Historic Jesus

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Raising of Jairus' Daughter

(Luke 8:40-56)
The synagogue was the local center of worship. The ruler of the synagogue was responsible for the administration of synagogue duties, building maintenance, and worship supervision. He was very well respected.

While Jesus was on His way to Jairus' house, the crowds almost crushed Him. However, even in this confusion, Jesus used the situation to teach the principle of faith.

There was a woman who had a bleeding problem and no one was able to help her. But she believed that, if she could just touch the edge of Jesus' cloak, she would be healed. She did and she was.

However, according to Jewish law, a man who touched a menstruating woman became ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 15:19-28). This was true whether her bleeding was normal or, as in this woman's case, the result of illness. To protect themselves from such defilement, Jewish men carefully avoided touching, speaking to, or even looking at women. By contrast, Jesus proclaimed to the crowd that this "unclean" woman had touched him--and then He healed her. Jesus wanted the crowd to know that her suffering was not to be overlooked. As God's creation she deserved attention and respect.

After acknowledging publicly this act of faith on the woman's part, Jesus continued to Jairus' house, when someone came to tell them that Jairus' daughter had died, He comforted Jairus and continued on to his home.

The wailers and mourners had already gathered at Jairus' house and Jesus told them to stop wailing--she was not dead but only asleep.

They, of course, laughed at Him, but He went in and raised her. He told her parents not to tell anyone what had happened. This may seem a strange command, but the girl's life would speak for itself. Also, Jesus wanted to be known as more than just a miracle worker.
(Life Application Bible, New International Version, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois, and Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1991, 1815.)