In first century Jewish society the practical needs for public and private hygiene were codified into laws and rules governing how to remain ceremonial clean. Persons deemed ‘unclean’ were forbidden by these laws and rules with having contact with any other persons because any contact would render the others unclean as well. Two circumstances that were strictly governed were the issues of bleeding and handling dead bodies.
The woman in our story does her best to hide her identity both before and after she touched Jesus because if discovered the crowd would angrily shun her. But Jesus calls her out of her darkness to affirm her faith and her new state of wholeness.
Jairus receives the news that his daughter has died immediately after he witnesses Jesus healing the woman. I suspect his heart leaped for joy when Jesus told him “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.” When Jesus arrives at Jairus’ home he takes the child’s hand, he touches a dead person, and calls her to life.
Jesus’ messianic power is clearly displayed. So also his mission. God’s Messiah took upon himself the ‘uncleanness’ of the people. Jesus came to where the people were and he intermingled himself into their lives. He got his hands dirty.
Jesus’ interactions with the woman and with Jairus’ family make the promise of Hebrews 4:14-16 come alive for me:
“So then, since we have a great High Priest
who has entered heaven,
Jesus the Son of God,
let us hold firmly to what we believe.
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses,
for he faced all of the same testings we do,
yet he did not sin.
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.
There we will receive his mercy,
and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
What word or phrase in these verses
attracts your attention?
Reflect on that word or phrase.
What insights come to you?
How does this passage touch your life today?
11-Jan-12 Luke 9:1-17
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