The woman, who touched the edge of Jesus' cloak, was desperate (Matthew 9:20-21).  Twelve years of social isolation as a result of her condition also excluded her from worship and the great festivals of Israel (Leviticus 15:19-30).  Dr Luke who wrote this account seems a little shy of telling us, "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." (Mark 5:26)! In coming to Jesus, she did not know what to expect from Him, but believed that she would be healed (Mark 5:28).

Jesus wanted her to be well, but also wanted her to confess her faith in Him (Luke 8:43-46).  Perhaps she thought that in touching Jesus, He would become ceremonially unclean and therefore angry with her (Leviticus 15:25-27).  But Jesus was not angry at all.  He was so glad that she trusted Him to heal her.  The narrative ignores all the rest of the action going on around Jesus to simply focus on the woman telling her story, and the instant healing - so that the disciples could hear.  

Then Jesus spoke to affirm that she was healed because He was powerful and she was trusting.  The lady who dared to reach out was not rebuked but was given the blessing of peace – like Elisha blessed the Gentile, Naaman, who was healed of leprosy (2 Kings 5:19).  Her problem no longer controlled her life because the power of God had brought the change she needed (Luke 8:46) and the peace of God was with her (Philippians 4:6-7).

Normal Christianity is no more a secret thing than the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Romans 10:9-10 says,  "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."  Of course, openness may get some people into trouble, but that happened to Jesus too.  However, the blessing of publicly admitting faith in Christ is the assurance of being saved and growing in the confidence of God's peace – as well as advancing the proclamation of Jesus. So, it is important to ask the question, ‘When did I last tell somebody at work or at home that I am trusting in Jesus?’