Sickness and Death

Jesus and His disciples sailed back across the lake to Capernaum. And a large crowd gathered around Jesus on the shore because the people had all been waiting for Him.

A synagogue leader named Jairus arrived. Seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet and pleaded with Him urgently. "My little daughter is dying," he said. "But even now, if You come and place Your hands on her, she will be healed and she will live."

So, Jesus got up and He and His disciples went with Jairus. A large crowd followed them and pressed around Jesus.

Also in the crowd was a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. She had spent all her money on physicians, but no one was able to heal her. Instead, her condition had only grown worse. But when the woman heard about Jesus, she said to herself, "If only I touch His cloak, I will be healed." So, she came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of His cloak. Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

At once Jesus was aware that power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched Me? Who touched My garments?”

All the people touching Jesus. Peter said, “Master, You can see the crowd pressing against You, and yet You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’”

But Jesus declared, “Someone touched Me. I know that power has gone out from Me.” And He kept looking around to see who had touched Him.

Then the woman, seeing that she could not escape notice, came trembling and fell down before Jesus. In the presence of all the people, she explained why she had touched Him and how she had immediately been healed.

Jesus said to her, “Take courage, daughter. Your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

While Jesus was still speaking, messengers from the house of Jairus arrived and said, “Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher anymore?”

But Jesus overheard their conversation and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” And Jesus did not allow anyone to accompany Him except Peter, James, and John.

When they came to the house and entered, Jesus saw the commotion: the flute players and the people weeping and wailing loudly. "Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep." And the people laughed at Him, knowing that the girl was dead. “Go away,” He told them.

Jesus put the crowd outside. All that remained in the house were Jesus, Jairus and the child's mother, and Peter, James, and John. They all went in to see the child, a girl of twelve. Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” Immediately her spirit returned, the girl got up, and she began to walk around. And they were utterly astounded. Jesus told them to give the girl something to eat. and He gave strict orders not to tell anyone what had happened. Even so, news of what happened spread throughout the land.

See Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56

Editor's Note: In the Gospel of Matthew, Jairus tells Jesus that his daughter had died.

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