These stories give confirmation and validity to the miracles

BY RITA BENNETT

The Beacon

Have you heard about the exciting day when Jesus Christ healed a dying 12-year-old girl, and a woman who had been slowly bleeding to death for 12 years? Both happened on the same day 2,000 years ago and many of His followers still talk about it today.

These true stories recorded in three of the four Gospel accounts give confirmation and validity to the miracles. Nearly everyone must have known about it in these two communities.

The girl was the only child of Jairus, the synagogue leader. He fell at Jesus' feet and implored Him saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand upon her and she will live" (Matthew 9:18, NKJV).

Jesus and His disciples arose and followed Jairus to his home. As they hurried to the child, a crowd followed. Can you imagine how thrilling it was to be in the throng that followed this teaching, healing rabbi?

Woman With Faith

Surprisingly, a woman having a constant flow of blood for 12 years inserted herself into Jesus' schedule. She was considered ceremonially unclean, and touching a rabbi would have had severe consequences.

But suddenly she saw her moment of deliverance from this plague and regardless of the cost made a leap through the crowd for the hem of Jesus garment.

She from within proclaimed, If only I can touch the hem of His garment, I shall be made well (Matt 9:21 NKJV). She did not just hope, or wish, but her faith was strong enough that she proclaimed,

`I Shall Be Made Well!

During this healing, Jesus stopped and said, Who touched Me?

When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say Who touched Me?

But Jesus said, Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me (Luke 8:45-46 NKJV).

As the power of healing flowed out of Him, He physically felt it. He was truly a conduit from Heaven to earth!

Here Jesus was in a hurry to pray for the little girl, but the bleeding woman's faith reached out causing Him to heal her first. (Luke 8:48)

The woman touched the hem of Jesus garment, the tassels hanging from the edge of a Jewish cloak, that reminded the Jews of the Torah. (Numbers 15:38, The Spirit-Filled Life Bible Commentary).

This Jewish woman actually touched one of the four sacred Hebrew letters of God's proper Name, (YHVH). And Jesus, who wore them, was and is the healing Son of God!

Healing The Child

In Luke's account of resurrecting the girl, Jesus had said to the crowd, "Do not weep; she is not dead but sleeping."

Some onlookers thought this was humorous. It must have been obvious that she was dead (Luke 8:40-56).

After Jesus instructed all who laughed and ridiculed to leave, only then did He speak the command, "Talita, kumi!" (which means, Little girl, I say to you, get up!) At once the girl got up and began walking aroundeveryone was utterly amazed" (Mark 5:41-42, 43, Complete Jewish Bible, David Stern).

Then Jesus in a fatherly way said, Give her some food.

What About Today?

Maybe you have felt the healing touch of God in this 21st Century, at Holy Communion, while enjoying a sermon, or during a special prayer. At times His power is tangible today.

Believers who praycan represent the hem of Christ's garment now.

Jesus' power is in us and with us. His anointed Word leads us. The Commandments and His mighty Name are our tassels.

Take a moment to meditate on His love for you. Then reach out and touch Him to meet your needs today.

(Local author Rita Bennett is CEO of the Edmonds-based Christian Renewal Association. She can be reached at (425) 775-2965 or at www.EmotionallyFree.org or ritabennett.cra@gte.net, or by writing her at P.O. Box 576, Edmonds, WA 98020.)