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Luke 8:41: 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:
42: For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.
43: And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
44: Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
45: 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?
46: And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
47: 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.
48: And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
49: 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.
50: But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
51: 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.
52: And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
53: And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
54: And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
55: And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
56: And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.
This heart wrenching account of a woman who had spent all her means trying to be healed of haemoraging,is a story of terrible desperation and affliction. She had suffered with this condition twelve years and having spent all her money on physicians was no nearer healing than anytime before. She was according to the Mosaic law "unclean" and was an outcast of society, just the same as any leper. It would have meant she could not lay with her husband, indeed she couldn't touch anyone or anything without the object of her touch becoming unclean. This all because of a physical illness.She was probably also totally deprived of company and people to talk to.She was a terribly desperate and lonely woman. So when she saw Jesus and reached out and touched the fringe of Jesus garment,she was doing something she wasn't allowed to do. Technically she had made Jesus unclean. That is why she was not quick to own up, when Jesus asked who touched me? She only admitted when Jesus insisted and then fell down before him trembling, she was clearly in fear of what might happen to her,because she had touched another and made Jesus unclean. When she fell before Jesus trembling she spoke of why she touched him and also declared to the crowd the mighty act which God had done for her in stopping the blood which had flowed continually for twelve years. Jesus response to her is not of rebuke and correction, rather he comforts her and tells her that her faith has made her whole and tells her to go in peace. This faith she had was placed in the person of Jesus. She had clearly heard of Jesus and all that was happening with his arrival in Israel. Yes she believed that Jesus could make her well and end her nightmare. But also she believed that Jesus was Gods Christ, for it was no secret that Jesus was preaching the good news of the Kingdom of God. Much has been said on why she touched the fringe of his garment. We know that most pious Jews of the time obeyed the regulation to have the fringes on their garments. It was a physical reminder to walk in the ways of God and not in the imagination of their hearts. But Samuel 21 tells us that David cut off the fringes of Sauls cloak and from the context it is clear that by doing so, he took away Sauls authority. So by touching Jesus authority she was healed. This can in no way be interpreted superstitiously because Jesus tells us she was healed because she had faith in him. Matt. 14:35-36 says, "...People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of His cloak, and all who touched Him were healed." To read more on the background on the issueof blood read the following. Leviticus 15:19-28. The law of a blood issue "And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. And everything that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: everything also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean. And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water; and be unclean until even. And if it be on her bed, or on anything whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even . . . And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation: she shall be unclean . . . But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the Lord for the issue of her uncleanness." |
