The Bleeding Woman
Jesus left from there and crossed back over by boat to the other side of the lake, and a crowd expected him, gathered, and welcomed him when he arrived. Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, was there, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at Jesus’ feet and pleaded with Jesus to come to his home because his only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying. He said to Jesus, “Come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live!” So Jesus and his disciples went with him. (Mark 5:21-24a, Luke 8:40-42a, Matthew 9:18-19)
As Jesus was on his way, large crowds followed and almost crushed him. Within the crowd was a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered for years under the care of many doctors and spent all that she had trying to get better; but nobody could heal her, and she gained nothing, but continued to get worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She thought to herself, “If I only touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately, when she touched Jesus, her fountain of blood dried up, and she felt her body was free from suffering. (Mark 5: 24b-29, Luke 8:42b-44, Matthew 9:20)
At once Jesus realized power had gone out of him and he turned to the crowd and asked: “Who touched my clothes?” Peter and his disciples replied, “You see all these people crowding against you? How can you ask if someone touched you?” But Jesus kept looking around to see the woman who had touched him and said: “Someone touched me; I felt that power has gone out of me.” The woman, knowing what happened and that it couldn’t go unnoticed, came to Jesus trembling with fear, fell at his feet, and told Jesus the whole truth in the presence of all the people, and how she was instantly healed. Jesus turned and saw her, and said, “Daughter, take heart. Your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering. (Mark 5:30-34, Luke 8:45-48, Matthew 9:22)
Jairus’ Daughter
While Jesus was still speaking to the woman, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler, and said: “Your daughter is dead; don’t bother the teacher anymore.” But ignoring what they said, Jesus told Jairus after overhearing their remarks, “Don’t be afraid, just believe, and she will be healed.” When Jesus arrived at the house of Jairus, there was a big commotion with people crying, wailing, mourning, and playing flutes for the girl. Jesus went into the house and asked, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead, but asleep.” And all the people ridiculed him because they knew the girl was dead. So Jesus told them to go away, threw them all out, and did not let anyone follow him inside except Peter, James, and John, and the girl’s father and mother. (Mark 5:35-40a, Luke 8:49-53, Matthew 9:23-24)
After Jesus put all of the guests out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him and went to where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” Which means, “My child, I say to you, arise!” Immediately the girl stood up and began walking around; for she was twelve years old. At this, they were very greatly astonished. Jesus told them to give her something to eat and then gave them strict orders not to let anyone know about this. But news of this spread through all that region. (Mark 5: 40b-43, Luke 8:54-56, Matthew 9:25-26)
