1 JESUS HEALS A DEAD GIRL AND A SICK WOMAN Luke 8:40-56 How much misery and trouble sin has brought into the world! First we see a distressed father in bitter anxiety about a dying daughter. Then we see a suffering woman, who has been afflicted twelve years with an incurable disease. These are evils which God did not create at the beginning, but man has brought upon himself by the fall. There would have been no sorrow and no sickness among us, if there had been no sin. THE HEALING OF A SICK WOMAN Luke 8:42-48 We begin by looking at the healing of the sick woman. A LONG AND EXPENSIVE ILLNESS As Jesus was on His way, the crowds almost crushed Him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her (vv. 42-43). She had been afflicted with a blood disease for "twelve years." The hemorrhage had made her ceremonially unclean for 12 years (Lev 15:19,30). And she "had spent all her living upon physicians," yet could not be "healed." Mark puts it even more strongly: She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better, she grew worse (Mk 5:26). There is a balm in Gilead, which can cure. There is one Physician who never fails. Let them consider the conduct of the woman before us in her necessity. When all other means had failed, she went to Jesus for help. Let them go and do likewise. A DESPERATE AND HUMBLE APPEAL (8:44). She came up behind Him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped (v. 44). Here is a striking picture of desperation and humility. We are told that she "came behind" our Lord, and "touched the edge of His garment, and immediately her bleeding stopped." The act appeared a most simple one, and utterly inadequate to produce any great result. But the effect of that act was most marvelous! In an instant the poor sufferer was healed. The relief that many physicians had failed to give in "twelve years," was obtained in one moment. With a mere touch, she was well! She came to Jesus just as she was. She touched Him by faith, and was healed.
2 A PUBLIC CONFESSION OF THE HEALER (8:45-47) "Who touched Me?" Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you. But Jesus said, Someone touched Me; I know that power has gone out from 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. " (vv. 45-47). Jesus knew someone had touched Him because He felt power going out of Him. The woman was healed because God graciously determined to heal her through the power then active in Jesus. Our Lord insists that those who have received benefit from Him should confess Him before others. We are told that He did not allow this woman to leave the crowd unnoticed. He asked, "Who had touched Me?" He asked again, until the woman came forward and "declared" her case before all the people. And then came the gracious words, "Daughter, be of good comfort. Your faith has made you whole. Go in peace" Confession of Christ is a matter of great importance! Can we not plainly tell others that Christ has done everything for us--that we were dying of a deadly disease, and were cured-- that we were lost, and are now found, that we were blind, and now see? Let us do this boldly, and not be afraid. Let us not be ashamed to let all men know what Jesus has done for our souls. His people are not to be ashamed of His name. It is a solemn saying of Paul, "If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved" (Ro 10:9). Christ Himself warned, "Whoever shall be ashamed of Me and My words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed" (9:26). JAIRUS' DAUGHTER RAISED FROM THE DEAD Luke 8:40-42, 49-56 The other story in this passage is the raising of Jairus daughter from the dead. There are three great instances which the Holy Spirit has thought fit to record of our Lord restoring a dead person to life. The other two instances are those of Lazarus and the widow's son at Nain. There seems no reason to doubt that our Lord raised others beside these three. But these three cases are specially described as patterns of His almighty power. One was a young girl, who had
3 just breathed her last. One was a young man, who was being carried to his burial. One was a man, who had already lain four days in the grave. In all three cases alike we see life at once restored at Christ's command. Luke tells us that THE DEATH OF A CHILD (8:49) While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," he said. "Don't bother the teacher any more" (v. 49). This servant from Jairus house thought it was too late. It was beyond his imagination to think that this Nazarene Carpenter could do anything but give His condolences. Jesus addresses the girl as Daughter. This is very unusual for it is a tender address used nowhere else in Jesus recorded words (23:28). But, as Luke points out, HEALING LIFE THROUGH FAITH (8:50) Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed" (v. 50). Just as faith brought healing and health to the woman suffering from bleeding for 12 years, so faith belief will bring healing life to the dead girl. For... nothing is impossible with God (Mt 17:20; Mk 10:27; Lk 18:27). A CAUTIOUS METHODOLOGY OF HEALING (8:52-54) Then we see that Jesus is very cautious in who can join Him to pray for the dead girl: 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" (vv. 51-54).. The wailing and mourning probably refers to the professional mourners who were brought at the time of death. This was a customary practice in Jesus time. In this specific case, however, it is not certain that enough time had elapsed for professional mourners to have been secured.
4 Jesus meant that she was not permanently dead. He said the same thing about Lazarus: Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up. His disciples replied, Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better. Jesus had been speaking of his death, but His disciples thought He meant natural sleep. So then He told them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe (Jn 11:11-15). The utter importance of faith! This is why Jesus was glad that He did not have the opportunity to intervene when Lazarus was dying. Because he actually died, He had the greater opportunity to show His power power to raise the dead. Then notice how Jesus treats this child: 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 (vv. 54-56). Why are they told not to tell anyone what had happened? Because further publicity at this time concerning a raising from the dead would have been counterproductive to Jesus ministry. Another reason might be that He did not want to be considered just a miracle worker. Furthermore, He did not want His death to come prematurely, that is, before He had finished His ministry (Mt 9:30; 12:16; Mk 1:44; 5:43; 7:36). A DESPERATE PLEA FOR HELP (8:40-42) Let us notice, in the verses before us, how universal the dominion which death holds over people: Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed Him, for they were all expecting Him. Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, 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 (vv. 40-42). There is no cup more bitter for a parent than the cup of a child s death. Such tidings as these are the bitterest cups which we have to drink in this world. Nothing cuts so deeply into parent s heart as to part with a child. No grief is as crushing as the grief of a parent over an only child.
5 Death is a cruel enemy that comes to the rich man's estate as well as to the poor man's cottage. It does not spare the young, the strong, and the beautiful, any more than the old, the infirm, and the grey-haired. Not all the gold in the entire world, nor the skill of all the doctors can keep the hand of death from separating us from our loved ones. The subject of death is one that people refuse to look at. As the saying goes, All people think all people mortal but themselves." But we must look death in the face so that when our turn comes we may be prepared to die. And there is one who can deliver us from the fear of death (Heb 2:15). Christ has overcome death, and "brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel" (2 Ti 1:10). He who believes on Him has everlasting life, and though he were dead yet shall he live (Jn 6:47; 11:25). When we believe in Jesus death loses its sting. We shall then be able to say with Paul, "To me to die is gain" (Php 1:21). Faith in Christ's love and power is the best remedy in time of trouble. Faith can see light even in the darkest hour. The Almighty power which our Lord Jesus Christ possesses includes death. Let us take comfort in the thought that there is a limit to death's power. While the king of terrors is very strong, he is not omnipotent. There is One stronger than death. There is One who has said, "O death! will be your plague O grave! will be your destruction!" (Hos 13:14.) That One is the Friend of sinners, Christ Jesus the Lord. He proved His power frequently when He came to the earth the first time, in the house of Jairus, by the tomb of Bethany, in the gate of Nain. He will prove to all the world when He comes again that "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." (1 Co 15:26.) and that "The earth shall cast out the dead." (Isa 26:19). The things which happened in Jairus' house are a type of good things to come. The hour will soon be here, when the voice of Christ shall call all His people from their graves and gather them together to part no more. Believing husbands shall once more see believing wives. Believing parents shall once more see believing children. Christ shall unite the whole family in the great home in heaven, and all tears shall be wiped from all eyes.
6 APPLICATION it. The purpose of God's working miracles are primarily to bolster faith, not produce Faith is trusting God for what we can't see. Nothing impossible. Moving mountains. He can do it. Jesus' love will satisfy sincere faith, no matter how weak. The woman felt her needs were not worthy of His attention. Jesus uses our steps of faith to strengthen our faith. Are we afraid to act because we believe our faith is weak? Jesus uses our feeble steps to make faith grow stronger. Every obstacle, challenge, trial, is an opportunity to take steps of faith. The woman touched His the edge of His garment in faith. He called for a public faith; a direct confrontation with his person to correct and strengthen her faith, give her greater confidence and assurance. He called her to focus upon Him as a person who loved her. As she took that public step, her faith grew. As a last resort, Jairus approached the Savior for help. Jesus didn't rebuke his slowness, rather responded immediately. But Jesus did place him in circumstances that called for the utmost in faith, resulting in greater trust in Jesus power to do the impossible. What steps of faith is Jesus calling us to make? How is He calling us to exercise our faith in His power? How is He calling us to trust and act upon the assurance of His love and forgiveness? The growth of faith. Each time we become stronger, we are ready for even greater challenges. Faith can move mountains if it draws upon the love and power of The Lord.
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