Matthew 9:22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

The word whole here in Matthew 9:22 is the Greek word Sōzō. Its etymology is from a primary sos (contraction for obsolete saoz, “safe”). I love that the root meaning is derived from a cry for help. The word means to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction or to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue.

So why was the word whole used? Perhaps it is because faith provides what is missing in our  lives. The issue of being saved from drowning is a temporary condition, it does not keep you safe from it ever happening again. A more permanent condition needs to be rendered in salvation and faith does that.

Obviously who you cry out to in this case matters. A lifeguard for drowning, a doctor for cancer, a lawyer for false accusations, but in this case Jesus Christ.

Matthew 9:20-21 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

Who told her that just touching His garment would cure her where doctors had failed for twelve years? Can any of us think our way into being cured of anything? Obviously not, or we would have no need of doctors, lawyers or lifeguards.

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

This woman heard a word of faith and acted upon it. Sōzō!