Bible Studies

---

Based on Luke 8:41-56

On the Sabbaths Jairus, a Jewish rabbi, learned of a kind man, Jesus as he went to the synagogue. He listened as the other rabbis spoke and took his turn, and afterwards the men gathered and rehashed the week's events.

One of these stories concerned a leper. "A man covered with leprous sores came to Jesus," these rabbis reported. They told how he fell on his face and worshipped Jesus. He begged Him to heal him.

Jesus saw all those sores on this man's body, and it moved Him with compassion. He stretched out His hand, and touched this repulsive man, rather than drawing back for fear of catching this dreaded disease. The Jewish law required a leper to stand afar off and cry, "Unclean, unclean."

However, Jesus loved him and touched him. Afterwards, He spoke and said, "I will heal you; be clean."

Jairus' fellow rabbis said, "This man claimed that his sores disappeared at once, and pink skin covered his body." They did not rejoice over this man's cleansing. Instead they said, "We've got to do something about this man. The people flock after Him, instead of heeding our traditions."

This former leper got so excited that he failed to heed Jesus' warning to keep quiet about it. Jesus did not want people to follow Him just because of His miracles. He also knew about the jealousy of the Jewish leaders and their desire to kill Him. His time to die had not yet come.

Many, many other stories of Jesus' healing and other miracles spread around. Nearly everyone in Galilee heard about this kind man named Jesus.
One day a terrible calamity befell Jairus. His twelve-year-old daughter fell ill. His only daughter, she lay in her bed dying.

No doubt, Jairus consulted the physicians. They all shook their heads sadly, "There is nothing we can do, Jairus," they said. "She will die."

This rabbi heard that Jesus was coming to town. He rushed to meet Jesus. If I can catch Him before my daughter dies, he thought, maybe He can heal her as He has healed many others.

The crowd thronged Jesus. Many, many people had heard of this kind man Jesus. Maybe Jesus will heal us or our sick loved ones, they hoped.

Jairus shoved his way through this crowd to Jesus. He fell down at Jesus' feet and cried out, "My little daughter lies at the point of death. Please come, lay your hands on her, heal her, and she will live."

Jairus' plight moved Jesus to compassion and He went with Jairus toward his home. The crowd continued to throng Him.

One woman had bled for twelve years. She spent all her money on doctors, but she got no better, only worse. This woman touched Jesus' clothes. She thought, if I can just touch His clothes, I will be healed. The fountain of blood dried up immediately.

Jesus stopped and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"

"Look at all these people pressing against you," his disciples said, "and you ask, "Who touched me?"

Jesus looked around the crowd, and His eyes met this woman. She feared and trembled before Him, but she knew the crowd did not hide her. She came and fell down before Jesus and told Him how she was healed.

He said, "Daughter, your faith healed you. Go in peace and be well."

Now the crowd pushed on again. Jairus quivered at this delay, and thought, Now it may be too late. I never heard of Jesus raising the dead. Just then a man shoved his way through the crowd. He said, "Your daughter is dead. It will do no good to bother the Master anymore."

Jesus overheard this man, and He said, "Fear not, Jairus, only believe." He sent the crowd away. Only Peter, James and John accompanied Jesus and Jairus.

When they came to the house, many public mourners had gathered. They wept, played music, and wailed loudly.

Jesus said, "Why make all this ado and weep? She is not dead, but is sleeping."

These mourners laughed in scorn. "Get out of here," Jesus ordered them, and He put them all out of the house.

Then He took Jairus, the girl's mother, Peter, James and John, and entered the room where this girl lay.

He took her hand and said to her, "Talitha cumi," which means "Maid, I say to you, arise."

She got up at once and walked. This amazed all in the room.

"Do not tell anyone about this," Jesus said. "Give her something to eat."

Jesus, the kindest man who ever lived and full of compassion, is the Son of God. He is the same today as yesterday. In all our troubles, He longs to help us.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE