by Megan Buff

Created on: November 30, 2008

The book of Mark presents us with two stories of healing very different stories with very different people, but both are touched equally by God's love. The two form a kind of "story sandwich." The woman's story and the story of the temple official shed light on each other. Jesus proves in these two healings that God
doesn't look at social status, doesn't care about income level. Everyone is, ultimately, equal in God's sight and on the same level in God's love.

For twelve years the woman struggled along, trying everything to get cured, trying to figure out what was wrong. I can relate to her struggle, although to a lesser extent. When I was fifteen, I injured my wrist in P.E. class. At first I thought it was just a minor injury, inconvenient and slightly painful but nothing that wouldn't go away in a few days. So I continued my life as before. It got progressively worse, though, until I couldn't play my viola for the pain. I saw the doctor, who took an X-ray, gave me a brace, and said, "I don't
know what's wrong with you. Go see this specialist." So I did. The specialist looked at my X-ray and said, "I don't know what's wrong with you. Get a CAT scan." So I did. The specialist looked at my CAT scan and said, "I still don't
know what's wrong with you. Go to the physiotherapist and see if that helps." So I did. I had to quit playing in the school orchestra. Twice a week I went to the physiotherapist for treatment, but it didn't help. After another CAT scan, two more specialists, and two years, I had to give up my plans to play the viola long-term. I was incredibly frustrated. I remember several tearful arguments with God, one in the middle of orchestra practice when I sat on a couch upstairs, unable to join in. "God, what do you want?" I whispered. "Why are you taking this away from me?" But ultimately, the injury didn't have any great bearing on my life. I could continue almost as normal, and with the absence of music rehearsals to take up my time, I was able to concentrate on dance and theatre.

How much more painful would it have been for the woman in Mark's story! Her illness disrupted her entire life. She must have questioned everything around her the doctors, the medicine, her own body, even her faith. How could God allow this to happen to her? No matter what the doctors did, she got worse. How much longer could this go on? And then she heard of Jesus. His miracles, his
healings, the power he seemed to exude. Here was one last shot, one final hope. If Jesus couldn't

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