LVIII.

Jairus' Daughter and the Invalid Woman.

(Capernaum, Same Day as Last.)

^A Matt. IX. 18–26; ^B Mark V. 22–43; ^C Luke VIII. 41–56.

^c 41 And ^a 18 While he spake these things unto them [while he talked about fasting at Matthew's table], behold, there came, { ^b cometh} ^c a man named Jairus, { ^b Jairus by name;} ^c and he was a ruler { ^b one of the rulers} of the synagogue [He was one of the board of elders which governed the synagogue at Capernaum. These elders were not necessarily old men—Matt. xix. 16–22; Luke xviii. 18–23], and seeing him, ^c he fell { ^b falleth} ^c down at Jesus' feet, ^a and worshipped him [It was a very lowly act for the ruler of a synagogue thus to bow before the Man of Nazareth. But the ruler was in trouble, and his needs were stronger than his pride] , ^c and besought him to come into his house; 42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. ^b 23 and beseecheth him much, saying, My little daughter is at the point of death: ^a is even now dead [he left her dying, 353and so stated his fears in the very strongest way]: but ^b I pray thee, that thou come and lay thy hands on { ^a hand upon} her, ^b that she may be made whole, and live. ^a and she shall live. 19 And Jesus arose [From Matthew's table. Jesus did not fast for form's sake, but he was ever ready to leave a feast that he might confer a favor], and followed him, and so did his disciples. ^b 24 And he went him; and a great multitude followed him [The ruler, of highest social rank in the city, found Jesus among the lowliest, and they were naturally curious to see what Jesus would do for this grandee], and they { ^c But as he went the multitudes} thronged him. ^a 20 And, behold, a woman, who had { ^c having} an issue of blood twelve years, ^b 26 and had suffered many things of many physicians, and ^c who had spent ^b all that she had, ^c all her living upon physicians, ^b and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, ^c and could not be healed of any [Medicine was not a science in that day. Diseases were not cured by medicine, but were exorcised by charms. The physician of Galilee in that age did not differ very widely from the medicine-man of the North American Indians. One in easy circumstances could readily spend all during twelve years of doctoring with such leeches.] ^b 27 having heard the things concerning Jesus [her faith rested on hearing rather than on sight], came in the crowd behind, ^c him, and touched the border of his garment: ^a 21 for she said within herself, If I do but touch his garment, { ^b garments,} I shall be made whole. [The nature of her disease made her unclean (Lev. xv. 26). Her consciousness of this made her, therefore, timidly approach Jesus from behind.] 29 And straightway { ^c immediately} ^b the fountain of her blood was dried up; ^c the issue of her blood stanched. ^b and she felt in her body that she was healed of her plague. [The feeble pulse of sickness gave way to the glow and thrill of health.] 30 And straightway Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power proceeding from him had gone forth, turned him about in the 354crowd, and said, Who touched my garments? ^c Who is it that touched me? And when all denied, Peter and they ^b his disciples ^c that were with him, ^b said unto him, ^c Master, the multitude press thee and crush thee, ^b Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? ^c 46 But Jesus said, Some one did touch me: for I perceived that power had gone forth from me. ^b 32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. ^c 47 And { ^b 33 But} ^c when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came ^b fearing and trembling [because being unclean, any rabbi would have rebuked her severely for touching him], knowing what had been done to her, came and fell { ^c falling} down before him ^b and told him all the truth. ^c declared in the presence of all the people for what cause she touched him, and how she was healed immediately. [To have permitted the woman to depart without this exposure would have confirmed her in the mistaken notion that Jesus healed rather by his nature than by his will. Hence he questions her, not that he may obtain information, but rather as a means of imparting it. By his questions he reveals to her that no work of his is wrought without his consciousness, and that it was himself and not his garment which had blessed her.] ^a 22 But Jesus turning and seeing her said, ^c unto her, ^a Daughter, be of good cheer [Faith gets a sweet welcome]; thy faith hath made thee whole. ^c go in peace. ^b and be whole of thy plague. [Be permanently whole: an assurance that relief was not temporal, but final.] ^a And the woman was made whole from that hour. [Faith healed her by causing her to so act as to obtain healing. Faith thus saves; not of itself, but by that which it causes us to do. It causes us to so run that we obtain.] ^b 35 While he yet spake, they come from { ^c there cometh one from} the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying, Thy daughter is dead: ^b why troublest thou the Teacher any further? ^c trouble not the Teacher. [The delay caused by healing this woman must have sorely tried the ruler's patience, and the sad 355news which followed it must have severely tested his faith; but we hear no word of murmuring or bitterness from him.] 50 But Jesus hearing it, ^b not heeding the words spoken [not succumbing to the situation], ^c answered him, { ^b saith unto the ruler of the synagogue,} Fear not, only believe. ^c and she shall be made whole. [Thus, with words of confidence and cheer, Jesus revived the ruler's failing faith.] ^b 37 And he suffered no man to follow with him [into the house with him], save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. [These three were honored above their fellows by special privileges on several occasions, because their natures better fitted them to understand the work of Christ.] ^c 51 And when he came to the house, he suffered not any man to enter in with him, save Peter and John, and James, and the father of the maiden and her mother. ^b 38 And they come to the house of the ruler of the synagogue; ^a 23 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, ^b he beholdeth a tumult, and many weeping and wailing greatly. ^a and saw the flute-players, and the crowd making a tumult, 24 he said, Give place [Mourning began at the moment of death, and continued without intermission until the burial, which usually took place on the day of the death. Even to this day Oriental funerals are characterized by noisy uproar and frantic demonstrations of sorrow, made by real and hired mourners. Flute-players, then as now, mingle the plaintive strains of their instruments with the piercing cries of those females who made mourning a profession]: ^c 52 And all were weeping, and bewailing her: but he said, { ^b saith} unto them, Why make ye a tumult, and weep? ^c Weep not; she ^b the child ^a the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. [Jesus used this figurative language with regard to Lazarus, and explained by this he meant death—John xi. 14.] And they laughed him to scorn. ^c knowing that she was dead. [His words formed a criticism as to their judgment and experience as to death, and threatened to interrupt them in earning their funeral 356dues.] ^a 25 But when the crowd was put forth, ^b he, having put them all forth [because their tumult was unsuited to the solemnity and sublimity of a resurrection. They were in the outer room—not in the room where the dead child lay], taketh the father of the child and her mother and them [the three] that were with him, and goeth in { ^a he entered in,} ^b where the child was. [Jesus took with him five witnesses, because in the small space of the room few could see distinctly what happened, and those not seeing distinctly might circulate inaccurate reports and confused statements as to what occurred. Besides, Jesus worked his miracles as privately as possible in order to suppress undue excitement.] ^a and took { ^b taking} the child { ^c her} by the hand, called, saying, { ^b saith} unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, { ^c Maiden,} ^b I say unto thee, Arise. [Mark gives the Aramaic words which Jesus used. They were the simple words with which anyone would awaken a child in the morning.] ^c 55 And her spirit returned ^b 42 And straightway the damsel rose up, { ^a arose.} ^c she rose up immediately: ^b and walked [her restoration was complete]; for she was twelve years old. ^c and he commanded that something ^b should be given her to eat. [Her frame, emaciated by sickness, was to be invigorated by natural means.] ^c 56 And her parents were amazed: ^b they were amazed straightway with a great amazement. [Faith in God's great promise is seldom so strong that fulfillment fails to waken astonishment.] 43 And { ^c but} ^b he charged them much ^c to tell no man what had been done. ^b that no man should know this [A command given to keep down popular excitement. Moreover, Jesus did not wish to be importuned to raise the dead. He never was so importuned] : ^a 26 And the fame hereof went forth into all that land. 357