JESUS HEALS TWO DESPERATE WOMEN

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In Luke 8:40 we come to a fascinating story where Jesus performs a miracle while on His way someplace and then made an appointment for another miracle.

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

But as He went, the crowds were pressing against Him. And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. And Jesus said, "Who is the one who touched Me?" And while they were all denying it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing in on You." But Jesus said, "Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me."

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. Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."

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." Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed."

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. Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep."

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

These two stories fused together are interesting to compare. Both women are called daughters, both have to do with the number 12-the age of Jairus' daughter and the suffering of the woman-and in both situations faith was key. Also both saw Jesus as the only answer to their need.

There was a superstition at that time that seems to have motivated the woman to touch Jesus' garments. The fringe worn on the border of the outer garment was believed to have special power of the Messiah's robe. If she could just touch that fringe border, then she might be healed of her condition.

Jesus shows Himself to be the physician and healer of the unacceptable, the sick and the dead when He heals this woman. Think of her desperation. She had been unclean because of her bleeding for 12 years. That adds up to 12 years of disappointment, 12 years of being left out, unable to participate in worship or feasts, 12 years of being rejected and unacceptable, 12 years of feeling like a nobody. She saw Jesus as the only answer she might ever have to solve her problem.

Think what Jesus did for her: 1. Jesus' presence and touch actually healed her. 2. Jesus made her clean. 3. Jesus made her a participant again. 4. Jesus gave her peace. 5. Jesus made her feel special by not leaving her in the crowd. No doubt, once Jesus identified her, she must have felt like she was the only one in the crowd.

Jesus didn't let the woman remain as part of the faceless crowd, so He identified her! Jesus actually said, "Be continually healed." To the only person He ever called "daughter" He granted continuing health.

After this unusual encounter, Jesus overheard that Jairus' daughter was dead. Jesus interjected Himself into the situation, encouraging Jairus, the leader of the synagogue not to be afraid and to have faith.

It's interesting that Jesus took His three main men along with Him as He went to visit the daughter of Jairus who was presumed to be dead. This is another field trip with His disciples, but this time it's a triple A miracle that is needed here. This girl is dead and the mourners are well into the mourning process. Jesus goes into her room and raises her from the dead.

These two women serve as great illustrations of hope when you're in the midst of desperate situations, even to the point of death. Here's the way I see the principle:

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 BECAUSE HE IS THE ANSWER TO WHATEVER YOUR PROBLEM. There's no problem you could even think up that Jesus can't solve!