Luke 8: 40 – 53 NLT
40 On the other side of the lake the crowds welcomed Jesus, because they had been waiting for him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come home with him. 42 His only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying.
As Jesus went with him, he was surrounded by the crowds. 43 A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure. 44 Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped.
45 Jesus asked. “Who touched me?”
Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.”
46 But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.” 47 When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. 48 “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
49 While he was still speaking to her, a messenger arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. He told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”
50 But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.”
51 When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn’t let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, James, and the little girl’s father and mother. 52 The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but he said, “Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.”
53 But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died. 54 Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, “My child, get up!” 55 And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone what had happened.”
There are crowds waiting for Jesus as he returns to the other side of the lake from Geresenes. Jesus’ name has been spreading as hundreds of people have experienced his healing. In the next chapter of Luke, when Jesus fed crowds, it says there were about 5000 men – that wouldn’t include women and children. Can you imagine living surrounded by hordes of people every day?
Jairus, a leader in the local synagogue, came to Jesus pleading for healing for his only daughter who was dying. She was just 12 years old, and we can imagine the stress, panic, and grief her parents were going through as they were desperate for anything that would save her. Because he was a leader in the community, the crowd likely made sure he was “at the front of the line” – not just because of his status, but people in the town probably knew about his sick daughter. Jesus went right with him, the crowds following along behind and beside him. Again, can you imagine walking with crowds pressing against you?
Then a woman touched Jesus’ robe hoping to be healed, and Jesus stopped right there. “Who touched me?” (v. 45) I wonder what Jairus thought. In his panic and pleading, I’m sure he hoped Jesus would hurry. Even Peter thought Jesus was being a little strange; with all those crowds, you would be touched and bumped for sure. So, let’s go and help Jairus.
But Jesus stopped for this woman. He knew she had wanted to be healed. He wanted her to meet him face to face. She might leave this moment thankful she was healed, but without him stopping, she would not be totally aware that God was the healer, and that God knew her. That she was important.
She had been suffering from constant bleeding for 12 years, something that was considered “unclean” by Jewish laws. (Leviticus 15: 24 – 30) She must have been anemic, and weak. You can’t lose blood constantly for that long and not be completely affected. She would also be ignored and left out of any social gatherings. She wanted to remain hidden because she knew if someone saw her, they would demand she leave. She was unclean. What a lonely life! But Jesus stops. When she admits what she did, Jesus says, “Daughter,” your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” (v. 48) Everyone in her town knows she is now clean. She knows that Jesus stopped and talked directly to her. Jesus cared!
But Jairus! While Jesus stopped to talk with the woman and hear her story, people came and told Jairus that his daughter had died. I wonder what went through Jairus’ mind at that point. Did he feel angry that Jesus stopped for this unclean woman who shouldn’t have even been there? She was supposed to be in isolation! Wasn’t he more important? Someone who served the people well.
Jesus ignores the news that the girl had died and continued on to Jairus’ house. When he enters the room where she was lying, he only took 3 of the disciples and her parents. They were witnesses to the fact that she was dead and that Jesus raised her, so they knew the truth. But Jesus asked them to keep quiet about it. Prior to entering the room Jesus had said, “Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died.” (v. 52 – 53) It seemed that Jesus wanted to keep this incredible miracle quiet to keep the crowds from growing even bigger, expecting even more from Jesus. As we read on in Luke, we realize that Jesus wants to concentrate on his message as he draws closer to the cross.
These four miracles in Luke 8 show us a lot about God’s character. He calms the storm for his disciples, but also wants them to know that He is in control even when they don’t think he is. Remember how they woke him up because they thought he didn’t understand the danger they were in? The man controlled by demons wasn’t even looking for Jesus – the demons were. But Jesus healed him and once the devil lost his control, the man wanted to follow Jesus completely. He even stayed behind to spread the word about Jesus despite wishing he could actually be with Jesus in person all the time. Jesus cares for individuals and is very willing to destroy Satan’s power. Jairus was a synagogue leader and was likely respected and looked up to in his community. He begged Jesus to come to his beloved daughter, and Jesus eventually did. But Jesus also stopped to make sure this desperate isolated woman understood how she was loved and healed, and that the people around also knew so she would be accepted back into their community.
Whether you are a committed follower of Jesus, whether you are totally against Jesus, whether you are a nobody on the fringes of society, or whether you are a respected member of your community – Jesus cares about you and is willing to be there for you.
In our culture today with evidence of systemic racism, and the power and influence of the rich, we need to take a good look at ourselves. God cares equally for everyone, no matter what. Do we as his followers?
Do I?
Our song for today is How Deep the Father’s Love For Us by Selah