Overview by Olivia Saunders
Luke 8:40-56
There was a man named Jairus who had a problem that wasn’t easy to solve. Jairus was a synagogue ruler and his title, traditions or rituals could not reverse the matter at hand. When he approached Jesus, he fell at His feet and begged Jesus to come with him because his only daughter was dying. Jairus’ love for his daughter made him do whatever needed to be done for her to be healed. As Jesus was going with him, another urgent matter touched him and was healed immediately.
There was a woman who had been dealing with an illness that could not be cured. The bible is clear on more than one account about this woman spending all her money with many physicians .She bled for 12 years and could find no relief anywhere. But one day she so happened to be in the right place at the right time. Her faith led her in Jesus‘ direction and she touched the hem of His garment and was made whole.
The bible declares that ‘faith without works is dead.’ Just as the woman with the issue of blood and was healed by touching Jesus, there was a messenger that told the girl’s father that it was too late. But as Jesus heard what was said, He encouraged Jairus and told him to just believe. After Jesus arrived at the house, He was laughed at by some of the mourners but all doubt was erased when the girl arose. This story reminds us that if we just have the faith and trust in God, He will and can do the impossible.
Related Scriptures by Janice Hall
Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5: 22-43; Leviticus 15:25-30;
Numbers 19: 11-22
The verses in Matthew 9:18-26, begins with the arrival of a ruler of the synagogue. He relates to Jesus that his daughter has just died, but that she will live if Jesus comes and lays hands on her. As Jesus and the disciples follow the ruler, a woman in the crowd reaches out and touches the hem of Jesus’ garment and is healed. Jesus takes the girl’s hand and life is restored to her. We see the miraculous of two incidents, from the hand and the hem of the Great Healer.
We also see in the account of Mark 5:22-43, Jesus demonstrates His power over sickness and death. The father with the sick daughter had great confidence in Jesus and believed that Jesus had the power to heal. The woman with the issue of blood, also
was in a desperate situation. The women’s condition made her socially and ceremonially unclean. Jesus’ hem of His garment was a point of contact for the women’s faith.
In Leviticus 15:25-30, speaks of a portion of the entire chapter that has a focus on laws concerning other ceremonial uncleanessses, contracted either by bodily disease like that of a leper, or natural incidents. In Numbers 19: 11-22, speaks of the laws of purification where God mentions the most extreme purification, contact with a dead human body. These laws were meaningful to all of Israel, especially to the priests, who had potential to defile the tabernacle of the Lord.
Practical Points by Charle Brown
2) The Lord knows and cares for each one of us.
Jesus is very concerned with the specific struggles and needs of each one of us. Just as the woman with the issue of blood and Jairus’ daughter, Jesus cares for us too. He desires to have an intimate encounter and relationship with us. Not only is He aware of our needs He also desires personal encounters with us. Jesus demonstrates not only His care for us, but also the compassionate and faithfulness of His love towards each one of us.
4) Faith is a powerful antidote for fear.
We are to face challenging and desperate situations with faith. Maintaining our faith and trust in God will be the very thing that decides whether or not we are swayed into fear and disbelief. It doesn’t matter how grim it may seem, or what the report may say, we must remain faithful, prayerful and hopeful for a positive outcome. We must rely on God’s strength, believe in His sovereignty, His promises,His love and His presence. It is in God’s presence that we are comforted, and His comfort dispels all of our fears.
