Chapter 8
Luke 8
The Women Who Were with Jesus (vv. 1-3)
1 Some time later Jesus travelled through towns and villages, preaching the Good News about the Kingdom of God. a The twelve disciples went with him, 2 and so did some women b who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (who was called Magdalene), from whom seven demons had been driven out; 3 Joanna, whose husband Chuza was an officer in Herod’s court; c and Susanna, and many other women who used their own resources to help Jesus and his disciples. d
Interesting Stuff:
a Jesus’ ministry before this time had been centred in Capernaum. Now he was travelling again from town to town on his second tour of the Galilean countryside. (For his first tour, see Lk 4:43-44)
b The rabbis of Jesus’ time considered women as inferior to men and refused to teach them. Jesus, however, did not look down on women and treated them with dignity. He freely admitted them into fellowship and accepted their service to him.
c Since Chuza was an officer in Herod’s court, he would probably be an important person. However, the nature of his job is not clear.
d This gives us one of the few glimpses of the way Jesus’ needs were met during his ministry. Jesus and his disciples did not provide for themselves by miracles but were supported by the resources of grateful people like these women.
In Jn 13:29, we read of the apostolic band having a common purse from which purchases for food were made and gifts given to the poor. It was not stated where the money came from but this was probably one of the sources. Here we learn that these women responded in love and gratitude for what Jesus had done for them. It seems that it was not uncommon for godly women to help religious teachers. What is interesting to note is that all the Gospels do not record any woman as ever taking action against Jesus. His enemies were all men.
Questions:
- Name some of the women who went around with Jesus and his disciples and who helped the group with their resources (vv. 1-3).
Summary of Section
- Jesus’ ministry up till this point had been centred around Capernaum and much of his preaching was in the synagogues. But now he travelled again from town to town on his second tour of the Galilean countryside to preach the Good News about the Kingdom of God.
- The 12 disciples went with him together with several women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases.
- They were Mary Magdalene who had had seven demons driven from her, Joanna, the wife of Chuza, an officer in Herod’s court, and Susanna, and many other women who used their own resources to help Jesus and his disciples.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- Now Jesus began to travel again on his second tour of Galilee.
- Luke identifies the twelve apostles and the women as companions and witnesses of Jesus’ ministry. They were being prepared for involvement in Jesus’ mission but they were not actively ministering or preaching yet.
- Socially, the women were a very mixed group. One of them, Joanna, wife of Chuza an official in Herod’s court, came from the privileged class. But what they had in common was the fact that they had been ministered to and healed by Jesus. Probably most of them were single women because single women would have been in an easier position to use their resources as they saw fit.
- Normally rabbis would not teach women, let alone have them follow them around as their disciples. Here we see how differently Jesus treated the women around him. It was no wonder that many loved him, gave out of their resources to help him, and stood by him right to the end.
The Parable of the Sower (vv.4-15)
4 People kept coming to Jesus from one town after another; and when a great crowd gathered, Jesus told this parable: e
5 “Once there was a man who went out to sow grain. f As he scattered the seed in the field, some of it fell along the path, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some of it fell on rocky ground, g and when the plants sprouted, they dried up because the soil had no moisture. 7 Some of the seed fell among thorn bushes, which grew up with the plants and choked them. 8 And some seeds fell in good soil; the plants grew and bore grain, one hundred grains h each.”
And Jesus concluded, “Listen, then, if you have ears!” i
9 His disciples asked Jesus what this parable meant, 10 and he answered, “The knowledge of the secrets of the Kingdom of God j has been given to you, but to the rest it comes by means of parables, so that they may look but not see, and listen but not understand. k
11 “This is what the parable means: the seed is the word of God. 12 The seeds l that fell along the path stand for those who hear; but the Devil comes and takes the message away from their hearts in order to keep them from believing and being saved. 13 The seeds that fell on rocky ground stand for those who hear the message and receive it gladly. But it does not sink deep into them; they believe only for a while but when the time of testing comes, they fall away. m 14 The seeds that fell among thorn bushes stand for those who hear; but the worries and riches and pleasures of this life crowd in and choke them, and their fruit never ripens. 15 The seeds that fell in good soil stand for those who hear the message and retain it in a good and obedient heart, and they persist until they bear fruit.
Interesting Stuff:
e From this time onwards, Jesus used parables more extensively as a means of teaching. Although parables made Jesus’ teachings clear, they also included hidden meanings that needed further explanation. Those who were sincerely seeking to know the truth would thus inquire further. Thus those who did not believe would not know the hidden truths because they would not be bothered to seek further. Thus only those who were sincere seekers would know fully all that Jesus wanted to teach them.
f The sower himself was not particularly concerned about the kind of soil he was sowing his seed onto. In Middle Eastern practice, the seeds were usually sown first and the field plowed afterwards. Roads and pathways went directly through many fields. Since plowing followed sowing, the pathways where people crossed the field might later be plowed under with seed. So seeds were also sown on them.
g This refers to the solid rock that was covered by a thin layer of soil. At the time of sowing, the rock would not be visible. Any moisture that fell on the thin layer of soil would evaporate and the germinating seed would wither and die.
h Some versions translate it as ‘a hundredfold’ or a hundred times more than was sown. The point is that there was an abundant harvest depending on the quality of the soil.
i This was a challenge for listeners to understand the message and to appropriate it for themselves.
j The secrets of the Kingdom of God refers to the purposes and plans of God which He works out phase by phase in His church and in human history. These are truths that can only be known by revelation from God.
k Jesus contrasted the disciples with those outside the Kingdom of God. He quoted from Isa 6:9, pointing out that these people who failed to respond to God’s word would find themselves not only under God’s judgment for rejecting him, but they would not be able to understand further truth. For such people, the parables would conceal the truths that would be revealed only to those who genuinely seek to know God’s ways. This is because parables both reveal and conceal truth: they reveal it to the genuine seeker who would take the trouble to dig beneath the surface and discover the meaning; but they conceal if from those who are content simply to listen to the story.
l Other versions translate this as ‘seed’.
m This kind of belief is superficial and does not save one from one’s sins.
Questions:
- Describe the parable of the sower (vv. 5-8).
2. How did Jesus explain this parable to his disciples (vv. 11-15)?
3. What point was Jesus making when he told this parable?
4. Why did Jesus speak in parables (vv. 9-10)?
Summary of Section
- People kept coming to Jesus from one town after another. He was becoming a popular preacher but he was looking for more in his listeners. So he used parables to teach them.
- Jesus told this parable: A man once went out to sow grain. As he scattered the seed in the field, some of it fell along the path, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when the plants sprouted, they dried up because the soil had no moisture. Some fell among thorn bushes, which grew up with the plants and choked them. Some fell in good soil, and the plants grew and bore grain a hundredfold.
- Jesus then told the crowd to pay careful attention to what they heard.
- When Jesus’ disciples wanted to know the meaning of the parables, Jesus answered first by telling them why he spoke in parables. He told them that the plans and purposes of God were revealed to them who have a hunger for God’s truths but others outside the Kingdom of God would see and hear but without really understanding the deeper truths of God.
- Then he explained that the seed is the word of God. The seed that fell into the various types of soil represents the different responses to the word of God:
a) The seed that fell along the path stands for those who heard but did not bother. Satan then takes the message away to keep them from believing and being saved.
b) The seed that fell on the rocky ground stands for those who hear the message and receive it gladly. But the message does not sink deep into them. They believe only for a while and when the time of testing comes, they fall away.
c) The seed that fell among the thorn bushes stands for those hear the message. But the worries and riches and pleasures of this life crowd in and choke them, and their fruit never ripens.
d) The seed that fell in good soil stands for those who hear the message and retain it in a good and obedient heart. They persist until they bear abundant fruit.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- Throughout these next three sections, Jesus’ main point was teaching the people the importance of genuine hearing. Hearing must always be associated with response and acting on what has been heard. Those who produce fruit are thus identified as those who hear correctly.
- Jesus was now attracting huge crowds of people. However, his message was proclaimed to all and not just to his disciples because all were potential followers. Although the stories he told were common, it had a certain meaning that required reflection to fully understand them. That was what Jesus meant when he called the crowd to listen if they have ears (v. 8).
- Jesus used parables because parables were stories that were easy to follow because they used scenes which were familiar to the listeners. However, they contained hidden truths that would yield their deeper meaning only to those who were prepared to search for them. The parables demanded thought and desire for spiritual truths and they separated the sincere seeker from the casual listener.
- The focal point of the parable of the sower was not the seed or the sower but the variety of soils. The sower himself did not discriminate between the different types of soil but he sowed everywhere in the field.
- Jesus pointed out that there are three possible outcomes of sowing the word of God widely: (i) no growth (ii) some growth but no fruit (iii) growth and fruit.
- In the first case, there is no faith because of the intervention of the devil, and thus no growth. In the second case (rocky ground and thorn bushes), faith takes root only for a short period of time and while there is some growth, there is no fruit. The third case, the ‘good soil’, is identified by Jesus as those who having heard, respond with faith and faithfulness to follow through until they bear fruit.
- Jesus thus presented genuine hearing as hearing that leads to faith and faith that leads to lives that will bear good fruit.
A Lamp on the Lampstand (vv. 16-18)
16 “No one lights a lamp n and covers it with a bowl or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on the lampstand, so that people will see the light as they come in. 17 “Whatever is hidden away will be brought out into the open, and whatever is covered up will be found and brought to light.
18 “Be careful, then, how you listen; because whoever has something will be given more, but whoever has nothing will have taken away from him even the little he thinks he has.”
Interesting Stuff:
n The purpose of lighting a lamp is to give light. Thus a lamp is not to be hidden under any object so that it can shine to give light.
Questions:
- According to Jesus, what does one do with a lamp that is lighted (v. 16)?
2. What is the point of this parable?
3. Why did Jesus ask the crowd to be careful how they listen (v. 18)?
Summary of Section
- Jesus said that no one lights a lamp and covers it with a bowl or puts it under a bed. Instead the person puts it on the lampstand so that people will see the light as they come in.
- The point of this parable of the lamp is about being careful with what we do concerning what we hear (v. 18).
- He said that whatever is hidden away will be brought out into the open and whatever is covered up will be discovered and revealed.
- He told the crowd to be careful how they listen. This is because whoever has something will be given more but whoever has nothing, even whatever little he thinks he has will be taken away.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- Although Jesus changed to a different picture, he was still emphasising to his hearers that genuine hearing would lead to the right kind of behaviour. If one has heard the word of God, it will ultimately show itself in behaviour that is appropriate for od’s people.
- Jesus was thus calling his disciples to let the light and truth of the gospel that had touched their lives shine forth. In due course, what was hidden (v. 17) from those who rejected God’s truths would be revealed.
- Another possible interpretation of v. 17 is that Jesus was saying that his teaching was accessible to all and that the sense of his message was not hidden. Understanding is available to any who chooses to hear.
- Like the parable of the sower, Jesus’ point was that it is important to hear rightly and respond obediently to the word of God. Those who do so would be given more by God. But those who do not listen and reject God’s word, would lose even the opportunity of hearing more teaching. They would lose even what they think they have.
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers (vv. 19-21)
19 Jesus’ mother and brothers o came to him, but were unable to join him because of the crowd. 20 Someone said to Jesus, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to see you.”
21 Jesus said to them all, “My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” p
Interesting Stuff:
o Mk 6:3 gives the names of four of Jesus’ brothers: James, Joseph, Judas and Simon. He also mentions the presence of his sisters. Since there is no mention of Jesus’ father, most scholars assume that Joseph had probably died by this time. Mark explains more why Jesus’ family was there to see Him (Mk 3:20-21, 31). People were saying that Jesus had gone mad and so his family came to take him home and away from his very hectic schedule.
p Jesus’ answer was not meant to reject his natural family. It was to emphasise the higher priority of his spiritual relationship to those who believe in him.
Questions:
- What did Jesus mean when he called all those who hear the word of God and obey it as his mothers and brothers (v. 21)?
Summary of Section
- Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him but were unable to join him because of the crowd.
- When someone told Jesus that they were standing outside waiting to see him, Jesus said to his followers that his mother and brothers were those who hear the word of God and obey it.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- Mark tells us in Mk 3:21, 31-32 that Jesus’ family thought that he was out of his mind’, and they came to get him away from his hectic schedule.
- Various interpretations concerning Jesus’ relationship with his brothers have been given: they were sons of Joseph by a previous marriage; they were cousins. The most natural interpretation is that they were the sons of Joseph and Mary, younger half-brothers of Jesus. Four of his brothers are named in Mk 6:3, where mention is made of his sisters as well.
- Jesus neither rejected nor praised his physical family (though later they became his disciples as well). Jesus’ reply was not meant to reject and consider his natural family unimportant. He thought of his mother even when he hung on the cross in agony (Jn 19:26-27). His reply was to honour those who obey God.
- He used the arrival of his family to redefine for his disciples and the crowd what kinship and family is based on. In the family of God, kinship is no longer based on blood ties but on the hearing and doing of the word of God.
- Jesus said that the way to be close to him, even closer than his own family was to hear the word of God and to obey it. Like the parables of the sower and the lamp, what is ultimately important to God is to listen to Him and to respond in obedience to what we hear. Such people, Jesus calls his family – his mothers and his brothers.
Jesus Calms a Storm (vv. 22-25)
22 One day Jesus got into a boat with his disciples and said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” q So they started out. 23 As they were sailing, Jesus fell asleep. r Suddenly a strong wind blew down on the lake, s and the boat began to fill with water, so that they were all in great danger. 24 The disciples went to Jesus and woke him up, saying, “Master, Master! We are about to die!”
Jesus got up and gave an order to the wind and to the stormy water; they quieted down, and there was a great calm. 25 Then he said to the disciples, “Where is your faith?”
But they were amazed and afraid, and said to one another, “Who is this man? t He gives orders to the winds and waves, and they obey him!”
Interesting Stuff:
q This refers to the Sea of Galilee. They were presumably on the western side of the lake in the region of Galilee.
r Jesus was probably very weary after a full day of teaching and ministering to large crowds.
s Situated in a basin surrounded by mountains, the Sea of Galilee is subject to sudden violent storms. Cool air from the east is drawn through the narrow mountain passes and clash with the hot, humid air above the lake creating violent wind storms.
t In view of what Jesus had done, the only answer to this question would be that he is the very Son of God because God’s presence and power was clearly demonstrated in his actions. By such miracles, the disciples’ faith in Jesus’ deity slowly grew.
Questions:
- Describe what happened to Jesus and his disciples as they sailed across the lake (vv. 22-24).
2. What miracle took place on the journey (v. 24)?
3. How did the disciples react to this miracle (v. 25)?
4. What question did Jesus ask them in response to their fear (v. 25)?
5. Why did the disciples respond in fear to what Jesus did (v. 25)?
6. What does this incident reveal to us about the true nature of Jesus?
Mention another miracle involving nature (5:5-7).
Summary of Section
- One day, Jesus got into a boat with his disciples and suggested that they go across to the other side of the Lake of Galilee.
- As they sailed across, Jesus fell asleep, probably exhausted after a hard day’s work of ministering to the crowds. He was so dead asleep that when a storm suddenly came and the boat began to fill with water, he did not wake up.
- The disciples were so afraid that they went to Jesus and woke him up, telling him that they were going to die.
- Jesus got up and gave an order to the wind and the stormy water. They quieted down and there was a great calm.
- He then asked his disciples, “Where is your faith?”
- The disciples reacted with amazement and fear. They still could not understand who Jesus really was for they had never met anyone who could order the forces of nature, the wind and the waves, to obey him.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- Although the disciples had been given the secrets of the Kingdom (v. 10) and they had already encountered Jesus’ power in the miraculous catch of fish (5:1-11), they seemed to have barely grown in their faith.
- Their calling Jesus ‘Master’ suggests that they barely understood still who Jesus was. This term refers to someone who has the status of being the authoritative leader of a group. Their ack of perception of either his power or purpose is further highlighted by Jesus’ question to them. He did not say that they were faithless but wondered why their faith had not shown itself during these circumstances. His asking them that question must have implied that they should have trusted him and not have given in to their fear. They had already witnessed Jesus’ power over evil spirits, sicknesses and even death.
- The OT portrays Yahweh as Lord of the sea. Thus Jesus’ rebuking of the storm and his mastery over it shows that he was acting as God acts, revealing his divine authority over the powers of nature.
Jesus Heals a Man with Demons (vv. 26-39)
26 Jesus and his disciples sailed on over to the territory of Gerasa, u which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 As Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a man from the town who had demons in him. For a long time this man had gone without clothes and would not stay at home, but spent his time in the burial caves. v 28 When he saw Jesus, he gave a loud cry, threw himself down at his feet, and shouted, “Jesus, Son of the Most High God! w What do you want with me? I beg you, don’t punish me!” 29 He said this because Jesus had ordered the evil spirit to go out of him. Many times it had seized him, and even though he was kept a prisoner, his hands and feet tied with chains, he would break the chains and be driven by the demon out into the desert.
30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” x
“My name is ‘Mob,’ y ” he answered – because many demons had gone into him. 31 The demons begged Jesus not to send them into the abyss. z
32 There was a large herd of pigs a’ near by, feeding on a hillside. So the demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he let them. 33 They went out of the man and into the pigs. The whole herd rushed down the side of the cliff into the lake and was drowned.
34 The men who had been taking care of the pigs saw what happened, so they ran off and spread the news in the town and among the farms. 35 People went out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were all afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the man had been cured. 37 Then all the people from that territory asked Jesus to go away, because they were terribly afraid. b’ So Jesus got into the boat and left. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged Jesus, “Let me go with you.”
But Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Go back home and tell what God has done for you.”
The man went through the town, telling what Jesus had done for him.
Interesting Stuff:
u This is a predominantly Gentile area on the southeastern side of the Sea of Galilee. Some manuscripts have slight variations in the name: Gadara, Gergesa, or region of the Gerasenes.
v The tombs where the dead were buried were usually caves cut out in rocky areas.
w The title ‘Most High God’ was commonly used by Gentiles.
x Jesus asked the man his name but it was the demons who replied, showing that they were in control of the man.
y Most versions translate this word as ‘Legion’. In a Roman legion there were about 6,000 soldiers. This was the demon’s way of saying that a whole troop of demons were in the man.
z In the Bible, ‘abyss’ refers to the place where demons are confined. The Greek word means ‘bottomless’ or ‘very deep’.
a’ Pigs were unclean to the Jews. They were not allowed to keep pigs or to eat the meat of pigs. These people were thus mostly Gentiles.
b’ Their fear could have been a superstitious reaction to the supernatural power of Jesus. Or it could have been because of their financial loss as a result of the destruction of the pigs. If so, then they must have found Jesus uncomfortable to have around. Thus instead of welcoming him as one who had delivered one of their people from demons, they rejected him and sent him away.
Questions:
- Relate the incident of Jesus’ encounter with the demon-possessed man from Gerasa (vv. 26-35).
2. Describe the man who was demon-possessed (vv. 27, 29).
What was he like after Jesus delivered him from the demons inside him (v. 35)?
3. How did the people from that region respond after they found out what happened from those who witnessed the incident (vv. 35-37)?
4. How did the man who was delivered respond to Jesus (v. 38)?
5. Why did Jesus refuse his request (v. 39)?
Summary of Section
- When Jesus and his disciples reached the other side of the Lake of Galilee, they landed in a predominantly Gentile area, the territory of Gerasa.
- As Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demoniac from the town. This man had for a long time worn no clothes and lived among the burial caves. His hands and feet were bound by chains but when the demons seized him, he would break the chains and be driven by the demons into the desert.
- When he saw Jesus, he threw himself down at Jesus’ feet. He shouted his name ‘Jesus, Son of the Most High God’, and begged Jesus not to punish him because Jesus had ordered the evil spirit to leave the man.
- Jesus then asked him for his name. He said his name was Mob or Legion, implying that a whole regiment of demons lived in the man.
- The demons, recognising that they had to submit to Jesus’ authority and that they had to leave the man, begged not to be sent to the abyss, a place where demons were confined. Instead they asked to be allowed to go into the herd of pigs grazing nearby.
- Jesus gave them permission and they left the man and entered the pigs. Immediately, the pigs rushed down the cliff into the lake and were drowned.
- The herdsmen, seeing what happened, ran off and spread the news in the town and the farms. People went out to see for themselves and they found the demoniac at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind.
- Instead of rejoicing that the man had been freed from the demons that had controlled his life, the people reacted in fear. All the people from that territory asked Jesus to go away because they were very frightened. And so Jesus got into the boat and left.
- The healed man’s response was different. He begged Jesus to allow him to go with him. However, Jesus sent him back home with the instruction that he was to declare to others what God had done for him and he obeyed.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- This was the first time Jesus had crossed over into predominantly Gentile territory.
- It was the prevailing belief that possessing someone’s name was considered equivalent to having power over the person. Thus in the beginning instead of departing immediately, the demon attempted to negotiate with Jesus to try to gain power over him by the use of Jesus’ name. Jesus countered by demanding and receiving the demon’s name. This is the only incident recorded of Jesus asking for the name of the evil spirit.
- The man was probably a Gentile, who, unlike the disciples who were overcome by fear in the previous section, recognised Jesus as the one through whom God is bringing His salvation. His sitting at the feet of Jesus indicated his submission to Jesus and his status now as a disciple, a learner at the feet of his teacher.
- Before the man had been alienated from his home and city. Now Jesus returned him to his home and gave him an assignment. He was to have a share in Jesus’ ministry by telling the story of God’s mighty acts on his behalf. He thus became the first person to be commissioned by Jesus for missionary activity.
- Whatever the reason for the people’s fear, they rejected Jesus, and so Jesus departed from their place. It would seem that in the Gentile world as well there was opposition to the Good News of God.
Jesus Heals a Sick Woman and Raises Jairus' Daughter to Life (vv.40-56)
40 When Jesus returned to the other side of the lake, the people welcomed him, because they had all been waiting for him. 41 Then a man named Jairus arrived; he was an official c’ in the local synagogue.
He threw himself down at Jesus’ feet and begged him to go to his home, 42 because his only daughter, who was twelve years old, was dying.
As Jesus went along, the people were crowding him from every side. 43 Among them was a woman who had suffered from severe bleeding d’ for twelve years; she had spent all she had on doctors, but no one had been able to cure her. 44 She came up in the crowd behind Jesus and touched the edge e’ of his cloak, and her bleeding stopped at once. 45 Jesus asked, “Who touched me?” f’
Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, the people are all around you and crowding in on you.”
46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I knew it when power went out of me.” 47 The woman saw that she had been found out, so she came trembling and threw herself at Jesus’ feet. There in front of everybody, she told him why she had touched him and how she had been healed at once. 48 Jesus said to her, “My daughter, g’ your faith has made you well. h’ Go in peace.”
49 While Jesus was saying this, a messenger came from the official’s house. “Your daughter has died,” he told Jairus; “don’t bother the Teacher any longer.”
50 But Jesus heard it and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; only believe, and she will be well.”
51 When he arrived at the house, he would not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Everyone there was crying and mourning i’ for the child. Jesus said, “Don’t cry; the child is not dead – she is only sleeping!”
53 They all made fun of him, because they knew that she was dead. 54 But Jesus took her by the hand and called out, “Get up, child!” 55 Her life returned, and she got up at once, and Jesus ordered them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astounded, but Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone j’ what had happened.
Interesting Stuff:
c’ Other versions translate it as ‘ruler’ of the synagogue. He was the official responsible for the arrangements at the synagogue service. He would choose, e.g., who to read the Scriptures and preach, who to do the prayers, etc. He was thus an important person in the community.
d’ The nature of her disease is not known other than the fact that she had been subject to bleeding for 12 years. Not only would this have been distressing but it had social implications for her as well. Her discharge of blood would have made her ‘unclean’ (Lev 15:25-28) and anybody that she touched would become ‘unclean’ as well. Any object that she sat on would be unclean and anyone touching those objects would become unclean as well. She would not be permitted to take part in Temple worship or anything related. Thus life would have been very difficult for her.
This would explain why she quietly came behind Jesus. Had she come openly, people might not have allowed her to get close to Jesus. Secondly, she would have to tell in front of everyone her problem which would caused her considerable embarrassment.
e’ She touched the edge or fringe of Jesus’ cloak. This would be the tassel (something like a bunch of strings or threads sewn on the edges of garments) on the end of the cloak that was thrown over the left shoulder and hung down the back. The tassel being longer would probably trail behind. There would probably be an element of superstitious belief that a touch of the healer’s garment could bring healing.
f’ It was most likely for the woman’s good and a testimony to the crowd that Jesus insisted that the miracle be made known.
g’ Jesus addressed her tenderly as ‘daughter’. In all the Gospels, she is the only woman he addressed in this way.
h’ Jesus wanted the woman to know that it was not her touch but her faith that healed her.
i’ It is not clear who were weeping and mourning for the child. They would probably include the family, neighbours as well as professional mourners who were hired to cry at funerals.
j’ Jesus did not want more publicity about the miracles he was performing especially this one on raising from the dead. This would have hindered his ministry because again crowds would seek him out for the wrong reasons.
Questions:
- Who was Jairus (v. 41)?
What did he ask Jesus to do (vv. 41-42)?
2. What happened to Jesus when he was on his way to Jairus’ house (vv. 42b-44)?
3. What were the problems faced by the woman who touched the edge of Jesus’ cloak (v. 43)?
4. Describe what happened after Jesus asked who had touched him (vv. 45-47).
5. How did Jesus respond to what the woman said (v. 48)?
6. Explain how the Jewish laws had been violated by the woman’s touch on Jesus
7. What was the message brought by the messenger from Jairus’ house during Jesus’ conversation with the woman (v. 49)?
What did Jesus tell Jairus after they heard the message (v. 50)?
8. Who did Jesus allow to go with him into the house (v. 51)?
9. What did Jesus tell those who were mourning for the child (v. 52)?
What was their response (v. 53)?
10. Describe what happened when Jesus went in to the child (vv. 54-56).
11. Comment on three points of interest in the incident of Jairus and the raising of his daughter from the dead by Jesus.
Summary of Section
- When Jesus returned to the other side of the lake, he found a crowd that had been waiting to welcome him back.
- Then a man named Jairus, who was an official of the local synagogue, arrived. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and begged him to go to his home because his only daughter, who was twelve years old, was dying.
- As Jesus went along, the crowd pressed on him from every side. Among them was a woman who had suffered from severe bleeding for 12 years. She had spent all her money on doctors but no one had been able to cure her.
- She came up in the crowd behind Jesus, and touched the edge of his cloak. Immediately her bleeding stopped.
- Jesus asked who had touched him. He had felt power going out from him and he knew that someone had touched him.
- Everyone denied it. Peter told Jesus that it was impossible to know since so many people must have touched him as they were crowded around him.
- When Jesus persisted, saying that he knew for certain he had been touched because power went out from him, the woman knew that she had no choice but to own up.
- She came trembling and threw herself at Jesus’ feet. There in front of the crowd, she told Jesus why she had touched him and how she had been healed at once.
- Jesus said to her, “My daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
- While Jesus was saying this, a messenger came from Jairus’ house to tell him that his daughter had died and not to bother Jesus any more.
- When Jesus heard it, he told Jairus not to be afraid but to believe and his daughter would be well.
- When they arrived at the house, Jesus only allowed Peter, John and James, together with the girl’s father and mother to go in with him.
- Everyone there was crying and mourning for the child. Jesus told them not to cry for the child was not dead, but only sleeping. However, they all made fun of Jesus because they knew that she was dead.
- Jesus took the girl’s hand and called her to get up. Her life returned and she got up immediately.
- Jesus told the parents to give her something to eat. Her parents were completely astonished by what happened but Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- The woman’s bleeding had rendered her ritually unclean all the time so that she probably lived in isolation from her community for 12 years, the whole of the life of Jairus’ daughter who was 12 years old. She must also have become materially poor, having seen doctors for all these years. This is the story of her determination to cross all the barriers in order to be healed and God rewarded her faith.
- It is not clear whether Jesus already knew beforehand who the person was and he wanted her to come out into the open for her own good. From the dialogue it would seem that Jesus knew only that power had gone out from him – God might have extended His healing power through His Son without him being aware of the woman’s identity.
- The woman wanted to go unnoticed possibly because of the embarrassment of her illness or her boldness in breaking the ritual laws and touching Jesus.
- In getting her to make a public confession, Jesus would be ensuring that her healing would now be known to all and she could therefore be accepted back into the social and religious life of the community. Jesus wanted also to show the woman that it was her faith that healed her, not her touch.
- Jesus addressed her tenderly as ‘daughter’. She was the only woman addressed by Jesus in this way in the Gospels. His heart must have been touched by all that she had gone through. He now embraced her in the family of God by referring to her as ‘daughter’, thus extending kinship to her and restoring her to a larger family of God.
- Jesus’ response to the messenger was to point out to Jairus that fear must give way to a faith that recognises who Jesus is and trusts that he is able to bring about the miraculous.
- In the NT, believers are never said to die, but to sleep. Before Jesus raised Lazarus (Jn 11:11), he also said that Lazarus was asleep and he was going to wake him up. Similarly, Jesus did not consider this girl dead but asleep. When she got up, Jesus cared even for her physical needs and he asked them to give her something to eat. He then told the parents not to tell anyone about what happened.
- Again we see Jesus not wanting publicity for his miraculous deeds because he did not want to attract people who seek after him for the wrong reasons.
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