Luke 8:40-56

Luke 8:40-56 (New International Version)

  ⁴⁰Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him.⁴¹Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house ⁴²because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.

   As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. ⁴³And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. ⁴⁴She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. 

 ⁴⁵"Who touched me?" Jesus asked.
      When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you."

 ⁴⁶But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me." 

 ⁴⁷Then 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. ⁴⁸Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." 

 ⁴⁹While 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."

 ⁵⁰Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don‘t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed." 

 ⁵¹When 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. ⁵²Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep." 

 ⁵³They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. ⁵⁴But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" ⁵⁵Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. ⁵⁶Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

Devotional

Wow! Two incredible stories of healing back to back. I would like to focus on the woman whom Jesus healed first. I find it amazing that her faith and her desire to be healed drew power out of Jesus. I think it is important for us to notice that Jesus draws a great distinction between a crowd pressing around him and a touch from someone who has surrendered all of her doubt and believes that that touch will heal her. It tells me that I am not simply part of the crowd but that Jesus will and does take the time to focus on me and heal my brokenness.

Maybe you feel overwhelmed today. Maybe you feel hurt or broken. Take a minute connect with Jesus, to touch him, and let his healing power free you from worry.

Prayer

Dear God, thank you for being so powerful that you can heal my hurt. I surrender my doubts to you today and trust you to care for my needs. In Jesus’ name. Amen.