While Jesus was speaking to His disciples, “…a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus rose and followed him, with His disciples. And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I WILL BE MADE WELL.” Jesus turned, and seeing her He said, “TAKE HEART, DAUGHTER; YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WELL.” And INSTANTLY the woman was made well. And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, He said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they LAUGHED AT HIM. But when the crowd had been put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and THE GIRL AROSE.” (Matthew 9:18-25)
This RULER shares this dreadful news with a hope-filled faith. “But come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live” (v 18). The synagogue official had no doubt heard, or perhaps even witnessed, Jesus performing miracles healing lepers, paralytics, fevers, and casting out demons. Now that his daughter had died, he had nowhere else to turn. Based on what he had heard or seen, he believed that Jesus had the power to bring her back to life. “Jesus got up and began to follow” this father to his home (v 19). His disciples did the same.
Along the way, Matthew tells us that a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage follows after Jesus. She might have been suffering from heavy menstrual bleeding. Apart from the physical suffering she would have endured, she would have also been considered RITUALLY UNCLEAN ACCORDING TO THE MOSAIC LAW (Leviticus 19:15-30). She had been suffering under these physical and social conditions FOR TWELVE YEARS.
As Jesus passed by the “woman came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak” (v 20). Matthew tells us that she did this because she was saying to herself, “If I only touch His garment, I will get well” (v21) She knew Jesus had the power to heal her hemorrhage. But she appeared to be ashamed or afraid to publicly ask Him to make her well. Perhaps because her disease was so personal. So, she attempted to seek healing covertly by touching Jesus’s garment, and she was instantly healed.
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham