Mark 5:34Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This woman, who was celebrated and known to all, did not dare to approach the Saviour openly, nor to come to Him, because, according to the law, she was unclean; for this reason she touched Him behind, and not in front, for that she durst not do, but only ventured to touch the hem of His garment. It was not however the hem of the garment, but her frame of mind that made her whole. There follows, For she said, If I may but touch his clothes, I shall be whole.

After the miracle of the demoniac, the Lord works another miracle, namely, in raising up the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue; the Evangelist, before narrating this miracle, says, And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him.

But we must understand, that what is added of the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue, took place when Jesus had again crossed the sea in a ship, though how long after does not appear; for if there were not an interval, there could be no time for the taking place of that which Matthew relates, concerning the feast at his own house; after which event, nothing follows immediately, except this concerning the daughter of the chief of the synagogue. For he has so put it together, that the transition itself shews that the narrative follows the order of time. It goes on, There cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, &c.

She proclaimed Christ, yet she too was proclaimed alongside Him. The truth was shared through her voice, and likewise, she bore witness to the truth. While she testified to His Divinity, He likewise acknowledged her faith. The woman entrusted her belief to Christ, who in return restored her health as a rightful compensation. However, it was only when her faith became apparent to all that the Lord's healing was publicly declared. The miraculous power of the Son had a profound impact, elevating His glory, while the physicians and their remedies felt their own inadequacy exposed, revealing just how much the unseen power surpasses the visible means of healing.

Mystically, however, Jairus comes after the healing of the woman, because when the fulness of the Gentiles has come in, then shall Israel be saved. (v. Rom. 11) Jairus means either illuminating, or illuminated, that is, the Jewish people, having cast off the shadow of the letter, enlightened by the Spirit, and enlightening others, falling at the feet of the Word, that is, humbling itself before the Incarnation of Christ, prays for her daughter, for when a man lives himself, he makes others live also. Thus Abraham, and Moses, and Samuel, intercede for the people who are dead, and Jesus comes upon their prayers.

Provide the necessary care to all those in distress, restore them, assist them in every possible way, and bring them back to the Church renewed. Tend to the flock not with harshness or oppression, misusing your position, but as a faithful shepherd, guiding the young to nourishment and offering comfort to expectant mothers.

"I will cleanse the sores, the afflicted limbs," He proclaimed, and it came to pass: the inflamed skin, once a wound, is restored to purity (cf. Matt. 8:2-3). You veil the eyes shrouded in eternal darkness with the sweet balm of Your saving words. Your gaze is unveiled, and illumination is bestowed upon the eyes through this remedy (cf. Jn. 9:1-7). You calm the furious winds that unleash storms of distress, shattering vessels and agitating the depths with turbulent waters. With a command, all is stilled, and the waves subside gently (cf. Matt. 8:24-26). The woman discreetly reached out to touch the fringe of the sacred garment. Instantly, her health was restored; the pallor vanished from her face, and the persistent flow of blood ceased (cf. Matt. 9:20-22; Luke 8:43-48).

Observe that the object of His question was that the woman should confess the truth of her long 1want of faith, of her sudden belief and healing, and so herself be confirmed in faith, and afford an example to others. But he said to her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. He said not, Thy faith is about to make thee whole, but has made thee whole, that is, in that thou hast believed, thou hast already been made whole.

All those who were ill sought to reach out to His garments; among them, the woman suffering from a continuous hemorrhage approached Him. Upon receiving healing, she considered retreating unnoticed. Yet, Jesus, rather than hurrying toward her, paused, turned to the multitude, and inquired, ‘Who touched me? I felt power go out from me.’ His gaze searched the crowd, and ultimately, the woman, realizing she could not remain hidden, knelt before Him and shared her entire story. Jesus praised her faith, stating, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you whole. Go in peace.’ Why did He, who had silenced the demons from proclaiming His identity, seek acknowledgment in this instance? The Savior did this to fortify Jairus' belief. He addressed Jairus, saying, ‘Do you see this woman?

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jairus informs Jesus that his daughter has already passed away (ετελέυτησεν v. 18), prompting him to seek a resurrection. In contrast, the Gospels of Mark (εσχάτως έχει v. 23) and Luke (αυτη άπεθνισκεν v. 42) describe her as being on the brink of death, indicating that Jairus initially approached the Lord requesting healing for his daughter, and only later learned of her death. Given the context of the sick woman’s condition and Jairus’s emotional state, it is unlikely that his words were entirely clear and without doubt; he likely intended to convey that when he departed from home, his daughter was in the throes of death, and now may have succumbed.

Jesus comforted her, proclaiming, "Take courage, daughter! Your faith has brought you healing; go in peace and be free from your affliction." This call to courage is what Christ extends to every believer. When you approach God in prayer, and if you generously give to those in need, God will respond to you in accordance with your faith.

It was her touch that brought her healing, rather than contaminating Him. In a display of compassion, the Redeemer addressed her as "Daughter," a term that carried an implicit promise of forgiveness. He then affirmed, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace, and be healed from your affliction!"

"Be healed": the woman, upon merely touching the Savior's garment, recognized that she had been healed of her affliction (Mark 5:29); now the Lord, with His all-powerful word, confirms that her illness will not return: stay well, your ailment has departed and will not come back to you.

The disciples, led by Peter, approached Him, saying, "Master, observe the multitude pressing against You and ask, 'Who has touched Me?'" The Lord responded, "Someone has touched Me, for I sense the power flowing from Me." According to Blessed Theophylact’s explanation, this power is imparted to others while still remaining with Christ in its fullness. The woman, trembling and fearful, understanding what had transpired and realizing she could not remain hidden, approached Him, fell at His feet, and confessed her entire story—how she had touched Him and had been instantly healed. The Lord brought her forth to affirm her faith, in order to inspire others to strive for healing and to liberate her from any guilt she might have felt for receiving this gift.