The Healing Touch of Jesus

(Matthew 9:18–26, Luke 8:40–56)

21 When Jesus had again crossed by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him beside the sea. 22 A synagogue leader named Jairus arrived, and seeing [Jesus], he fell at His feet 23 and pleaded with Him urgently “My little daughter is near death. [Please] come [and] place [Your] hands on her, so that she will be healed and live.”

24 So [Jesus] went with him, and a large crowd followed and pressed around Him. 25 And a woman [was there] who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had borne much {agony} under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, [her condition] had only grown worse.

27 When [the woman] heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind [Him] [and] touched His cloak. 28 For she kept saying “If only I touch His garments, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in [her] body that she was healed of [her] affliction.

30 At once Jesus was aware [that] power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched My garments?”

31 His disciples answered “You can see the crowd pressing in on You, and yet You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”

32 But He kept looking around to see who had done this. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him trembling in fear, and she told Him the whole truth.

34 “Daughter,” said [Jesus] “your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

35 While He was still speaking, [ messengers ] from [the house of Jairus] arrived [and] said, “Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher anymore?”

36 But Jesus overheard[fn] their conversation and said to [Jairus], “{Do} not be afraid; just believe.” 37 And He did not allow anyone to accompany Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.

38 When they arrived at the house of the synagogue leader, [Jesus] saw [the] commotion and [the people] weeping and wailing loudly. 39 He went inside [and] asked “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep.”

40 And they laughed at Him. [After] He had put them all outside He took the child’s father and mother and His own companions and went in [to see] the child 41 Taking [her] by the hand, [Jesus] said “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” 42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk around she was twelve years old). And at once they were utterly astounded 43 Then [Jesus] gave strict orders that no one should know about this, and He told [them] to give her [something] to eat.