Mark spoke this morning from Luke 8:40-56, reminding us that one touch from Jesus can make all the difference in our lives. This passage talks of two miracles: healing for a woman who had suffered bleeding for twelve years and the raising from the dead of Jairus’s daughter. Jesus had been having a very busy time; immediately prior to these healings, He had calmed a raging storm and healed a naked madman. The fact that He had time to reach out to others in healing demonstrates His compassion and love for people.
Jairus, a synagogue leader, must have been desperate when Jesus stopped en route to his home to ask who had touched Him. (Luke 8:45) His daughter was dying and he needed the help of Jesus immediately. Jesus knew that power had left Him and wanted to give the woman who had reached out to touch the hem of His garment the opportunity to receive even more than the physical healing she had already experienced.
For a woman to suffer for so long would have left her alone, poor, isolated and perhaps wrestling with the idea of being under God’s condemnation since she was officially declared ‘unclean’. Jesus’s words to her reminded her of her status (‘daughter’, in a personal relationship with God, not cursed, but loved, precious and valuable) and gave her peace. She received not only physical healing, but her mind and spiritual life were all put right by His words.
It’s so easy when we suffer to believe the enemy’s lies that this is because we are under God’s wrath. God treats us as sons and daughters, however, and always has time for us. Jesus had time for both the woman and for Jairus’s daughter: both received healing and life from Jesus. We can be sure when He touches us that our lives will be irrevocably changed for the better.
