Pressing The Press
When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. Mark 5:27 (KJV)
There’s a big revelation in this one small verse. This is part of the passage that tells us about the woman who suffered with an issue of blood being made whole by touching Jesus’ garment. She had suffered twelve years with a condition that made her unclean to be in public according to Jewish law. To appear in public near other people with the flow of blood that she had could have resulted in her being stoned. But the focus of our study today is on the word press.
In this verse, the word press refers to a crowd. And it was a big crowd. People were pushing and shoving to get at Jesus. You might even call it a mob. And if you were in that crowd, chances are that you were being moved along the street by the crowd, whether you wanted to move or not. It is called a press in the King James version, and that is how it felt to be a part of that crowd- it was pressing to be in that press.
What do we know about the woman in this verse? She heard of Jesus, and faith was birthed in her heart. Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. When faith came, she made a conscious decision to act on the Word she heard. But the determination she displayed in getting to Jesus is astounding. Although she knew that she could be executed if anyone recognized her in the crowd, she went anyway. And she didn’t just hover on the edge of that pushing, crowding mob. She pressed in. She pushed through until she got close enough to touch Jesus’ garment. It is likely that she was in a weakened state due to the blood loss, but she summoned all her energy and pressed in until she got what she came for.
Today you may feel your circumstances pressing in on you. Just like being in the midst of a pushing, shoving crowd that squeezes the breath out of you, life’s challenges can press in on all sides. The pressure of illness, unpaid bills, family problems, uncertainty about the future- no matter what is pushing and pressing on you today, you can press back. We don’t have to accept and receive the stress and pressure that the world and the devil try to bring our way. The good news is that there is an answer in the Word of God for every circumstance and problem. When we take that Word and press against that which is pressing us, we have the advantage. And if we are determined and persistent to get what we came for, we will receive the breakthrough that we are promised.
Don’t give up. If you are hard pressed in any area of your life, find a Scripture that speaks to that problem. Speak it forth and claim it as yours. And keep speaking it. It will take effort and persistence, but don’t settle for less than what the Word has declared. As a child of God, you have a right to everything the Bible has promised. Don’t be intimidated by the press, but instead press the press until you get what you need!
