Twelve Years
Luke 8:40-56
I believe it was intentional that Luke put these two stories together.
Photo by Mahdi Amiri on Unsplash
Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. Just then there came a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. He fell at Jesus' feet and begged him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying. As he went, the crowds pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. Then Jesus asked, "Who touched me?" When all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the crowds surround you and press in on you." But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me." When the woman saw that she could not remain hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him, she declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace." While he was still speaking, someone came from the leader's house to say, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer." When Jesus heard this, he replied, "Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be saved." When he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him, except Peter, John, and James, and the child's father and mother. They were all weeping and wailing 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. But he took her by the hand and called out, "Child, get up!" Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then he directed them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astounded; but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened. - Luke 8:40-56
I know I wrote about this period of twelve years before, but I feel it needs to be mentioned again.
Luke mentions early on that Jarius's daughter was about twelve years old. Two sentences later, he tells us that there was a woman in the crowd who had been suffering from hemorrhaging for twelve years.
The number twelve is significant. It represents a complete cycle of time, a completeness. There were twelve tribes and twelve apostles. For the suffering woman, twelve years represents a full cycle of isolation, since she was unclean and had to stay away from people.
So, we have a young girl who lived for twelve years and an old woman who could not live for the same period.
Jesus shows us that he has the power and will to restore both. These two stories show his authority over life and death and his ability to restore one to wholeness and fullness in that life.
The other thing we learn in this story is that we can seek out and touch Jesus to become healed. We do not have to wait for him. The old woman touched his cloak and Jarius came and knelt before him.
We must take the first steps to be restored and made whole.
And that is not just through prayer. If Jarius and the suffering woman had stayed home and prayed, the answer to their prayers would not be known to us. But because they ventured out, with some risk for both, we know.
Jarius risked being away from his daughter as she lay dying, and the woman risked going out in public even though she was unclean.
We need to take risks in life. We have the will to do that. We are not slaves or puppets. We have a purpose and the ability to take action on our own behalf.
That, I believe, is the message here. Don't let the illness define you. Don't be afraid. Go out and seek help.
Even if twelve years have already passed.
More to come...