Matthew 9:18-26

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18 While He was saying these things to them, a synagogue official came and bowed down before Him, and said, ``My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.'' 19 Jesus got up and began to follow him and so did His disciples.

20 And a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak; 21 for she was saying to herself, ``If I only touch His garment, I will get well.'' 22 But Jesus turning and seeing her said, ``Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.'' At once, the woman was made well.

23 When Jesus came into the official's house and saw the flute-players and the crowd in noisy disorder, 24 He said, ``Leave; for the girl has not died, but is asleep.'' And they began laughing at Him. 25 But when the crowd had been sent out, He entered and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. 26 This news spread throughout all that land.

The 2 settings here set up an interesting comparison: Jairus' daughter was religious! The woman with a hemorrhage was non-religious!

So, the call of Matthew, who was one of the "sinners" who didn't observe the Torah, a dying girl and an unclean woman. Unclean. Everyday was a painful day for her. Every day her life was hemorrhaging away. Menstruation is a monthly cycle every woman is well acquainted with. For many women, this is a very discomforting and painful time. For this anonymous woman, her flow of blood was continuous. It had been one, long, 12 year period - and still counting. Every year, every month, every week, hour, minute and second, life was flowing out of this woman.

The medical society had failed her. Over the years, the woman had been to every clinic and hospital in the area. No success. Doctor after doctor had failed. Every day her condition worsened. She was at the point of no return. Frustrated and depressed, she was ready to give up on life.

Even her church had failed her. Adding insult to injury, the woman not only had a physical problem. She also had a major spiritual problem. From Leviticus 15:25, the Hebrew Law was very emphatic: "If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, not at the time of her impurity, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her impurity, all the days of the discharge she shall continue in uncleanness; she shall be unclean."

Every menstruating woman could hear those condemning words ringing in their ears, "Unclean! Unclean! Unclean!" The woman's menstrual condition shut her off from the worship of God, and even from the fellowship of her friends - ostracized - segregated - an outcast from both her social and her religious community for fear of defiling others with her uncleanness.

Both the woman and the girl were in pain. One had paper thin faith-faith out of others need (Jairus for his daughter). One had great faith out of personal need.

The woman was 12 years being unclean. 12 years of disappointment. 12 years of being left out-could not participate. 12 years of being rejected-unaccepted. 12 years of feeling like a nobody! Have you ever experienced similar pain? She saw Jesus as the only answer to her problem. How about you?

Jesus shows Himself to be the physician and healer of the unacceptable, the sick and the dead. She came to THE JESUS! a. Jesus' presence/touch healed her b. Jesus made her clean c. Jesus made her a participant again d. Jesus gave her peace e. Jesus made her feel special-didn't leave her in the crowd! Jesus didn't let the woman remain as part of the faceless crowd, so He identified her! He said, 'Be continually healed!' To the only person he ever called 'daughter' he granted continuing health!

WHEN YOU'RE DOWN TO NOTHING, IT MEANS THAT GOD IS UP TO SOMETHING, BUT YOU MUST SEEK HIM WITH ALL YOU'VE GOT! YOU SEEK HIM BY GOING STRAIGHT TO THE ANSWER--JESUS!