Luke 8:40-48
A Touch of Faith
Read the passage
40When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed Him, for they had all been waiting for Him.
41Just then a synagogue leader named Jairus came and fell at Jesus’ feet. He begged Him to come to his house,
42because his only daughter, who was about twelve, was dying. As Jesus went with him, the crowds pressed around Him,
43including a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. She had spent all her money on physicians, but no one was able to heal her.
44She came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
45“Who touched Me?” Jesus asked. But they all denied it. “Master,” said Peter, “the people are crowding and pressing against You.”
46But Jesus declared, “Someone touched Me, for I know that power has gone out from Me.”
47Then the woman, seeing that she could not escape notice, came trembling and fell down before Him. In the presence of all the people, she explained why she had touched Him and how she had immediately been healed.
48“Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
When Jesus returns, a crowd welcomes Him. Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, falls at His feet and begs Him to come to his house because his only daughter, about twelve years old, is dying.
As Jesus goes, the crowds press around Him. A woman who has had a discharge of blood for twelve years comes behind Him and touches the fringe of His garment. Immediately her discharge stops.
Jesus asks who touched Him. Everyone denies it, and Peter says the crowds are pressing around Him. Jesus insists that someone touched Him because He knows that power has gone out from Him.
The woman comes forward trembling. She tells everyone why she touched Him and how she was healed immediately. Jesus calls her “Daughter” and tells her that her faith has made her well. He addresses her as family and sends her away in peace. Her faith rests in Jesus; the power that heals belongs to him. She leaves with more than relief from bleeding: she has heard his own reassuring word.
Questions
1 Why does Jairus seek Jesus?
AnswerJairus's only daughter, about twelve years old, is dying, so he falls before Jesus and begs Him to come to his house.
2 What happens when the woman touches Jesus' garment?
AnswerHer twelve-year discharge stops immediately. Jesus knows that power has gone out from Him even though the crowd is pressing around Him.
3 Why does the woman come forward?
AnswerShe sees that she cannot escape notice after Jesus asks who touched him. Trembling, she explains why she came and how she was healed.
4 What does Jesus call her?
AnswerHe calls her “Daughter” and tells her that her faith has made her well, sending her away in peace.
What This Means for Us
Jairus has an urgent, public request. The woman has a need she has carried quietly for years. Jesus gives her his attention even while going to the dying child. Someone else's crisis does not make her suffering unimportant to him.
We may know people who have stopped mentioning a long illness because nothing seems to change. Remember them, ask how they are doing, and make room to listen. We can bring their needs to Jesus without deciding that continued illness means they have failed to believe enough.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, see those whose suffering has gone on for years and those who fear losing someone they love. Make our household gentle with hidden pain and faithful in bringing every need to You. Amen.