Tuesday, February 23

Luke 8:40-56 — Faith & Healing

40 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”

46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched Him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”

50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, He did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.”

53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but He ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

Points of Interest:

• (v.40) “they were all expecting him”—a crowd is even gathered to greet him as he steps off the boat. Jesus has reached rock star status. The people can’t get enough of him.
• (v.41) “a synagogue leader”—he’s what we’d call “a pillar of the community.” He’s probably wealthy and well-respected. Given his place in society, it might take quite a bit of humility to ask for Jesus’ help; it might even cause something of a society scandal. But Jairus doesn’t seem to hesitate; his desperation for his daughter and his faith in Jesus’ power compel him to ask for Jesus’ help.
• (v.48) “Daughter”— Jairus would be wondering at this point why Jesus wasn’t in more of a hurry. By calling this woman ‘Daughter,’ Jesus is saying, ‘I feel for this woman exactly the way you feel for your daughter. I’m as desperate to see her healed as you are to see your daughter healed. I had to stop.’

Taking it home:

• For you: Jesus is able to save Jairus’ daughter even when it looks like she’s beyond help. Are you in a situation that seems hopeless? It’s still worth bringing it to Jesus. While we’re not guaranteed of the results, He may very well surprise you by what he will do.
• For your Six: Just when it looks like the woman’s sickness is something that would never go away, Jesus heals her. Pray that God would save your Six from problems and troubles they’ve begun to think of as permanent.
• For our church/ILTJ: Sometimes it can be hard to accept the idea that God would intervene in supernatural ways. Pray that our church will be full of people seeking God for more of his supernatural power.