After crossing back over the lake to his home town, Jesus and the disciples had no sooner stepped off their boat when they found themselves surrounded by a growing crowd. It was as if they were expecting Him. One man in particular was very eager to speak with Jesus. His name was Jairus and he was a leader in the local synagogue. He approached Jesus and fell at his feet, pleading with him to come to his house. His only child, a little girl of twelve, was very close to death. “Come and lay your hands on her so she will get well and live.”
Jesus agreed to go with Jairus, so they set off through the crowd towards his house but it was slow going, because so many people were pressing around them. All of a sudden, Jesus stopped. Everyone stopped. “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
Unbeknown to everyone, there was a woman in the crowd who had been following with all the others. She had a medical condition that caused her to bleed continually. She had suffered with this condition for 12 years and spent all her money on doctors and healers, trying to find a cure, but it had only gotten worse. She believed that if she could just touch the edge of this teachers robe, she would be healed.
Those closest to Jesus commented, “Master, look at the crowd. How can you ask ‘Who touched me?’”
But Jesus insisted. “Someone did touch me. I felt healing power flow out from me.”
Realising that she had nowhere to hide, the woman stepped forward and fell and Jesus’ feet, blurting out her whole story in front of everyone. When she had finished speaking, Jesus responded, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.”
As he was saying this, some people pushed through the crowd bringing news to Jairus. “Your daughter is dead. You need not bother the teacher any more.” Jesus heard the report and immediately spoke to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe. Your daughter will be made well.”
Jesus went straight to Jairus’ house, taking only Peter, James and John with him. When they got there, they could hear the sounds of wailing and crying. Jesus went inside and confronted the mourners, “Why are you making such a commotion? Stop crying. The girl is not dead, she is only asleep!” Those who had gathered to mourn laughed in his face, so he ordered them to leave the house. After they had gone, Jesus went into the room where the little girl was lying. Peter, James and John went with him, as did the girls mother and father.
Jesus held the girls hand in his and spoke to her, “Little girl, get up.”
Immediately, the girl got up and walked around the room. Her parents, along with the three disciples, were utterly floored by what they saw. Jesus told them to give her something to eat and instructed them to tell no one about what they had seen.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to filter out the noise of all the doubts in my mind. Reach out into the quiet, broken, or lifeless places of my life, take my hand, and speak Your word of resurrection and awakening. Amen.
Image credit:Image credit: Courtesy of Lumo Project Films
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