Who touched me?

The testimony of the woman who had been ill for 12 years strengthened the faith of the 12-year-old girl's father.

Previous Chapter: Silence, Be Still!

Would anyone believe it, if told, when the God of heaven came to this earth, the very temple that was built to worship Him actually worked against Him? Yet, that is precisely what happened, when Jesus Christ came to this earth, the Jews had decreed that anyone acknowledging Him as the Son of God would be barred from entering the temple - for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue - John 9:22

Especially the Pharisees, a strict religious sect that dominated the temple, had issued such a decree - Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue - John 12:42

It was precisely in this situation, where the ruling council itself had issued a decree against Jesus Christ, one of the synagogues leader came to Jesus, fell at His feet, and pleaded for his only daughter - 21.And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22.Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23.and implored him earnestly, saying, My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live. 24.And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him - Mark 5:21-24

When the Gospel of Luke recounts this incident, it describes as Jairus's "only daughter", a term typically used when a parent is advanced in age and there is no longer any prospect of having more children, It was this elderly Jairus who fell at Jesus' feet and pleaded for his daughter - 40.So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him. 41.And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house, 42.for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him - Luke 8:40-42 

However, Jairus's daughter had already died due to the severity of her illness, which Jairus not aware of it, so he was pleading to Jesus that He could come and heal her. Yet, the Lord knew everything; He knew He had to go Jairus's house, not to not heal her, but to raise from the dead, a task requiring Jairus to place unwavering faith on the Lord, and it was then that another miracle took place - 25.And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26.and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27.She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28.For she said, If I touch even his garments, I will be made well. 29.And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease - Mark 5:25-29

Meanwhile, some were rushing from Jairus' home to inform him about his daughter death, in the mean time, Jairus is walking towards his home with Jesus Christ, Jesus knew the messengers  will reach anytime with the death news, and as we go close to Jairus home he will start hearing the sound of flute which they normally play to announce the death news, and also he will start hearing lamenting sound.

Jesus knew, when hearing all these, how deep the Jairus anguish would be, and immediately he will abandon his faith and rush to see his only daughter and comfort his wife, that's when, Jesus called the women who just received the healing to share her testimony by saying, "Who touched my garments?", He did this so by hearing her testimony, Jairus would remain on his faith on the Lord, and would not run to see his daughter - 30.And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31.And his disciples said to him, You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?” 32.And he looked around to see who had done it. 33.But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34.And he said to her, Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease - Mark 5:30-34

The testimony of the woman who touched the Lord's garment

How she would have shared her testimony? The Gospel of Luke described her as a very wealthy women, it uses the same word "bíos" which is used for the prodigal son who spent all his money, that means she was a well knows person in that village, and familiar to Jairus as well,  In that very context, she shared her testimony to strengthen Jairus’s faith - 43.And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living [bíos] on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. 44.She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. 45.And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” 46.But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” 47.And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed - Luke 8:43-47 

She first spoke of her wealthy situation, and the honor she had commanded among the people, and then she recounted how the twelve years of bleeding disorder made her perpetually unclean, and an outcast woman that no one can touch, and left in a pitiable state of isolation, and then she spoke with anguish of how she had spent all her wealth for the treatment, losing not only her fortune but also her relationships, eventually becoming so weak that she could barely walk.

And then she said, in that desperate situation, shunned by all and facing imminent death, I came to know that Jesus is in our village, i heard when Jesus touches even the lepers are getting healed, but i am a defiled woman, according to Moses law, if i touch somebody they also will be defiled, then how can i ask Jesus to touch me, so i decided to touch him without his knowledge, and was looking for an opportunity to touch him, as he was crossing, i joined with the crowd and touched his garment, the moment i touched, i was restored to my former strength, now i can walk, run and jump.

Furthermore, she advised Jairus, saying, "If I who merely touched the His garment received such a healing, imagine the miracles that would occur if He comes to your home; so, take Him with you your daughter will be healed." Hearing this, Jairus developed a deep desire that his daughter also experience similar healing; which became an unshakable faith on Jesus Christ - 35.While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36.But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” - Mark 5:35-36

When Jairus started trusting on Jesus, the news came that her daughter dead, and they also advised to focus on burial work Instead of bringing Jesus to his home, but Jairus did not leave Jesus, did not to rush to see his daughter or to comfort his wife; instead, he continued walking with Jesus. 

They were completely astonished

By the time they arrived, a large crowd gathered for the funeral had already assembled at his house. Yet, amidst them all, Jairus held fast to the faith that Jesus could and would perform a miracle for his daughter. Thus, strengthening Jairus in his faith, our Lord God Jesus Christ raised his daughter back to life - 37.And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38.They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39.And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40.And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41.Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42.And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), And immediately they were completely astonished. 43.And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat - Mark 5:35-43 

Everyone in the room, including the parents were utterly amazed, that because, not only her life is back, there was no trace of illness in her body, furthermore, they were deeply amazed, when Jairus started telling to his wife, while coming how Jesus healed the woman who had suffered for twelve years from a bleeding disorder and strengthened his faith. 

While Jairus’s sole aim was for his daughter to live, the objective of our God is be saved and attain eternal life, that is why He said "she will be saved" - While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler's house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be saved- Luke 8:49-50

Would parents fail to provide food for their only daughter who had raised from death? No, then, why did Jesus Christ asked them to feed her? Here Jesus Christ did not talk about the worldly food, but to accept him as a personal savior and attain eternal life - I am the Bread of Life - John 6:48 

Next Chapter: Draw out now, and carry to the headwaiter