The Secret of Kanaph: Wings of Healing

In the Gospel of Matthew, we encounter one of the most poignant scenes in the New Testament: a woman, marginalised by society and exhausted by a twelve-year struggle with a persistent physical affliction, finds her way through a pressing crowd. Her story is often preached as a simple testament to great faith or persistence, but when we look closer at the Hebrew roots of the scriptures she believed in, we see a much deeper narrative. We see a woman who wasn’t just desperate: she was biblically informed. She saw a beautiful picture of prophecy being fulfilled in real-time, and she reached out to claim it.

The Prophetic Expectation: More Than a Fringe

To understand why this woman targeted the edge of Jesus’ garment, we must look past the English translation of “hem” or “fringe.” The woman with the issue of blood didn’t just reach out to touch a random piece of clothing; she was acting on a specific Messianic expectation found in the Word of God.

In Malachi 4:2, the prophet declared a promise for the faithful:

“But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings…”

In Hebrew, the word for “wings” used here is Kanaph. This is a multi-layered word. While it certainly refers to the wings of a bird, in the context of ancient Near Eastern clothing, it specifically referred to the “fringe,” “corner,” or “border” of a garment, specifically the Tallit (prayer shawl). According to the Law of Moses in Numbers 15:38-39, Israelites were commanded to make tassels (tzitzit) on the corners (kanaph) of their garments to remind them of God’s commandments.

When this woman said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well” (Matthew 9:21), she was performing a prophetic act. She believed that Jesus was the “Sun of Righteousness” Malachi spoke of. She wasn’t just touching a hem; she was reaching for the Kanaph, the exact place where prophecy said the Messiah’s healing power would reside. By touching the tassel on the corner of His garment, she was essentially saying, “I believe You are the fulfilment of God’s Word. You are the Messiah.”

The Sunrise from on High

This “Sun of Righteousness” mentioned by Malachi finds its echo in the songs of the New Testament. Before Jesus was even born, the priest Zechariah (the father of John the Baptist) was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied about the coming visitation of the Lord. In Luke 1:78-79, he states:

“…whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Note the imagery: the “sunrise” visiting from on high. Jesus is that sunrise. He is the light that breaks through the long night of human suffering, sickness, and spiritual blindness. For the woman in the crowd, her twelve years of bleeding were a “shadow of death”, a state of perpetual ritual uncleanness that cut her off from the temple and her community.

When she touched the fringe of His garment, she was connecting her individual darkness to the “wings” of the Sun of Righteousness. She recognised that the light of God had finally stepped into the world to guide her feet out of her suffering and into the “way of peace.”

The Name and the Promise of Salvation – Yeshua

The connection between the Old and New Testaments is further sealed in the name of our Lord Jesus. Often, we read the Psalms as beautiful poetry without realising they are explicitly pointing to a Person. Consider Psalm 91:16, where God says:

“With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

In the original Hebrew, the word for salvation here is Yeshua. This is not a coincidence; it is the Hebrew name for Jesus. Literally, the verse can be read as: “I will satisfy him and show him My Jesus.” When God promises to show us His salvation, He is not promising an abstract concept or a political rescue; He is promising to reveal His Son.

Furthermore, Psalm 91:4 provides the safety net for our faith: “He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings (Kanaph) you will find refuge.” Jesus is the manifestation of God’s “wings.” He is our refuge, our shield, and our buckler. The woman in the Gospel didn’t just find physical healing; she found the personification of Psalm 91. She found the “Yeshua” (Salvation) of God.

The Great Question: Why Did Jesus Die?

If Jesus came as the healing “Sun of Righteousness,” and if His presence brought such restoration, we must ask the great question: Why did Jesus have to die? If healing was the only goal, the woman’s touch would have been enough for the whole world. But the slides of our faith remind us of a deeper truth: Relationship. God’s ultimate mission is not merely the fixing of broken bodies, but the active work of restoring men and women to a relationship with Him. Sickness is a symptom of a fallen world, but sin is the root cause of our separation from the Father. Sin created a chasm that no amount of physical healing could bridge.

The cross was necessary because “God’s mission is the active work of restoring men and women to a relationship with Him.” Jesus’ crucifixion was the turning point of God’s redemptive plan. It was the means by which He draws people back into a covenant relationship. As the quote from Jessica Lee reminds us, the cross is at the centre of this mission. Jesus had to die to show the “Salvation of the Lord” (the fullness of Yeshua) to those who know His name. He didn’t just want to heal the woman’s body; He wanted to buy back her soul.

Faith in the Prophecies: Our Response Today

The woman’s healing was instantaneous because her faith was rooted in the truth of who Jesus is. When Jesus turned and said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well,” He was acknowledging that she had correctly identified Him. She saw the “Sun” rising. She saw the “Wings” of healing. She saw the “Salvation” (Yeshua) promised by the prophets.

Because He holds fast to us in love, He delivers us. Because we know His name, He protects us (Psalm 91:14). Knowing His name means more than knowing a title; it means understanding His character, His fulfilment of prophecy, and His desire for intimacy.

Today, that same Jesus, our Yeshua, invites you into that same relationship. He is not a distant historical figure or a cold theological concept. He is the Sun of Righteousness who has risen with healing in His wings. Whether you are walking through a “twelve-year” season of struggle or simply seeking the light, the invitation remains: Reach out. Touch the promise. Find refuge under His wings. He is ready to guide your feet into the way of peace.

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Watch the video below and learn more about the wings of healing of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.