Jairus’ daughter. Woman healed
This story is after the man with the legion of demons is delivered. Mark tells us that he comes across the Galilee and is met by Jairus. Let’s read all three accounts first.
Matthew 9:18-26 18: 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. 19: And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. 20: And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 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. 23: And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 24: He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. 25: But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. 26: And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
Mark 5:21-43 21: 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. 22: And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 23: 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. 24: And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. 25: And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26: And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27: When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28: For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29: And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30: 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? 31: And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32: And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33: But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34: And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. 35: 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? 36: As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. 37: And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 38: And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. 39: And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. 40: 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. 41: And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 42: And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. 43: And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.
Luke:8:40-56 40: And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. 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.
Who is Jairus?
Matthew does not name him but both Mark and Luke name him and all tell us he is a ruler. Mark and Luke tell us that he is the ruler of the synagogue.
While the Temple stood until A.D. 70, it continued to be the center for sacrificial worship. Faithful Jews continued to go to the Temple for the appointed feasts. They also participated in their local synagogues. During Jesus’ time, there was even a synagogue within the Temple itself. This was probably the part of the Temple where the twelve-year-old Jesus was talking with the teachers (Luke 2:46).
Most communities of any size had at least one synagogue; some had several. Jewish sources indicate that a synagogue was to be established wherever there were as many as ten Jewish men. The principal meeting was on the Sabbath. A typical service consisted of the recitation of the Shema (confession of faith in the one God), prayers, Scripture readings from the Law and the Prophets, a sermon, and a benediction. Luke 4:16-21is the best biblical passage on what happened in a synagogue service in first-century Palestine. Local elders had general oversight of the synagogue. They often appointed a ruler of the synagogue. The ruler was a layman who cared for the building and selected those who participated in the service. The ruler was assisted by an attendant. One of his duties was to deliver the sacred scrolls to those who read and return them to the special place where they were kept (Luke 4:17,Luke 4:17,4:20).
So Jairus had the job of the janitor of the synagogue. He was not an elder, or a statesman, so he was not considered as one of the upperclass. He was a servant.
Now that we know who Jairus is, let’s look at his faith. Both Matthew and Mark mention it. He spoke his faith. Both of the stories here, show spoken faith. Jairus spoke his faith and the woman with the issue of blood spoke her faith. These examples show how important it is to speak your faith.
Jairus said, “My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.” Or as Mark writes, he says, “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.”
Now there is a difference in faith, and mind over matter. Faith acknowledges there is a problem, but also states that God is the answer. Mind over matter denies the facts, in order to control them.
Jesus spoke of having faith and speaking to the mountain.
Mark:11:22-24 22: And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23: For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24: Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Jesus shows the importance of speaking to the mountain. Jairus was speaking to the mountain. But in all three recorded testimonies in the gospels, Jairus’ story is interupted by the woman with the issue of blood. So let’s interject a little about her here. It is important to see that both spoke their faith before receiving.
The woman with the issue of blood
The woman was taking a great risk. Because of the continual bleeding, the woman would have been continually regarded in Jewish law as a niddah or menstruating woman, and so ceremonially unclean. In order to be regarded as clean, the flow of blood would need to stop for at least 7 days. Because of the constant bleeding, this woman lived in a continual state of uncleanness which would have brought upon her social and religious isolation.
The Biblical regulations of Leviticus specify that a menstruating woman must “separate” for seven days (Leviticus 15:19). Any object she sits on or lies upon during this period is becomes a ‘carrier of tumah’ (midras uncleanness). One who comes into contact with her midras, or her, during this period becomes tamei (ritually impure) (Leviticus 15:19-23)
A man who has sexual relations with a niddah is rendered ritually impure for seven days, as opposed to one day of impurity for coming into contact with her, or he midras (Leviticus 15:24)
Leviticus:15:19-24 19: 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. 20: And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean. 21: And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 22: And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 23: And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even. 24: And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.
So the woman with the issue suffered in several ways. First, she was considered unclean for 12 years, and therefore was to stay apart from the crowd. Secondly, she had suffered from doctors who tried to do things to stop the bleeding but were unable to do so. So apparently she was originally wealthy, but Luke tells us she had spent all she had and was now poor. So people were looking down on her for all of these reasons.
The first step she took toward healing, is that she heard of Jesus (Mark says this). What had she heard? Healing and deliverance stories. Faith arose when she heard. This is why it is so important to hear God’s word.
Romans:10:17: So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
The second thing it tells us about this woman is that she spoke. Both Matthew and Mark record her words. Matthew says, “For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.” Mark says “For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.”
As stated earlier it is very important to speak your faith. This woman spoke her faith over and over. The Greek tense of this verb here is in the continual mode which means she continued to say over and over.
When we are standing in faith for something, it is very important to do what Jairus and the woman did. To speak our faith.
The third thing is she pressed in….she was determined to receive. It said there was a crowd. It also says she touched the hem of his garment. That meant she probably crawled through the crowd.
The importance of touching the hem of the garment.
The word “hem” means “fringe, tassel, or the border of a garment”.
Numbers 15:38-39 Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God.
The word used is “Tzitzit” and it speaks of a “tassel”. The mantle of the time was a long rectangular cloth that draped down over the body. It had four corners at the bottom. The Israelite’s were to attach tassels to the four corners of their garments and hem the garment in blue. Over time this style had changed and instead of the four corners, the cloth became more rounded at the bottom. Due to no longer having the four corners, the Israelites developed something called the “Tallit”. All orthodox Jews of the day wore a Tallit. When the woman with the issue of blood touched the hem of His garment she would have touched one of the tassels. The “tallit” also served as a prayer shawl, which a person would read an inscription that is embroidered into the garment. He was to kiss the first word of the inscription, kiss the last word of the inscription and then place the shawl over his head for a moment of reflection. When in deep prayer, the head would be wrapped in the “tallit” to shut off the worshiper from the world. and many commentators have suggested that this is what Jesus spoke of when he said to enter into your closet for prayer.
Matthew 6:6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
All three accounts tell us that she was immediately healed when she touched the hem or border of his garment. But Mark tells us something else.
Mark 5:30 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?
Jesus felt the virtue or anointing go out from him. Her faith drew that anointing out. The manifestation of the Spirit is what brings that flow of virtue and healing.
1 Corinthians :12:7: But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
1 John:2:20: But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
The disciples were confused when Jesus asked who touched him, because there was a crowd around him and many were touching him, but only one had touched him in faith. That was the woman. She was the only one of the crowd healed.
After hearing her confession of faith, Jesus calls this woman daughter.
Mark 5:34 Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.
Jesus called her daughter! This was the one and only recorded time when Jesus used the term daughter. He did not care that she was considered ritually unclean, he acknowledged that her faith was what healed her, and he reached out to her in compassion. Even though Jesus was on a mission to heal the synagogue ruler’s daughter, He did not let that mission distract him from a woman who was in need. He healed her and called her His own daughter. He acknowledged here that she was doing the will of the Father in heaven.
Matthew:12:46-50 46: While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. 47: Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 48: But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 49: And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50: For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Now we continue on the mission with Jairus. At this time people come to him from his home to tell him that his daughter is dead. Matthew does not tell of this but Mark and Luke do.
Mark 5:35: 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? 36: As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
Luke 8:49: 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.
So the people from Jairus’ house arrived while Jesus was talking to the woman. Can you imagine the thoughts that rushed into Jairus’ head. If only they had not stopped to talk to the woman, Jesus would have arrived in time to heal his daughter before she died. But now she is dead. The people who came told him to not trouble Jesus any more. But Jesus stops the words, by telling him not to fear, but to believe. Jesus knew that if fear entered into his heart it would be hard to believe.
James:1:6-7 6: But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7: For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Mark:11:23: For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Now the different gospels give a little different accounts from here on. Mark tells us Jesus sent away the crowd, and only allowed a few to come with him to the house. But all three give the same story once he arrived at the home.
Mark 5:37: And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 38: And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. 39: And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. 40: 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.
Matthew 9:23: And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 24: He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. 25: But when the people were put forth, he went in….
Luke 8:51: 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…
The minstrels, people making noise, and tumult means that the mourners had arrived already. These were not a part of the crowd that followed Jesus. Professional mourners were very common in Jesus’ time. You can tell these were professional, when Jesus spoke to them about her not being dead, but asleep. Their mourning changed to laughter and scorn. These Jesus put out of the home. They did not believe and would hinder the faith of the father, so they had to be removed.
If there is something in your life that is keeping you from faith, put out of your life if you want to see results. Jesus had to be firm, and send the unbelievers out of the room. You have to do so also to take a stand for Jesus.
So now there is only Jesus, the mother and father and Jesus’ three disciples in the room.
James:5:15: 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.
Jesus knew that faith is what would raise the daughter. Faith is what brings in the answer for us also.
Mark 5:41: And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 42: And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. 43: And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.
Luke 8:54: 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.
Jesus did two things, and the girl did two things.
Jesus took her by the hand and he spoke to her.
She arose and walked.
He then told them to give her something to eat. She was healed, but needed nourishment to give strength to her body.
Jesus heals the same today as he did here. Notice in both stories, the importance of speaking in faith, and acting in faith. Both of these healings show the power of God is transmitted in an atmosphere of faith.
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