Imagine in your mind two scenes. In a hospital room, you hear a baby take her first breath and cry. In the doctor's office, you see a worn out, tired woman who has just started hemorrhaging. The baby girl turns one year old and her family celebrates. The woman in the very same town is growing weaker after a full year of bleeding. On and on it goes. The little baby grows up to have 12 birthdays and the woman grows anemic and worn with each year that passes and another doctor, another specialist, visit after visit with less money in her pocket and no answers as she grows worse.
Matthew 9:18-21 While He spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped Him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did His disciples. 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.
Mark 5:21-28 And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto Him: and He was nigh unto the sea. And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw Him, he fell at His feet, And besought Him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray Thee, come and lay Thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. And Jesus went with him; and much people followed Him, and thronged Him. And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched His garment. For she said, If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole.
Luke 8:40-44a And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received Him: for they were all waiting for Him. And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought Him that He would come into his house: For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as He went the people thronged Him. And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living on physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind Him, and touched the border of His garment:
Jairus met Jesus. He explained that his 12 year old daughter was about to die and He begged Jesus to come to his house and heal his daughter. The Bible says Jesus went with him. On the way, something happens. No one knows there is a woman with "an issue of blood" in the crowd hoping for her miracle. She had suffered for 12 years with this problem. Jairus and Jesus do not know the woman is approaching Jesus. The woman does not know that Jesus is on His way to heal Jairus daughter.
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.
Mark 5:29-36 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press, and said, Who touched My clothes? And His disciples said unto Him, Thou seest the multitude thronging Thee, and sayest Thou, Who touched Me? And He looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him all the truth. And He said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole, go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. While He yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
Luke 8:44b-50 And immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, Who touched Me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with Him said, Master, the multitude throng Thee and and press Thee, and sayest Thou, Who touched Me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched Me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of Me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before Him, she declared unto Him before all the people for what cause she had touched Him, and how she was healed immediately. And He said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. While He yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
Imagine how Jairus must have felt. They are walking towards his house where his daughter lay gravely ill. He has a glimmer of hope that Jesus will heal her and make her well. Then everything stops. There is a crowd of people pushing and shoving around Jesus. Jesus is no doubt bumped and touched and in contact with numerous hands all eager to touch Jesus and be near Him. Jesus stopped in the middle of the crowd and asks who has touched Him. He felt power leave His body and He knows there was a miracle performed. He takes His time with the woman who was healed from the 12 years of bleeding. She tells her story and they all listen. And in all three accounts Jesus calls this woman "Daughter." He does not call anyone else "Daughter" when He heals them. This is another connection. Jairus must be feeling anxious to get Jesus to his daughter so she can be healed. Then, the bad news came. Jairus' daughter is dead. No need to bother Jesus anymore. No doubt Jairus was devastated to hear that. Maybe he thought if they had not stopped to heal this woman she could have made it. Instead of feeling hope in his heart that Jesus will heal his daughter like He did this woman, his heart must have sank. Jesus tells Jairus to not fear but only believe and she will be made whole. If Jairus will trust Jesus a little longer, he will get what he has requested.
Matthew 9:23-26 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed Him to scorn. But when the people were put forth, He went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
Mark 5:37-43 And He suffered no man to follow Him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. And He cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. And when He was come in, He saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed Him to scorn. But when He had put them all out, He taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with Him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. And He took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha Cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. And He charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.
Luke 8:51-56 And when He came into the house, He suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. And all wept, and bewailed her: be He said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed Him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And He put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and He commanded to give her meat. And her parents were astonished: but He charged them that they should tell no man what was done.
Jairus believed Jesus. The mother was desperate for a miracle. They wanted their daughter back and Jesus came through! He dismissed all the naysayers, the doubters, the unbelievers and then when only faith was in the room, Jesus did what only He can do and that is bring their daughter back from the dead. What a blessing! What an answer to prayer!! It was even more than Jairus and his wife could dare to hope for but they had to trust Jesus. I know when times were so hard that Jesus was all I had, it was then that I realized Jesus is all I ever need.
Maybe you need healing for your body. Maybe you have a loved one who has passed away. Maybe you are in the thick of the grief and pain. God loves you so much. He will meet you there. He will make a way out for you. He loves you! Jesus died on the cross to save you, heal you, and help you. He went back to the Father but He gave us the Comforter. I know last weekend the Comforter sustained us as we laid to rest my wonderful brother-in-law and beloved sister. It was with heavy hearts that we honored their memory one last time at the graveside. Yet we have the Blessed Hope because Steve and Deborah loved God with all their heart, soul, and strength. They lived their lives to honor and glorify God. They were mighty prayer warriors and powerful encouragers! Jesus will give you that same peace and comfort when you rely on Him to heal you and help you.
Friends, if you are reading this and you have not fully surrendered your life to Christ, please do so today! Do not put it off. You are not promised your next breath. We do not know when our time on earth will end, but He does. He is wooing you to Himself because He loves you so much. Please do not delay. Repent of your sins and ask Him to forgive you and to come into your heart and live! Let Him rule and reign in your life. You will never find peace and contentment apart from Him. He is who you have been searching for. Trust Him. Love Him. Lean on Him.
If you are walking with God, holding His unchanging hand, and trusting in His promises, friend do not let go. Dig deeper. Seek Him every single day. Pray to Him. Pray without ceasing. Lean on Him and tell others about Him. He will give you boldness to tell others the good things He is doing for you. Reach out to those around you who are hurting and encourage them to get to know Jesus. Pray for someone who is in need of healing and comfort. God will do it!
I hope that you have enjoyed the blog post today. I pray that something I shared today has been strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!
~Bridgett Owens
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