Back in Galilee, the crowd gathers once again. Jairus, a
leader of the synagogue, finds him. He has a sick daughter.
We have seen people flocking to Jesus, bringing their sick
and suffering friends, and we have seen Jesus heal them. People with leprosy
and unclean spirits have both approached Jesus and recoiled from him, but have
been restored either way.
Now Jairus does something new. Rather than bring his daughter
to Jesus, he begs Jesus to come to his home and heal his daughter there. Jesus
agrees.
On the way, we see something else new. A desperate woman,
convinced of Jesus’ healing power, sneaks up on him and touches his clothes.
Twelve years of bleeding instantly cease. Imagine her, standing still in awe,
as the crowd, pressing in on Jesus, continues to move him forward toward
Jairus’ house. He stops suddenly. His healing power has been stolen and he
knows it.
“Who touched me?” he says.
It could have been anyone. Everyone is pressing in. The
healed woman is off the hook, but she steps forward in admission, throwing
herself at his feet. Jesus calls her “Daughter” and says her faith has made her
well.
This is a single story of two daughters, one the beloved
child of a religious leader, the other outcast, unclean, and without an
advocate. Both are near death in their own ways, the child dying of illness,
the woman dead to life in community.
In stealing Jesus’ power and causing a delay in the
streets, it seems the woman has prevented Jesus from healing Jairus’ daughter.
Some people from Jairus’ house arrive to confirm it. The child is dead.
As Jairus is about to leave, Jesus encourages him. The
woman’s faith has healed her, his faith can heal his daughter. “Do not fear,
only believe.”
Text for the day:
Things to think
about:
We need healing in body, mind, spirit, or relationships.
What healing do you need today?
Things to do:
Lend your faith to someone whose faith is lacking: Pray on
his or her behalf.
Jesus,
give me Jairus’ faith and the woman’s desperation.
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