A TALE OF TWO WOMEN

Matt. 9:18-26, “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. 

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.   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.” 

A Certain Ruler This man, as both Mark and Luke say, was named Jairus; and was a ruler, not of the sanhedrim, or lesser consistory, but of the synagogue that was at Capernaum (Mark 5:22, Luke 8:41).

THE GIRL Luke says, she was "his only daughter": and Mark calls her his "little daughter": though both he and Luke say, she was about "twelve" years of age. Mark 5:23, 24, “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.”

Matt. 9:19, “And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.”  Jesus could have spoken the words and she would had been healed. Yet, he follows the man along with His disciples. THE LORD’S RESPONSE

I. THE DISEASED WOMAN

“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.  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.” 

A WOMAN AT THE END OF HER ROPE Mark 5:26, 27, “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.” 

IN JESUS THERE WAS HOPE Mark records, “When she had heard of Jesus.” Heb. 6:19, “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil.”

SHE WAS AN UNCLEAN PERSON TOUCHING PURITY Lev. 15:3-6, “And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness.   Every bed, whereon he lieth that hath the issue, is unclean: and every thing, whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean.   And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.   And he that sitteth on any thing whereon he sat that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.”

THE LORD’S REACTION Lk. 8:45-47, “And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee 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.” 

THE VIRTUE His Virtue was His power as deity. The ability to do all things. Even the robes the Messiah put on became holy.

What this woman did would be followed by so many others. Matt. 14:36, “And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.”

II. THE DEAD GIRL

“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 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 5:35-43, “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.   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.”

FACTS 1) The young girl was still alive when Jairus came to Jesus. 2) The girl died while Jesus was coming to the home of Jairus.

3) He is laughed at by the crowd because He tells them that the girl is merely sleeping. 4) He enters the abode with three of His apostles, and Jairus and his wife. 5) He takes the dead girl by the hand and speaks Hebrew, “Talitha cumi.” Which meant “Damsel arise!”

FACTS 6) The scorners become astonished at the raising of the young girl. 7) He charges the crowd not to inform others about the miracles. 8) He commands that food be given to the girl.

Why Offer These Facts? God wants us to know that this event happened for a purpose. These healings were just not random. They were carefully planned before Jesus ever came to this earth. The intent was not only to bring back to life this young girl, but to bring life back into the hearts of the people.

Note Jesus Statement Concerning the Healing of the Blind Man Jn. 9:3, “Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.”

III. THE DESIRED RESULTS

ACCOMPLISHING WHAT OTHERS COULD NOT DO! Jesus did for the woman with the issue of blood what the doctors could not do. I believe that same healing hand is with us today.

Jas. 5:14, 15, “Is any sick among you Jas. 5:14, 15, “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” 

Jairus Listened Mark 5:35, 36, “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.”  The man just received the worse news but was comforted by the words of Jesus.

A DAUGHTER RESTORED We sometimes fail to see the extreme emotions in these stories. Here was a family so distraught over a child. Yet, what rejoicing there must have been when that child arose from the dead.