But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it — the continued looking communicates the deliberateness of Jesus' search: this is not a rhetorical question but a genuine summons. The person who touched him is being invited into a direct encounter with Jesus rather than remaining anonymous in the crowd. The healing was real and complete without the direct encounter; the direct encounter is not necessary for the healing but necessary for the woman's complete restoration. She needs more than physical healing; she needs to hear Jesus' word of peace and the declaration of her faith, which will reintegrate her into the community from which the bleeding has excluded her.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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