Mark 5:30
And Jesus,
immediately knowing in himself
that virtue had gone out of him,
turned him about in the press, and said,
Who touched my clothes?
Other translations:
And Jesus, recognizing in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around immediately in the crowd and said, Who touched My clothes? [AMP] And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, "Who touched my garments?" [ESV] At the same moment, Jesus felt energy discharging from him. He turned around to the crowd and asked, "Who touched my robe?" [MSB] And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? [KJV] At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" [NIV] Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" [NLT] And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?" [NKJV]
Some further information:
Perceiving that power.
Christ, conscious of the approach and condition of this woman, voluntarily healed her. His words that follow is to bring out the moral issue. He cured her, not by touch or word, as was usual with him, but by act of will.
By His question He called out her public confession.
Faith saves. It may not be intelligent faith, for this woman was not well instructed, but is a faith strong enough to lead to action.
Virtue
Or “efficacy.”
(Greek: power) Cf. Luke 6:19; 8:46
Had gone out of him
He was conscious of the forthgoing of His healing power, which was not – as in prophets and apostles – something foreign to Himself and imparted merely, but what He had dwelling within Him as “His own fulness.”
The press
The crowd.
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Observe the wonderful effect produced by this woman’s faith; She came in the crowd behind him, and with much ado got to touch his garment, and she immediately felt that she had received the cure on her ailment (Mark 5:29).
The flux of blood was dried up, and she felt herself perfectly well all over her, as well as ever she was in her life, in an instant; by this it appears that the cure was altogether miraculous; for those that in such cases are cured by natural means, recover their strength slowly and gradually, and not all at once; but as for God, His work is perfect.
Note, That those whom Christ heals of the disease of sin, cannot else, but experience within themselves a complete change for the better.
Observe Christ’s enquiry after his concealed patient, and the encouragement He gave her, upon the discovery of her; Christ knew in himself that virtue had gone out of him (Mark 5:30).
He knew it not by any deficiency of spirits, through the exhausting of this virtue, but rather by an agility of spirits, in the exerting of it, and the innate and inseparable pleasure he had in doing good.
And being desirous to see his patient, he asked, not in displeasure, as one affronted, but in tenderness, as one concerned, Who touched my clothes?
The disciples, not without a show of rudeness and indecency, almost ridiculed his question (Mark 5:31); “The multitudes throng thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?” As if it had been an improper question. Christ passed by the affront, and looks around to see her that had done this thing; not that He might blame her for her presumption, but that He might commend and encourage her faith, and by His own act and deed might warrant and confirm the cure, and ratify to her that which she had obtained. He needed not that any should inform Him, for he had presently His eye upon her.
Note, That just like secret acts of sin, so also secret acts of faith, are known to the Lord Jesus, and are under his eye. If believers derive virtue from Christ ever so closely, he knows it, and is pleased with it.
Now let us reflect on this
That this woman has touched His clothes has not been in vain.
Never has anyone sincerely appealed to Jesus in vain.
The woman immediately feels in her own body that she is healed. New strength is pouring into her weakened body. Just touching the hem of Jesus’ garment was enough.
How happy she must have felt with her healing. As quietly as she came, she might have wanted to go home.
But that will not work. That shouldn’t happen either.
Jesus prevented that. Hence, He turns around and asks who touched Him.
That question indicates that Jesus is aware of the fact that someone has sought help from Him.
He must have known that this woman came to Him, trembling and believing.
He must have known what it was all about.
And He has let her have her way so far. He didn’t get in her way.
Imagine if Jesus would have turned, just before she touched His garment. Then her whole plan would have failed … But no, He has waited for her to do her act of faith. That’s how merciful He is.
But then He intervenes.
After all, his miracles should not go unnoticed!
For after all, in that He reveals that He is the Messiah.
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