person responsible. Consequently, they replied that with the multitude pressing around Him, it was highly unlikely they could pinpoint anyone in particular who had made contact.

Unclear about the situation, the apostle Peter responded that in such a confined space, it was challenging to determine who had touched whom. However, the Savior posed this question to draw out a reply from the woman who, having experienced the immense grace of God, sought to conceal herself from Him.

Experiencing within Himself that power had gone out from Him: this is a vivid illustration of the miraculous force at work, seemingly flowing from the body of our Lord Jesus to heal diseases. It appears that the faith of the afflicted woman, unknowingly and even against the will of the Lord, claims a portion of His healing power. 'The power flows from Christ, not displacing itself; rather, it transfers to others while simultaneously remaining within Christ, unchanged, much like the teachings of doctrine that persist with those who instruct and are received by those who learn' (Theophilus). The crowd thronged around the Lord, and undoubtedly many unintentionally made contact with Him (v.

Then Peter along with the other disciples addressed Him, saying, "Teacher, you see the crowd pressing around you and asking, 'Who has touched me?' But the Lord responded, "Someone has touched me. I know that power has gone out from me." This power, as explained by Blessed Theophylact, is shared with others yet continues to dwell in Christ without any loss. Filled with fear and trembling, the woman realized what had happened to her and, unable to hide her actions, approached Him, fell at His feet, and recounted the entire truth about why she had reached out to Him and how she had been instantly healed.