Two Daughters Desparately Needing Jesus Series

Luke’s gospel has several unique features. I’d like to point out a couple of these:

First, Luke is the only Gentile writer in the Bible and yet by volume, he contributed more that any other New Testament writer, more even than Paul. We’ve said this before, but it bears repeating.

Second, Luke’s gospel tells us more about the women in Jesus’ life than any other gospel. Some have observed that the genealogy of Jesus from David forward is different than that of Matthew, leading some to believe that Luke is recording the genealogy of Mary and Matthew, the genealogy of Joseph. That makes sense and accords with Luke’s interest in the women associated with Jesus. Luke tells details about Elizabeth and Mary that no other gospel tells. Anna in the temple is mentioned along side Simeon. Only Luke tells about the widow of Nain, and the sinful woman coming into Simon the Pharisee’s house. Remember how she is forgiven because she loves Jesus and expresses it to him by washing his feet with her tears and wiping them with her hair, kissing and anointing them? We studied that last week.

Today we come to the next chapter. In chapter 8 we again learn about several women. This chapter begins and ends with examples of women in the life of Christ.

Since we can’t cover it all in the time allotted for our service, we will focus our attention on the end of the chapter as we look at a dying daughter and a woman in the way.

Let’s go to verse 40 and look at the text:

40 And as Jesus returned, the multitude welcomed Him, for they had all been waiting for Him. 41 And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was an official of the synagogue; and he fell at Jesus’ feet, and began to entreat Him to come to his house; 42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying.

But as He went, the multitudes were pressing against Him. 43 And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone, 44 came up behind Him, and touched the fringe of His cloak; and immediately her hemorrhage stopped.

45 And Jesus said, "Who is the one who touched Me?" And while they were all denying it, Peter said, "Master, the multitudes are crowding and pressing upon You." 46 But Jesus said, "Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me."

47 And when the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48 And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."

49 While He was still speaking, someone came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, "Your daughter has died; do not trouble the Teacher anymore."

50 But when Jesus heard this, He answered him, "Do not be afraid any longer; only believe, and she shall be made well." 51 And when He had come to the house, He did not allow anyone to enter with Him, except Peter and John and James, and the girl’s father and mother.

52 Now they were all weeping and lamenting for her; but He said, "Stop weeping, for she has not died, but is asleep." 53 And they began laughing at Him, knowing that she had died. 54 He, however, took her by the hand and called, saying, "Child, arise!"

55 And her spirit returned, and she rose immediately; and He gave orders for something to be given her to eat. 56 And her parents were amazed; but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened.

So here we have it: A dying daughter whose father is desperately trying to get Jesus to touch her, and a determined woman who is desperately trying to get to Jesus to touch him, or at least the edge of his clothes. Jesus refers to her as daughter too. Vs 48. This day two daughters are delivered from sickness and death, all by the touch of Jesus.

Jesus has the touch that makes all the difference. Have you been in touch with Jesus lately?

Let’s spend our time this morning with this woman in the way, the daughter of Israel who is determined to touch Jesus and be healed.

Luke begins this section telling us that Jesus has returned. From where? Well, he has left the crowds for a while by getting on a boat and crossing the Sea of Galilee. He finally begins to get a little sleep on the boat when a storm hits. He’s so tired the disciples have to wake him when they think they are all going to drown. He wakes up, stills the storm and they continue their trip to the eastern shores of the Gerasenes, where he meets and casts out a legion of demons from a man. The towns people come out and run him off because when the demons left Legion, they went into a huge herd of pigs and they all ran and jumped in the lake and were drowned. Jesus can’t get away from the action even long enough to sleep. Now Jesus is back, probably in Capernam, and the crowds are waiting and thronging about him as he heads to Jairus’ house to heal his dying daughter.