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A Dying Girl and a Sick Woman
(Matthew 9.18-26; Mark 5.21-43)
40Everyone had been waiting for Jesus, and when he came back, a crowd was there to welcome him. 41Just then the man in charge of the synagogue came and knelt down in front of Jesus. His name was Jairus, and he begged Jesus to come to his home 42because his twelve-year-old child was dying. She was his only daughter.
While Jesus was on his way, people were crowding all around him. 43In the crowd was a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. She had spent everything she had on doctors, but none of them could make her well.
44As soon as she came up behind Jesus and barely touched his clothes, her bleeding stopped.
45“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
While everyone was denying it, Peter said, “Master, people are crowding all around and pushing you from every side.”
46But Jesus answered, “Someone touched me, because I felt power going out from me.” 47The woman knew that she could not hide, so she came trembling and knelt down in front of Jesus. She told everyone why she had touched him and that she had been healed at once.
48Jesus said to the woman, “You are now well because of your faith. May God give you peace!”
49While Jesus was speaking, someone came from Jairus' home and said, “Your daughter has died! Why bother the teacher anymore?”
50When Jesus heard this, he told Jairus, “Don't worry! Have faith, and your daughter will get well.”
51Jesus went into the house, but he did not let anyone else go with him, except Peter, John, James, and the girl's father and mother. 52Everyone was crying and weeping for the girl. But Jesus said, “The child isn't dead. She is just asleep.” 53The people laughed at him because they knew she was dead.
54Jesus took hold of the girl's hand and said, “Child, get up!” 55She came back to life and got right up. Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56Her parents were surprised, but Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
Reflect
Does God heal today? That question took on personal significance in 1998 when my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was invasive. Cancer cells were found in all 18 of the lymph nodes that were removed.
Three weddings and eight grandchildren later, the word that had become hidden in the dark recesses of our vocabulary resurfaced. In February 2013 we were told that the breast cancer of long ago had metastasized. Fluid and tumours in her belly. A tumour blocking her right kidney. Cancer throughout her bones. Three weeks later Joy was signed up for palliative care.
In the six months since then, however, her tumour markers have dropped, the fluid is gone, the tumours have shrunk, and the kidney now works again. There are still challenges with the bone cancer, but there is no doubt in our minds that God does heal today.
When Jesus came he introduced the kingdom of God to this world, accompanied with signs and wonders. When God’s kingdom arrives in its fullness at Jesus’ second coming, our healing will be complete. In the “in between” time sometimes we are healed and sometimes we are not. In Joy’s situation, and especially in today’s reading, we see evidence of God’s healing power at work.
Surrounded by a crowd so large it threatened to crush him, Jesus focused on two individuals—a woman with an incurable medical issue, and a man whose daughter was critically ill.
In the end, the crowd became witness to Jesus’ power over sickness, and the skeptical mourners outside Jairus’ home observed a stunning display of Jesus’ power over death itself.
Do you need healing? Whether you timidly seek to just touch the hem of Jesus’ cloak, or desperately fall at Jesus’ feet and cry for help, Jesus knows your need and has the same compassion and power today to work on your behalf.
Respond
Compassionate God, who hears our cry and heals our diseases, give me faith to trust in you and courage to make your name known among those who need your touch. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Bill Bonikowsky
Bill Bonikowsky is a writer, editor and photographer. Born in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario and raised in Guelph ON, Bill currently resides in Nanaimo BC with his wife Shirley. He ministered with Youth for Christ for over 27 years as a youth minister and editor of YFC’s monthly newsletter. He pastored a church in Arlington Heights, IL for 2 ½ years, and served as Communications Officer for Alpha Ministries Canada for 10½ years. Bill has three grown sons and ten grandchildren. Publications: Contributing writer for the NIV Life Application Bible; Editor of Report to the People newsletter for Greater Vancouver Youth for Christ for 20 years; Editor of Alpha News for Alpha Ministries Canada for five years; Published in the Canadian anthologies “A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider” (2011), "Hot Apple Cider With Cinnamon" (2015) and "Christmas With Hot Apple Cider" (2017).
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