Luke 8:40-56 - Trouble at Twelve

Introduction:

It is amazing how years can seem short and long all at the same time. Today we will see a 12 year old young lady who has a terminal diagnosis. Everything within us screams that a life of only 12 years is not long enough at all. She should have so much life left to live.

Yet, when it comes to suffering, 12 years seems like an eternity. Today we are also going to see a woman who had suffered abdominal pain and bleeding for 12 years. Every day she experienced pain and suffering in her diseased body.

Yet these two individuals encounter Christ on the same day. Both of these ladies who are experiencing dreadful earthly circumstances are introduced to the Savior, namely Jesus Christ.

Join me as we go through Luke chapter 8 verses 40-56 and see Jesus miraculously work yet again.

Prayer

As most of you know, we go through the Bible book by book and verse by verse. This method of preaching allows us to see the entire context of the Scriptures that we come to, and it keeps us from skipping over the difficult passages. We have just seen Jesus calm a raging storm and then cast out a legion - likely thousands - of demons from a man. Now we come to the last 2 miracles that He performs in chapter 8 of the book of Luke.

Today we will see three types of people that Jesus responds to with mercy and grace. The first is:

I. Jesus Responds with Mercy and Grace to the Humble (40-42a)

Luke 8:40 ESV

Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him.

Now we have Jesus returning from where He set sail from only a short time ago. And He is greeted by the crowd yet again. We are told that they were all waiting on Him. This short excursion marred by a terrible storm of weather and warring against demons has brought Him back to where He started.

Luke 8:41–42a (ESV)

And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.

As before, this crowd of waiting people is not without someone wanting something from the Lord. There is a big reason why they have gathered to wait for the Lord. Some, likely are waiting in order to keep learning, but many are gathered because of a big problem that has arisen amongst a prominent member of their community.

As soon as He arrives, a man named Jairus approaches Him. This man is quite a man. He is the ruler of the synagogue. He is powerful and respected. As we have seen earlier in the book of Luke, many of the religious leaders aren’t too supportive of Jesus’ ministry. In fact, many oppose Him strongly.

We are not told what Jairus’ disposition had been toward Jesus before this point, but it becomes evident that this man is desperate for Christ because we see this important and powerful man crumble at the feet of Jesus.

Verse 42 lets us know what has broken this strong religious leader. His daughter - his only daughter - likely his only child at all - was only 12 years old and was dying. Here is where we meet our first trouble at twelve.

This young lady who seemed to only be getting starting out living her life was about to see her life tragically end. One could imagine that Jairus had done everything he knew to help his daughter. His power and connections would have given him the ability to afford the best of medical care. Yet, his daughter still lay dying in bed. We are not told of the cause of her dreadful condition. We are just told that she is dying - meaning that her death is imminent. It is only a matter of time before she breaths her last.

We must observe an important point at this juncture.

Jairus has exercised the most pivotal aspect of salvation needed for us today. He has humbled himself before Christ.

James 4:10 states:

James 4:10 ESV

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Jairus is starting out his faith journey right now. And it all starts with humility. That is what we need as well to come to Christ.

In this verse from James we see the exaltation of those who humble themselves before the Lord. This exaltation is glorification with Christ through eternal life with our Lord. You see, once you place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ you are saved. After salvation the Holy Spirit continues to sanctify you and make you more like Jesus Christ. After death, you are with Christ for eternity in heaven. This is called glorification as you will receive a new glorified body - one without arthritis (Amen?) - one that can never die - one that can never have cancer or sickness.

But again, the most pivotal aspect of salvation is humility. Only a few short verses before what we just read, we see the following:

James 4:6 ESV

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Pride is what keeps people from experiencing salvation in Christ. This synagogue ruler swallowed his pride and humbled himself before the merciful Savior. As we will see later, this faith and trust was certainly not misplaced.

We have seen that Jesus responds with mercy and grace the humble. Next we see that…

Scripture References: James 4:10, James 4:6

II. Jesus Responds with Mercy and Grace to the Hopeless (42b-48)

Luke 8:42b–43 (ESV)

As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone.

We are told that as Jesus walks to Jairus’s house people are pressing around him. The crowd obviously wants to see what Jesus is about to do. They see that there is likely another miraculous healing coming and they want to observe it.

Verse 43 introduces us to someone that has nothing to do with Jairus or his family. In fact, this woman stands in stark contrast to Jairus. While Jairus is the ruler of the synagogue and respected, this woman, we are told, is unclean and has been for some 12 years! Again we have trouble but instead of it being at 12 years old - it is trouble for twelve - 12 long years. We must pause for a moment and see God’s sovereignty at work with this overlap of 12 years in both of these situations. Nothing is by chance. God is sovereign over every aspect of His creation.

Regarding this woman, we also must understand that in Old Testament times those who were unclean like this were not able to go to the temple, and everything they sat on was considered unclean (Leviticus 15:19-30). They were treated as outcasts. Frankly, she shouldn’t have even been in the crowd of people because of her uncleanness.

And Luke gives us a strong narrative on just how terrible her life had been over the past twelve years. During what amounts to be the entire lifetime of Jairus’s daughter, this woman has likely had menstrual bleeding and abdominal pain. She has experienced pains and bleeding almost continually. And to make matters worse, she is now destitute because she has spent all that she had on physicians who were unable to heal her. In fact, Mark 5:26 let’s us know that the physicians didn’t help her get better but rather she grew worse.

This woman is hopeless until she sees Jesus.

Oh, if only everyone here who does not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior saw themselves like this woman saw herself. If only you saw yourself as unclean and hopeless apart from Jesus. Then you could be saved. I pray that you humble yourself and do see yourself that way. You might look clean on the outside, but on the inside, for those without Christ, on the inside you are wasting away and heading toward an eternity in Hell. This woman’s problems will pale in comparison to yours if you do not repent of your sins (meaning turn away) and place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation.

You should do that not because you are afraid of Hell - although Hell is certainly something to fear if you are not in Christ. But you should turn to Jesus because of His great love for you. He took the punishment that you deserved on the cross where He was crucified and took on the wrath of God for your sins. If only you will repent and believe you can be saved. Christ’s righteousness will be given to you, and your sins will be atoned or paid for by the blood of Jesus. What an amazing free gift my friends! Don’t leave here today without knowing that you are a child of God.

This hopeless woman found hope in Christ.

Luke 8:44 ESV

She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased.

This woman who is hopeless as we mentioned a short while ago sees Jesus, and her hopelessness is transformed into faith. She thinks - if only I can touch the fringe of His garment then I can be healed! We are told in Mark 5:27 that she had heard the reports about Jesus and believed. This was not blind faith, it was informed faith.

My friends - reach out to Christ and you can be saved. Your uncleanness can be washed white as snow just like this woman experienced.

You don’t need all of the answers in order to be saved. This woman likely couldn’t have given you a great systematic theology of Christ and who He is. But she believed what she did know and trusted in Him alone for salvation. That is what He asks of us as well. He will fill in the rest by His Word and by His Holy Spirit.

We see the sign of her salvation in her healing. Immediately she stopped bleeding. And we know that she must have had terrible abdominal pains because she could tell the problem was gone immediately. Her tortuous pains were relieved all at once, and she was delivered from her disease.

For those of us today who are saved, we see the sign of our salvation through the fruit of the Spirit. We see confirmation of a lost person who is now saved by seeing love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Moving forward we see the account get even more interesting…

Luke 8:45–46 ESV

And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.”

Verse 45 presents an interesting interchange. Jesus asks a question and Peter does what Peter usually does best - he speaks without thinking. Jesus asks who touched Him, and Peter points out to Jesus that His question is somewhat ridiculous because everyone is touching Him and pressing in upon Him.

Not to be deterred by Peter’s foot-in-mouth syndrome, He clarifies to Peter that some power had gone out from Him. Note that this does not mean that He had run out of power. It wasn’t as if He did not have the ability left in Him to heal Jairus’s daughter. We will see just how much power He still has shortly! But He has noted that this woman has been healed by His power.

You see, Jesus knew it was the bleeding woman who had touched Him. This question isn’t for His benefit. This question is for the benefit of the crowd, disciples, and most of all the woman herself.

It is important for us to note that…

Jesus is not pleased with anonymity - meaning He is not pleased with only privately worshiping Him.

Although we should always be worshiping Christ in private as well, we see in Luke 9 that our worship also must be public for Christ. We must publically affirm our allegiance to Jesus.

Luke 9:26 ESV

For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

True believers in Christ don’t hide it. He was challenging the woman to step forward and show her faith in front of others. This was for her benefit as well. She was to be seen as cleansed by the Savior. She was no longer unclean, and this was to be announced to everyone present.

This is another reason why evangelism is important. We need to share the Gospel with others and not be ashamed of the Gospel.

This is also why baptism is important. We need to publically show the world what the Lord has done in us. We were dead in our sins, but He has resurrected us to new life. We had hearts of stone, but He has removed that and given us a heart of flesh.

Moving forward we see the woman take this step of faith in front of all present…

Luke 8:47–48 ESV

And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

You can imagine how many people have just lied right about now. I didn’t touch Him. Wasn’t me. Even though many of them had, in fact, probably touched Him. They are all fearful of what is about to happen.

This woman who was healed obviously perceives that she cannot hide in the crowd when Jesus is there. You wonder if even the eyes of Jesus fixed upon her at some point.

My friends - this brings up an great theological lesson. You cannot escape the eyes of the Lord. The darkness doesn’t hide you, and the crowds don’t hide you. Christ sees everything.

Proverbs 15:3 ESV

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.

Hebrews 4:13 ESV

And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Jeremiah 23:24 ESV

Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.

There are many, many more verses like this. God sees everything.

And after seeing that she could not hide from the Lord, she steps forward, falls before Him, and acknowledges that it was her, and that she was healed immediately.

The crowd probably thinks Jesus is about to scold her or reprimand her. Yet Jesus’ response is beautiful. He calls her daughter. This is the only time where we see Jesus call a grown woman His daughter. This is an important word. It means that she is an adopted daughter - that she is saved - that her faith has been acknowledged and that Jesus has given salvation to her. And He finishes with go in peace. Isn’t it great that Jesus speaks peace into the lives of His people. Peace is a gift from God and one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23. We saw Jesus speak peace in the midst of a literal storm a couple of weeks ago as Christ said, “Peace. Be still!’ to the storm. Now we see Jesus speak peace in the life of a woman who has been ravaged by 12 years of a continuous storm in her body.

Jesus brings that same peace to us today, friends. He offers us peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Only trust in Him alone.

We have now seen that Jesus responds with mercy and grace to the humble, the hopeless, and finally…

Scripture References: Leviticus 15:19-30, Mark 5:26-27, Luke 9:26, Proverbs 15:3, Hebrews 4:13, Jeremiah 23:24, Galatians 5:22-23, Philippians 4:7

III. Jesus Responds with Mercy and Grace to the Helpless (49-56)

Luke 8:49 ESV

While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.”

This brief interlude with this woman is interrupted by some horrible news. Someone from Jairus’s house comes and tells him that his daughter in dead.

The amazing faith that this woman has had is quickly overshadowed by the faithlessness of this person from Jairus’s house as they state - do not trouble the Teacher any more.

You can hear the doubt and faithlessness in the words of this person. It is hopeless, Jairus. Give it up. Your daughter is dead.

Can you imagine the feeling of the crowd at that point? The wind was taken out of their sails in a flash. The crowd went from excitement and anticipation to mourning within a moment. Yet Jesus wasn’t done.

Can you also imagine the struggle Jairus is experiencing. He wasn’t there when his little girl died. The myriad of emotions that suddenly filled his heart was probably overwhelming. Yet Jesus encourages him to keep going. Have faith.

Luke 8:50 ESV

But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.”

He says not to fear - only believe - and she will be well.

Don’t you love the grace and mercy of Jesus? Even when we cannot seem to muster enough faith at times, He is always there to encourage us to keep going - to persevere. It might look hopeless but it isn’t. Nothing is impossible with Christ! Press on!

We also see here an important principle in our lives.

The longer that we walk with Jesus the more He calls us to greater faith.

As you continue in the faith, don’t think that Jesus will be okay with where you are for long. He will continue to call you to greater faith and obedience as He continues growing you and transforming you more like Himself through sanctification.

Moving forward we see the group arrive at Jairus’s house.

Luke 8:51–53 ESV

And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.

Jesus takes with Him the girl’s father and mother as well as three of His disciples - the inner three that get a special inside look at Jesus’ miracles - Peter, James, and John. Those mourning and weeping laugh at Jesus as He asserts that the girl is only sleeping and not dead.

Not only were these mourners relatives and friends, but many of these mourners were actually paid and professional mourners. That seems like a strange job to us today, but it was customary in Biblical times to have these paid mourners who would wail on behalf of the family. So these professionals knew what death was. This was their job! So they scoff at Jesus when He says the girl is just asleep.

Note that Jesus means that her death is but temporary. She is not in a state of soul sleep as some falsely teach. She is truly dead - as we will see in a moment that her spirit must return in order for her to awake. He uses this statement as a metaphor for death and a sign that her death will be but temporary.

Luke 8:54–56 ESV

But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

And with two simple words, these parent’s lives are changed forever. Child, arise. Mark 5:41 gives us the two Aramaic words that Jesus actually spoke instead of the Greek translation that Luke gives us. Remember - Luke is writing to a primarily Gentile and Greek speaking audience.

Talitha cumi - Mark 5:41

(tah-lee-thah, cue-mee) - which means little girl, arise.

It is important to note that Jesus allows Peter to witness this miracle. In Acts 9:40, well after Jesus had been crucified and rose from the dead, Peter would go on to perform a similar miracle by raising a godly woman of the early church named Dorcas, also known as Tabitha.

Acts 9:40 ESV

But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.

Luke 8:55–56 ESV

And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Looking back at Luke 8:55, we are told that her spirit returned - again showing that she was truly dead and that her spirit had departed her body - and she got up at once. I love the practicality of Jesus’s next command - give her something to eat. Such a practical and simple command.

I am sure that the girl’s parents are dumbfounded at this time and in shock. Jesus’ simple command helps them come back to reality and take care of their daughter.

Interestingly, Jesus charges the parents not to tell others what had happened. I cannot imagine how hard that would be for them. But Jesus, obviously, didn’t want earthly resurrections to be His ministry. The late R.C. Sproul joked that if He wasn’t careful, Jesus would be invited to all of the funerals of the area!

Jesus came to preach the Gospel. The Gospel does provide a resurrection - but it is unto eternal life. It is not just a temporary resurrection. It is a resurrection unto eternal joy and blessing with Jesus Christ.

Scripture References: Mark 5:41, Acts 9:40

Conclusion:

As we come to a close, we have just seen two amazing miracles that the Lord Jesus did while on earth. Over the past three weeks we have now seen 4 miracles from Jesus. These four miracles have highlighted Jesus’s sovereign reign over every aspect of this world. He reigns over the weather and creation. He reigns even over evil and overpowers evil. We see no better way that He has shown His power over evil than by the cross by which He defeated death and the grave and that by His work on the cross we may be saved if only we place our faith and trust in Him. He reigns over sickness. And we see again today that He reigns over death as He shows it through His resurrection power of this 12 year old girl.

Friends, you can trust Jesus Christ. I pray that you are truly saved and a believer in Jesus. If not, I urge you to take that step of faith. I would love to talk with you after the service about what it means to follow Christ.

If you have been saved but have not followed through in baptism, I would love to help you follow through in that as well. Follow Christ in obedience to His Word by being baptized and show the world that you are not ashamed of Him.

Our Savior responds with mercy and grace to the humble, to the hopeless, and to the helpless. My friends, apart from Christ we are all hopeless and helpless and until we humble ourselves before Him we have no hope. Trust in Jesus my friends. He is faithful.

Prayer