From Death to Life: What the Hemorrhaging Woman Teaches Us About Resurrection

Written by: Rosemary Sherrod

Resurrection Sunday isn’t just about an empty tomb—it’s about a living Savior whose power to raise the dead is still at work today. We often picture resurrection as something dramatic—like Lazarus walking out of a tomb or Jairus’ daughter waking from death. But resurrection is also found in the quiet courage of a woman who dared to reach for Jesus in the crowd.

Luke 8 tells the story of a woman who had suffered from hemorrhaging for twelve years. Her condition made her physically weak, financially depleted, and socially isolated. According to the culture, she was “unclean.” By law, she wasn’t supposed to touch anyone, let alone a rabbi. But she reached for Jesus anyway. That one act of faith disrupted everything.

She interrupted Jesus on His way to heal Jairus’ dying daughter. From any human perspective, the choice was clear: save the child—there’s no time for this woman’s chronic illness. Even the disciples questioned Jesus when He stopped to ask, “Who touched me?” But Jesus knew this wasn’t just a healing—it was a resurrection.

What followed was more than a physical restoration. This woman experienced resurrection in every part of her life:

• From unclean to clean — Her disease was gone.

• From isolation to community — Jesus acknowledged her before the crowd.

• From silence to testimony — She stood and told her story.

• From shame to honor — Jesus called her “daughter,” a term of deep acceptance and belonging.

• From poverty to richness in faith — She had spent all her money on doctors, but her faith made her well.

• From forgotten to remembered — Her story is recorded in three Gospels and still preached today.

This is the power of resurrection—not just coming back from physical death, but rising from despair, shame, and invisibility. Resurrection isn’t only about the end of life. It’s about transformation in the midst of it.

So, what about you? Maybe you feel unqualified, isolated, or worn down. Maybe you’re afraid to step into something new. Resurrection Sunday reminds us that Jesus doesn’t just make bad people good—He makes dead people alive.

If you’ve touched Jesus in faith, don’t stay silent. Stand up. Tell your story. Let others know that resurrection is real, not just for then—but for now.

Because resurrection is not just a past event. It’s a present power.