Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman
Luke Chapter 8: 40-5640 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.
As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,a]">[a] but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”
46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”
47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”
50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”
51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.”
53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
MY THOUGHTS
We are going through Luke and this story has stuck with me for a few weeks so I figured I'd better write down a few thoughts I had about it. I really like Luke for it seems he gives more details and insight than some of the other gospels.
What I think is interesting is that Jesus had just hit dry land and there was a mass of people waiting for him. Then who comes up but a synagogue leader, aka the guys that tried to make Jesus enemy #1, and is begging Jesus for help. Now this guy had some clout and had probably tried everything else under the sun to heal his daughter and failed. So now he's coming to Jesus. Now in my earthy nature I'd be like "Well well look who's coming to me for help... I thought you were too good to come to me" lol maybe that's why I'm me and Jesus is the sinless one, nevertheless, Jesus went right away.
Now mind you, the crowd didn't just dissipate once they saw Jesus was on a mission, oh no, they followed right along with him and squeezed in around him on the narrow streets. Then with all this hustle and bustle going on Jesus stops and asks who touched him. I'm sure I also would have looked at him like he was crazy (in my sinful ways once again) and said the same thing... there's tons of people around you in this mosh pit what do you mean who touched you?? Do you think Jesus didn't know who touched him know he was doing something extraordinary but I let you in on that in just a sec.
What had happened was there was a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years.... come on ladies that would suck! And I never realized how much that would affect her.
Physically/ Financially- It was very painful all the time. Many doctors tried to heal her but couldn't and this was very costly so she was now poor on top of everything else.
Socially/Mentally- She was "unclean" and no one would touch her. In fact if she sat on a bench that bench was unclean and so on.... Can you imagine 12 years of no physical touch, there have been studies that show people need to be touched to stay sane. Like a hand shake or a hug or even a pat on the back.
Spiritually- Since she was unclean she wasn't allowed in the synagogue and therefore could learn the bible teachings. And they didn't have personal bibles back then so she was pretty much cut off from the word of God.
So she kept saying (referencing in Matthew) the she would be healed if only she could touch even the fringes of his coat. Now that taught me a lot about faith right there, thinking that touching a coat could heal her. So she pushes, through this very dense crowd, probably on her hands and knees, reaches out her hand an touches one of the tassels on Jesus' cloak. Now just picture her pushing through and as soon as she touches it, she feels that she's been healed so she just stays there and lets the crowd wash over her as they continue to follow Him.
This is the best part! Jesus stops the persession to save a girls life to ask who touched him when he already knew the answer. He felt power leave him and wanted to acknowledge who was healed.... why?.... was is to give himself recognition for doing a great deed? No, it was not only so he could teach the crowd about faith, or for her to give her testimony, but so everyone would know that she was healed and she could be integrated back into society! No one wants to be an outcast and I'm sure there would still have been those "mean girls" that still wouldn't touch her because she "claims" to be healed. He loved her and wanted her to not only be healthy but happy.
Meanwhile, a servant came up and said oh don't bother coming the rest of the way, you're daughter is dead. I don't know about you but I'd be pretty hacked off at this stupid woman who had to distract Jesus and stop everyone just so she could get herself healed while MY daughter died! But again that would have been my flesh talking! But Jesus steps in right away and says I'm sure it's ok lets just continue.
So apparently back then there were these professional mourners that would wail and cry whenever someone died. And that's the scene going on whenever Jesus and everyone gets to the house. That's why when Jesus said the girl was only sleeping, they were so quickly moved from tears to laughter. They were mocking Jesus for such a ridiculous remark, everyone could see she was dead. Now her spirit may have left her body but she wasn't dead. I believe this was his way of saying she, being a child, didn't have a dead spirit (meaning going to hell). So Jesus tells everyone to get out but the parents and a few disciples. Then he takes her by the hand and tells her to get up and has them get her something to eat. That's what I would want if I just came back from a long sickness and death... I'm sure she was famished lol. And then he tells the parents not to tell anyone what had happened. Jesus had said this in Mark 7:36 when he healed the deaf and mute man but they didn't listen on that one.
What I think is interesting is these two storied were put together. Yes, they happened together but more so, I think its teaching us that even if things don't go as we planned it, Jesus will still do according to his will.
Man, I learned a lot in such a relatively short passage. Faith, Patients, God's love, God's timing.... and probably so much more I haven't yet discovered!
Hope you enjoyed
