Five Minute Friday: Touch

Today I am participating in Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together and write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes.  Today's word is “Touch.”

“Just one touch,” she thought.  Her eyes surveyed the crowd. She must move quickly. There were so many people, and Jesus was moving. The crowds swayed like fields of grain in the wind or the ocean waves at night. It was smooth and slow, like a sweet, soft lullaby, and Jesus was at the center.

She kept repeating in her heart what she had heard about Jesus. “He is a healer. He loves the people. I am no different than them. If I can just get close.”

Suddenly, she saw a small break in the sway. She picked up her skirt as she was accustomed, trying not to touch anybody, but it was no use. The crowd was thick-too many people.

She was close enough to touch his shoulder, but then she remembered, the hem. The hem was where she must touch.

The son of righteousness will arise with healing in his wings the prophet had said. The blue thread. She knelt down slowly. It was better there. Maybe she could get away unseen, and not disturb the crowd.

She saw it. Now, to just reach out. She felt the fibers of the thread gently touch the tips of her fingers. Heat moved up her arm, and down into her stomach. Instantly the bleeding stopped. And so did Jesus.

Faith Comes When You Hear About Grace

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.-Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)

Faith is the evidence of things not seen. If you can see it, you don't need faith for it.

Oftentimes, when we talk about faith, people will feel condemned, like it is something they have to muster up. Faith comes when you hear something and believe it.

In Romans, Paul tells us how faith comes. So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.-Romans 10:17 (NLT)

In the Gospels, we see stories of people hearing about Jesus, and coming to Him. One of my favorites is about the woman with issue of blood. I especially like the story in Mark's Gospel.

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”
But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”-Mark 5:25-34 (NKJV)


The Bible says she had been that way for a long time, twelve years. She hadn't been hearing about Jesus during that time. She had been looking for help elsewhere. But when she started hearing stories about Jesus, faith in Him arose in her heart. And she received her miracle.

But there is still one more piece that is a part of this story. Grace. That woman, under law, was not supposed to come in contact with other people. She was considered unclean. So, I believe that not only did she hear that Jesus would heal her. She heard that it was safe to be in His presence. She heard that He would not condemn her but love her. She heard that she was forgiven for whatever was potentially holding her in bondage. She heard that He was a healer.

So, that's what we need to hear, stories about Jesus, stories that build our faith in Him, and what He has done for us. We need to hear stories of His grace for us and that He is a healer.

We don't need to hear people's opinions, or about ourselves-those things aren't faith builders. We need to hear about Jesus, just like she did, just like it says in Romans 10:17 and that will change what we believe.

We need to hear it until it roots up all the weeds. We need to heart it until it becomes as real as the next breath we take.

You and I are no different than that woman with the issue of blood. He is saying the same things to you as He did to hear. "Daughter, your faith has made you well. God in peace and be healed of your affliction."


For by grace you have been saved (sozo-saved, healed, preserved, rescued ) through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,-Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)

31 Days of Healing: Woman with the Issue of Blood

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years,  and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.  When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.  And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”

 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”

And He looked around to see her who had done this thing.  But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

-Mark 5:25-34

I love this story.  I am pretty sure it is one of my favorites.  I cannot wait to meet this woman in heaven and tell her thank you.  Thank you for being brave. 

At the beginning of the account Mark says, "Now a certain woman..." Not all translations include the word certain when referring to her, but some do.  I looked it up in the Greek, and it says the word certain is used when “the writer either cannot or will not speak more particularly.” It made me wonder if she was known by the person (possibly Peter), that relayed the account to Mark, the author of this Gospel.  I wonder if she was one of the other women who was named that followed Jesus.

The Bible says she had been bleeding for 12 years.  That is a long time.  We don’t know how much she was bleeding, just that it didn’t stop.  She must have been tired physically.  I am sure she was tired emotionally.  The scriptures say she “suffered many things from many physicians” and she didn’t get any better.  How difficult that must have been for her, to get her hopes up, thinking someone would have a cure, thinking the next thing would be it.  This next thing would be what solves my problem.  But it didn’t.

Then the Bible says, “She heard about Jesus.”  It doesn’t say she heard Jesus.  It says she heard about Him.  You and I haven’t heard Jesus preach in front of us.  He speaks to our hearts.  He speaks through others to us, but we haven’t heard Him in the flesh.  We have only heard about Him.  So, in a way, we have had the same experience she had.

I wonder what she heard.  If you look through the scriptures, and other accounts of healing, we might be able to understand what she heard.  She heard that He was healing everyone who came to Him. She heard that He was healing people on the Sabbath. She heard that He was healing people and forgiving them of their sin all at once.  She heard that he wasn’t even asking people about their sin-He was just freeing them from whatever kept them bound. She heard that He was touching people that were considered unclean. This built faith in her heart.

So she gets brave.  She is not supposed to be out in the crowd.  Under the law, she was considered unclean because of her flow of blood.  Everybody she was touching, and I am sure she was touching a lot of people, would have been considered unclean as well. 

She finally gets close enough to touch his garment.  And when she touches Him, the flow of blood stops immediately.  I love immediately.

And then Jesus realizes someone touched Him differently.  Oh my.  There were lots of people touching Him.  There are lots of people touching Him today.  He lives in us.  But, not everybody is touching Him, or drawing on Him with their faith to be healed.  So many people have set that aside.  But oh!  What if we picked it up again?!

He turns to her, and the Bible says she comes before Him with fear and trembling, and tells Him the whole truth of what happened to her.  I believe she was so overwhelmed with the magnitude of God and the power that had just changed her life-that is why it says she came before Him with fear and trembling. 

And then Jesus tells her that her faith has made her well. That phrase “made you well” is translated several different ways, based upon which translation of the Bible you read.  It says, “made you whole” or “healed you” or “saved you.”  The phrase comes from the Greek word “sozo.”  It means to “save, heal, preserve, and rescue.” There are 108 occurrences of it in the New Testament. 

When He tells her that her faith has made her well, it is an all-encompassing phrase.  It means salvation, healing, and rescuing.  That is why in the next breath it seems like He repeats Himself and says, “Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

When we gave our lives to Jesus, we were sozo(ed).  We were rescued, healed, preserved, and saved. We touch Jesus with our faith. Continue to hear what she heard about Him.  

So faith comes through what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.-Romans 10:17(HCSB)

Beth

*If you are not a Believer, He will heal you too.  It doesn’t matter what you have done.  He loves you and will heal your physical body right now.  The greatest miracle though is getting to know Him.  If you haven’t heard about Jesus, I wrote a post just for you to tell you how you can come to know Him. He came and found me when I was in a bad place, and now He sends me out to help others find their way to Him.  Please go here and read about salvation and new life in Him.

To read more in the series go here:

31 Days of Healing: Jairus' Daughter

Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea.  And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet  and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”  So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.

 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years,  and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.  When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.  And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”

 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”

And He looked around to see her who had done this thing.  But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

 While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”

As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.”  And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.  Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly.  When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”

And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying.  Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”  Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement.  But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.-Mark 5:21-43 (NKJV)

There are so many wonderful things to notice about this passage of scripture.  First, it contains two stories, juxtaposed, side by side, for a reason.  The stories of Jairus’ daughter and the woman with the issue of blood are connected on purpose.  The little girl in the story was 12 years old, and the woman with the issue of blood had been experiencing her issue for 12 years.  The woman with the issue of blood “interrupts” the procession on the way to Jairus’ home.  And Jairus has to continue in faith, the same as the woman, to receive his miracle.

An important thing to notice is when Jairus comes to Jesus, he falls at His feet while imploring Jesus to come and heal his daughter.  Falling at His feet could be considered an act of worship.  You will notice that many of the people who received healing from Jesus called Him Lord, or indicated in some way that He was Lord and they had faith in Him. This was probably an extreme act of faith for Jairus because He was a synagogue leader.

Jairus’ daughter is dying.  He has no time to lose, so he comes to Jesus, the source of all life, begging for Jesus’ help.  And the Bible simply says,

So Jesus went with Him, (Mark 5:24)

It’s so simple.  Jesus went with Him.  He didn’t ask questions.  He didn’t require anything from Jairus, other than Jairus coming to Him to ask.  If Jairus would have opted not to go to Jesus, he wouldn’t have received his miracle.

 

Jesus went with Him.  What does this demonstrate about the character of Jesus?  It just seems like a peaceful statement to me.  It’s a picture of who Jesus is.  It is a picture of his compassion and willingness and love.

So, they are traveling to the synagogue leader’s house for Jesus to heal the little girl, and the woman with the issue of blood stops them.  She touches Jesus which causes her to be healed. And Jesus stops.  He is aware that power went out of Him, so He stops to see who that touched Him.  This must have alarmed Jairus some. It would have me. 

After Jesus’ interaction with the woman, some people come from Jairus’ house and tell him not to bother Jesus, that his daughter is dead.  Jesus immediately interrupts the thought patterns that Jairus is possibly starting to experience, and says to him,

Do not be afraid, only believe.(Mark 5:36)

He was telling Jairus to stay with Him.  They were still going to his house.

When they get there, there are already people mourning.  Ugh.  But, what does Jesus do.  He puts them all outside.  He only allows Peter, James, John and the little girl’s mother and father to go in with him. Let’s stop here for a moment.

There are going to be people in your life that are already mourning your situation.  They think it is the end that it is over.  Some diagnoses are alarming to people, so they are going to automatically believe the very worst.  In those situations, we need to follow Jesus example, and put them out.  Listen to Jesus.  “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.”  And only allow people like Peter, James, and John to speak into your life and situation.

When they arrive where the little girl is laid, Jesus says to her, “Talitha, cumi.” This means, “Little girl, arise.”  Side thought:  I wonder why Mark chose to tell us the Aramaic words that were spoken.  Why didn’t he just tell us what Jesus said. What was the significance?

And then she was raised.  The Gospel of Luke tells us that

Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then He gave orders that she be given something to eat. (Luke 8:55)

I want to go back for just a minute.  If you read a few verses back, Jesus tells them that she is not dead but sleeping.  But her spirit returned to her body.  To me, that would mean she is dead.  I don’t think Jesus was lying to them.  I think He knows things we don’t about spiritual matters.  It is important that we listen to Him.

If you need a miracle today, like Jesus told Jairus, “Do not be afraid, only believe.”



To read more in the series go here:

31 Days of Healing: The Demon-Possessed Man

Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains.

And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.”

For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” Then He asked him, “What is your name?”

And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.

Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.

So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.

And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.-Mark 5:1-20


There are three stories of healing in Mark chapter 5, the first being the story of the demon-possessed man of Gadara. I have often wondered if Jesus didn’t travel to this area just for this man. The Bible tells us that they cross the lake, Jesus frees this man, and then they go back across the lake.

As soon as Jesus gets out of the boat, this man comes to meet him. I want you to notice that the demon(s) could not stop him from coming to Jesus.

When he comes to Jesus, it is recorded that he comes from a specific place, the tombs. I have always had this image of a cave inside of a mountain, which is kind of what a tomb is. But the impact didn’t really hit me, until recently. He was living surrounded by the dead. And he comes to Jesus, who is life.

The account gives us a little background of what his life was like. It says he had once been bound, but couldn’t be bound anymore, “not even with chain.” It says he broke the chains apart. It also says he would “cry out and cut himself with stones.” 

One thing I have noticed, is that when we are told about anybody in the Bible who is possessed by a demon or demons, it was always violent.

How terrible and lonely a life. He lived in isolation. He hurt himself. No one would or could come near him. Then Jesus.

Jesus came for him. And Jesus wasn’t afraid of him. And he didn’t want to leave him that way. Jesus tells the demons to leave. He sends them into pigs. Then the man is okay. He is freed.

The people who were the “pig farmers” I guess, go and tell the rest of the town what happened. They all rush out and see that the man is okay. Now you would think that they would be really excited that this man was free. He wasn’t tormented anymore. He wasn’t scaring people or hurting himself. He was no longer a threat. But they aren’t excited. They freak out and want Jesus to leave. This confuses me. 

I heard the possible reason for this is that they weren’t Jews. Jews wouldn’t be farming pigs. So, they quite possibly had some different beliefs and were alarmed by Jesus’ presence, unaware of the goodness of God.

As Jesus is leaving, the man who was freed wants to go with Jesus. When people are set free or healed by the power of God, they will always want to follow Jesus. He is the savior, rescuer, lover, healer and redeemer.

Jesus tells him no though. He had something else for him to do. That man was to go and preach the Gospel to his area, because obviously, they didn’t know about God. They didn’t know about Jesus. And this man was a walking demonstration of the power of God.

Jesus tells the man to go and tell his own people

what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.

That word “compassion” is defined as mercy. Helps Word Studies says it expresses “God’s covenant-loyal mercy.” The Gospel is the New Covenant.

The man does what Jesus tells him and goes to the Decapolis, which is the “ten cities”, and everyone was amazed.

I love this story. Jesus heals/frees this man and his life is immediately changed. I love immediately. I love what Jesus does.


Blessings to you as you get to know Him more,
Beth

To read more in the series go here:

Women in the Life of Jesus: Jairus' Wife

Scriptures where she can be found: Matthew 9, Mark 5, Luke 8

Setting: Galilee


Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea. And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.

While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”

As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”

And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.

                                       -Mark 5:21-24; 35-43


Wow. Most of the time when talking about this story we get the perspective of Jairus, because he is the one who sought Jesus out. But let's think about his wife for a moment shall we.

First, she was a synagogue leader's wife. I am not sure what her responsibilities would have been, but she would have been well known in the community. She was also a mother, but we are never given her name.

Second, she was left at home with the daughter. I am sure she couldn't and wouldn't leave her. It's hard for me to leave my kids period. For her, I bet even more so because her daughter was very sick.

Third, she must have been in agreement with her husband to have faith in Jesus. When Jesus arrived at their house, the only people he took in the room were the ones in faith, Peter, James, John, and Jairus and his wife. Everybody else got pushed out. Why?

Because they needed an atmosphere of faith and the people laughing at Jesus were not providing it. Sometimes you've just gotta push people out if you need something from God and they are creating an atmosphere of unbelief.

The Bible still says "they were overcome with great amazement." And then Jesus tells them not to tell anybody. I have often wondered why Jesus said that. That is something I still want to understand. This account is recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Matthew says that "the report of this went out into all the land." I cannot imagine Jairus and his wife would not follow Jesus' instructions. I can only think it was one of those people or several that were put out and had seen her condition before and after.

I can only imagine how the woman must have felt in those moments, going from overwhelming sadness, then hope, and faith, relief, and joy. I think all mothers cycle through those emotions with their children at one point or other. But our miracle lies in resting our faith and in THE SOURCE of all healing, Jesus.





To read more posts in this series, go here to Women in the Life of Jesus.

Women in the Life of Jesus: The Woman with the Issue of Blood

Scripture where she is found: Matthew 9:20-22 , Mark 5:25-34, Luke 8


Setting: Galilee

Her Story:

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years,  and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.  When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.  For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.  And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said,“Who touched My clothes?”

 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”

 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing.  But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

-Mark 5:25-34

My thoughts:

I love this woman.  She has so much to teach us

She had been sick a really long time.  She was probably fatigued from losing blood on a daily basis.

She was considered unclean according to Levitical Law.  Leviticus 15:19-31 outlines the requirements for women with their monthly flow, and women with a flow beyond that.  You weren't supposed to touch her or you would be unclean.  Whatever she sat or laid upon was considered unclean.

This woman was not supposed to be out in the crowd that day.  If they were pressing on Jesus, and she got close enough to touch Him, they were probably pressing on her.

Mark 5:27 says, "When she heard about Jesus..."  I wonder what she heard.  She didn't hear Him speak personally.  She heard about Him.  That means somebody had to have told her about Him.

This is very important for Believers today.  We haven't heard Jesus speak personally.  We have only heard about Him.  JUST LIKE SHE DID.

It is important what you hear about Jesus.  If you hear the right thing, you will come in faith.

The woman probably heard that He was healing sick people.  She probably heard that He was healing people on the Sabbath.  She probably heard that He was touching other people considered unclean.  She probably heard that He wouldn't condemn her, and that her sin didn't separate her from Him.  She probably heard that love just oozed from Him.

Whatever she heard made her brave enough to face the crowd, and come close to touch Him.

As soon as she touched Jesus, the bleeding stopped.  She felt it.  Immediately.  (There's that word again.  We will see it a lot in the ministry of Jesus.)

And then, as if this already couldn't get any better, Jesus felt that healing power go out of Him!!!  He was so moved by it, that He started trying to determine who it was that touched Him.

His disciples had no idea. They didn't have that understanding of faith completely yet.

So, the woman, still a little shaken up by what she just experienced falls down in front of Jesus (an act of worship) and tells Him what happened!!!

And what does He tell her?  "Daughter, YOUR FAITH has made you well.  Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."

HER FAITH HEALED HER.  Her faith in what?  Her faith in Jesus.  Nothing else.  Just Jesus.

This was not a healing that Jesus initiated.  She did.

If her faith will heal her, your faith in Jesus will heal you too.  It is important what you hear about Jesus.

If you are struggling with sickness in your body, read what your Bible says about healing and Jesus.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Listen to other people teach about Jesus and healing. Listen to stories about the goodness of Jesus.

Just like the Woman With the Issue of Blood, keep going.  Don't stop until you get what you came for.

You don't have to do anything else but believe in Jesus to receive.  Your faith can make you whole too.






To read more posts in this series, go here to Women in the Life of Jesus.

Faith Is.....

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Hebrews 11:1 is not really a definition of faith. It doesn't specifically tell us what faith is; it really gives a larger picture of how faith performs in an individual's life.

Let's look at a passage of scripture and let the Bible give us the definition of faith.

Mark 5:24-34

"A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’” But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”


Based upon the above passage, what can we learn about defining faith? Jesus told the woman her faith healed her. What was her faith? Well, she first heard something. She had to have believed what she heard. Then she took action based upon what she heard and believed.

The Greek word in the above passage for the word "faith" is pistis. Vine's Expository Dictionary defines that Greek Word to mean "primarily, "firm persuasion," a conviction based upon hearing (akin to peitho, "to persuade"), is used in the NT always of "faith in God or Christ, or things spiritual."

So, we see that based upon the passage above and the Greek word Jesus used in the passage, a correct definition for faith is a "firm persuasion" or "conviction based upon hearing." This definition of faith demonstrates exactly why the woman in Mark 5 was healed. She heard and has a conviction based upon that hearing.

This brings up another interesting thought. What if she hadn't heard about Jesus? What if she had been listening to something else? Do you think it is important what we listen to?