Jairus’ Daughter and Other Healings

The Request of Aid (Matthew 9:18; Mark 5:21-23; Luke 8:40-42)

Jesus once again returns to Capernaum, though the name of the town is not actually given. There he is met by a crowd of people. A man named Jairus, ruler of the synagogue approached Jesus and begged him to come and see his only daughter. Though only twelve years old, she was dying. The phrasing in Matthew that she is even now dead, doesn’t necessarily mean she has already expired, but that she was right at the point of death. If Jesus would only lay his hands on her, he knew she would be healed.

The office of a synagogue ruler is roughly comparable to an elder in the church. One of his roles was to select who would read from the Scriptures during the service.

Jesus agreed to go and followed him through the crowds.

The Woman with Hemorrhage (Matthew 9:19-22; Mark 5:24-34; Luke 8:43-48)

As they pushed through the crowds, a woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years managed to work her way to Jesus. She had decided that if she could just touch the hem of his garment that she would be made well. She had spent all that she had on doctors and suffered greatly at their hands, but was never healed of her disease; instead, she had grown worse over the years.

She managed to do so and was instantly healed, but Jesus instantly knew what had happened. He turned around and demanded to know who touched him. The disciples were confused. They were pushing through a crowd and Jesus wanted to know who touched him? Lots of people must have touched him.

The woman, fearing that she would be reproved, admitted that she was the one who touched him. It is not that Jesus did not know. After all, he knew that she had been made well. He was giving her an opportunity to admit what she had done. Without the public acknowledgment, it would have remained hidden and the healing would have served no furtherance of God’s Will.

His greeting calms her fears. “Be of good cheer,” Jesus said. He then told her that it wasn’t the touch, but her faith that made her well. Her’s was a faith that had lead to action. He then bids her to be whole, or continue to be whole. Though she was healed, Jesus ensures that those around them know what they knew that it was through Jesus that she was made well.

The Raising of Jairus’ Daughter (Matthew 9:23-26; Mark 5:35-43; Luke 8:49-56)

As they approached Jairus’ house, men came out to tell him he was too late. His daughter had already died. There was no need to trouble the Teacher further. But Jesus overheard the news and told Jairus not to fear but to believe. He had just received proof during their walk concerning the power of faith and Jesus is asking him to demonstrate the same faith.

Jesus would only permit five people to enter with him: Peter, James, John, Jairus, and his wife. The house was full of mourners crying over the girl’s death. He scolded them for the commotion they were making. Jesus told them that she wasn’t dead, but sleeping – that is, her death was only temporary and that she would soon be alive again. The mourners, however, thought Jesus was crazy because they knew the girl had died.

He put all the mourners out of the house, went to the girl, took her by the hand, and told her to arise. Her spirit immediately returned to her body and she got up and walked. Jesus told her astonished parents to get her something to eat, but he also told them not to tell anyone what happened. Despite his request, Matthew tells us that word went out throughout the whole land concerning what happened.

Two Blind Men Healed (Matthew 9:27-31)

As he left, two blind men followed him crying out for mercy. They called him “Son of David,” thus acknowledging their belief that Jesus was the Messiah (Jeremiah 23:5). They continued to follow Jesus until he entered a house. It was only at this point that Jesus acknowledged their presence.

Jesus asked if they believed he could give them sight. Jesus had done numerous miracles where no faith was requested from those who had asked for healing. At times people were healed without even being asked. But Jesus is asking these men for greater faith. They already had demonstrated some in that they persisted to follow him. Now, Jesus told them they would see in accordance to their faith and then touched their eyes. Their eyes were immediately opened.

As in other cases, Jesus sternly tells them not to tell others. But soon after they leave, they spread the news throughout the region. Jesus’ desire for no publication is at odds with how many of us think. But the prophecies tell us that the Messiah would have no desire for fame (Isaiah 42:2), but fame would follow him anyway (Isaiah 52:13).

The Mute Demonic (Matthew 9:32-34)

As the two blind men left, people brought another man to Jesus. He was mute as well as being demon-possessed. After casting out the demon, the man was once again able to speak.

Those who witness the healing were astonished. The power displayed by Jesus is far beyond what was mentioned in the past regarding the prophets. The prophets did some amazing things, but they were very rare – a few events spread across a lifetime. But Jesus was doing many miracles within a few hours span.

Opposition to Jesus now begins to rise. Jesus is becoming too popular and the Pharisees feel they need to take him down a notch. Jesus did good, but they insisted that he was doing it by the power of Satan. Jesus eventually deals with this argument at a later healing.