Mark 5:30: Why and How Did Power Leave Jesus?

The woman’s touching Jesus is significant. Her healing occurs because of her physical contact with Jesus, not in spite of it. Normally, according to Old Covenant prescriptions in force at the time, such a flow of blood would not only make the woman legally unclean, but anyone else she touches as well (see Lev.15:25-30). However, because he is the God-man, Jesus is not only not made unclean by the woman’s touching him, he manifests his divinity to heal her. Jesus calls attention to what takes place to illustrate he has the power to fulfill the Old Covenant law (Matt. 5:17-18).

Because of the woman’s faith, Jesus allows his divine power to go forth to heal her. And while he appears to not know who touched him by virtue of his human nature alone, he certainly knew by virtue of his being a divine person. In other words, what took place wasn’t a surprise for Jesus as a divine person.