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But at the returning of Jesus, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. And (Look and see!) there came a male named Jairus and this one, a ruler of the synagogue, belonged. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he encouraged him to come into his house, in that he had to him an only daughter of about twelve years, and she herself was dying away. (Luke’s AD 60 research report re Jesus: Chapter 8: 40-56) |
Jesus has been to “the other side” of the lake opposite to his home district of “Galilee”. Over there was, as it were, a godless place. Gerassa, an autonomous town and district, completely separate from Israel. There an untameable man, demonised into destruction, was saved. . The Gerasenes had asked Jesus to leave them alone – see Info BC. Back now in Galilee, where ancient Israel’s God and its 10 Commandments had held sway, they welcomed him. Especially so one privileged Israelite male in great distress over his 12-year-old daughter. The important original man named Israel (c.1800 BC) had 12 sons.
A religious place, a senior religious man, but his daughter “dying away”.
But in his withdrawing, the crowds were suffocating him. And there is a woman with a discharge of blood from twelve years and, having expended her entire human-living on physicians, she was not able to be healed by anyone.
An unnamed female, separated from worship as religiously ‘unclean’. From aged 12, her life blood would still not stop ebbing away.
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She, coming near from behind, touched
the edge of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood stood. And
Jesus said, “Who touched me?” But all denying it, Peter said, “Master,
the crowds hold you down and pressure you.” But Jesus said, “A certain one
touched me, because I myself know power has come out from me.” But the
woman, seeing that she was not concealed, came trembling and, falling down to him,
reported in the presence of all the people for what reason she touched him, and
how she was cured immediately.
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But he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go into peace!”
How interesting that he called her “Daughter.” Her extreme distress - and her inner certainty about the identity, grace and power of Jesus – had “immediately cured” her. Having made it known, she went “into peace.”
He himself still speaking, a certain one from the ruler’s synagogue, coming, stated that, “Your daughter has died. Trouble the teacher no longer!” But Jesus, hearing, responded to him, “Fear not! Only believe! And she will be saved.”
What do you think? Having seen the woman healed, and having heard Jesus’ statement, “Fear not! Only believe! And she will be saved” would they rejoice and “immediately” go home and find the daughter alive?
But, coming into the house, he sent away all from coming in with him, except Peter and John and James and the father and the mother of the child. But all were weeping and mourning her. But he said, “Do not weep! Because she has not died away instead is sleeping.” And they ridiculed him, perceiving that she had died away.
Their assessment that she was dead was correct because they knew only too well that no-one, then as now, is able to restore life (or create it).
Was the assessment of Jesus also correct? Was it being made by one who had power over death? For him the dead child was only “sleeping.” Later he himself would be crucified to death - and would rise again.
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But holding her fast by her hand he called out, stating, “You child, rise up!” And her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately. And he instructed to give to her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he ordered them to say to no one what had come to be.
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“Her spirit returned.” Non-religious but in terrifying straits? That’s not a problem. Religious and worthy but in grave distress? No problem. Religious but unworthy, poor and life ebbing away? Touch. |
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