A Dead Girl and a Sick Woman

Luke 8:40-56

40Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. 44She 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.”

46But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” 47Then 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. 48Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

49While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher any more.”

50Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

51When 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. 52Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.”

53They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

Thoughts and Reflections

1. Two people were healed. One was healed because she had the faith to believe that by touching Jesus’ cloak, she’d be healed. And she was. The other was healed because her parents believed that Jesus could heal. And she was healed. She was risen from the dead!  It’s the solid believe that Jesus can heal you and your loved one(s).
2. Why would anyone think that by touching a man’s cloak, that he/she could be healed? This woman had a strange belief, but it was that belief that healed her, not so much the “touching” part. The next sick person that touches Jesus probably wouldn’t have been healed. It’s the power of believing in something.
3. What if the girl hadn’t died yet? Jesus could have healed her just the same, but he allowed the darkest hour to come to this family so that many, not just this family, will come to believe.
4. The stories not told here. The formerly known as the “bleeding woman” spent the rest of her life praising God and sharing with everyone what God has done for her. The parents of the once-dead girl did the same too despite what Jesus told them. How can you NOT tell anyone that your daughter died, but was returned to you completely healed?