Preached to the Saints at Riverview Baptist at 798 Santa Fe Pike, Columbia, TN

Matthew 9:18-26 (KJV)  While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. [19]  And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. [20]  And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: [21]  For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. [22]  But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. [23]  And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, [24]  He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. [25]  But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. [26]  And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

We are in the Miracle Narratives of Christ as we study through the Book of Matthew. What makes this narrative unique is that Jesus is on the way to heal one person when – in the middle of His travels – another miracle occurs. A woman with an “issue of blood” comes up and touches the hem of Christ’s robe and is healed.

Yet this is not a coincidence. There are similarities between the two events, and God brings both events together. We are told in Matthew 9:20 that “a woman, diseased with an issue of blood for twelve years” came to Jesus. In the Gospel Parallel at Mark 5:42 we discover …

Mark 5:42 (NKJV) … Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age.

The woman’s “issue of blood” began the same year that this little girl was born.

The little girl suffering was “twelve years old” and the woman’s issue of blood had tormented her for “twelve years”. This is no coincidence, but God tied these two miracles together to show us a picture of faith.

In The Struggles Of Life, Look Unto Jesus

There are many horrors that come to people in this life, but one of the greatest of these horrors is to have a child suffering. There is something within us that thinks that our children should outlive us. I don’t know why that is, for death grips both young and old. Each year in the US approximately 15,780 children between the ages of birth and 19 years old are diagnosed with cancer. Age is no protection against the corruption of life. Adam introduced sin into the world and death by sin. Medical science cannot cure sin – but Jesus can!

Matthew 9:18 (KJV)  WHILE {Jesus} spake these things unto them, …

Jesus had been asked by the Disciples of John the Baptist “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, and your Disciples do not fast?”. Jesus explained to them that He is the Bridegroom of His Church, that He came not to patch up the old garment of religion, but to make all things new.

Matthew 9:16-17 (KJV) No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. 17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

Jesus is not a new patch on an old garment
Nor is He new wine in old bottles
Jesus came that we might have LIFE
ABUNDANT LIFE
Jesus is not a BAND-AID but a Miracle!

Revelation 21:5 (KJV)  And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new …

He sits on a Throne.
He makes all things new.

Jesus came to make all things new. He is the Bridegroom of His Church, a people saved by Grace, a regenerated people, a people who have a Master Who has conquered death. Jesus is not a patch, but the solution for sin. He brings in the Kingdom of God on the earth.

As He is speaking the Bible tells us that

Matthew 9:18 (KJV) “there came a certain ruler”. Who is this “Certain Ruler”? The Gospel says …

Mark 5:22 (KJV) …. there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, JAIRUS by name..

Jairus was well known by the Pharisees. He is one of the Rulers of the Synagogue, the local Church of Jesus’ day. As a Ruler of the Synagogue Jairus is an important man, well respected, well known. And what he does next shocks the audience.

Matthew 9:18 (KJV) … there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him,

Jairus worships Jesus. Mark tells us that “he fell down” to worship Jesus. And Luke reports:

Luke 8:41 (NKJV) …. he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house ..

When sickness comes in the home, pride goes out the door. This was an important man, a well known man. But here he lays himself down at the feet of Jesus.

• Suffering Makes Us SELFLESS, Whereas Prosperity Makes Us SELFISH. Jairus was selfless when He came to Jesus. He wanted relief, the healing of his daughter, and what others thought or said no longer mattered.

Each and every one of us have experienced trials and tribulations in this fallen world. Sometimes trials come through the hands of evil people, such as ISIS or other misguided religious groups. Sometimes trials seem to just fall on us. Sickness comes. Disease strikes. When sickness comes we have a tendency at times to lash out in pain. Sometimes pride makes us demanding. It is good to remember in our horrid moments …

Luke 14:11 (ESV) For everyone who EXALTS HIMSELF WILL BE HUMBLED, and he who HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED.”

Jairus could have come unto Jesus demanding.
After all, he was a person of position.

But Christ has the Greatest Position. He is God in the flesh. He is “The Word made flesh who dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Jairus put aside all pride and fell down before Jesus. The Creator says:

Isaiah 66:2 (KJV) For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but TO THIS MAN WILL I LOOK, even to him that is POOR AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT, AND TREMBLETH AT MY WORD.

God honors those who understand that He is God. Christ honors those who realize He is the Great I AM. We are not gods, but God is God. Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. It is He of Whom God the Father said:

Hebrews 1:8 (ESV) But OF THE SON HE SAYS, YOUR THRONE, O GOD, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.

Christ is Emanuel – God with Us. He is worthy of worship. Jairus worshiped the King of Kings.

• Jairus Focused On Jesus In Prayer.

Matthew 9:18 (KJV) …. there came a certain ruler, and worshiped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. 

Mark 5:23 (NKJV) and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”

Jairus begged Jesus. He sought God’s face in prayer, and did not give up. If the Lord did not intervene this little girl was as good as dead. Both Mark as well as Matthew record the desperation of Jairus’ words. “My daughter is dead – is lying at the point of death. Jesus, YOU are my only hope!”

When bad times come and our health is threatened where do we place our faith? Is our faith in the doctor, in a procedure, in a financial institution … or is it in God?

James 4:10 (KJV) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

And also …

Jeremiah 33:3 ^(KJV) Call unto Me, and I WILL ANSWER THEE, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Let me ask you parents and grandparents – do you plead for the salvation of your children as strong as Jairus plead for his child? Why not? Do you not know that God can take your child anytime? Jairus “besought” Jesus – begging Him for her life. Shall we do any less?

• Jairus Believed That Jesus Could. He said …

Matthew 9:18 (KJV) … but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. 

Jairus said: “You lay hands on her Jesus and she SHALL LIVE”. That is faith. He believed Jesus was able, and would not entertain any doubt. Jairus’ daughter was at the point of death, but he wasn’t out pursuing doctors and other gods. He had his eyes only on Jesus.

One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, “Jump! I’ll catch you.” He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: “Jump! I will catch you.” But the boy protested, “Daddy, I can’t see you.” The father replied, “But I can see you and that’s all that matters.”

Jesus calls us to rely on Him, to take that leap of faith into His arms. Cast your cares upon Him, for He careth for YOU! Let your focus be His Will no matter what might come. Trust Him.

When We Feel All Alone, Look Unto Jesus

Following Jairus’ plea we read:

Matthew 9:19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. [20]  And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

The crowd witnessed the plea of Jairus. As Jesus rose to follow Jairus to his home this crowd of “disciples” – followers – trailed around and after Jesus. In the midst of this crowd was a woman who had “an issue of blood”. What this literally means is that she had a discharge of bleeding. She could not have children. According to the Law of God:

Leviticus 15:25-27 (NKJV) ‘If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, other than at the time of her customary impurity, or if it runs beyond her usual time of impurity, all the days of her unclean discharge shall be as the days of her customary impurity. She shall be unclean. 26 Every bed on which she lies all the days of her discharge shall be to her as the bed of her impurity; and whatever she sits on shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her impurity. 27 Whoever touches those things shall be unclean; he shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.

The disease that this woman had made her unclean, ceremonially unclean according to the Law of Moses. If she were married her husband could not touch her. If she had children prior to this event her children could not embrace her. It was if she were a leper – anything she touched was unclean, and anyone who touched her was unclean.

Matthew 9:20 (KJV) …a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years ..

This poor woman had suffered this disease – whatever it was – for twelve years! She had tried everything to get relief. We are told in the parallel Gospel that she ….

Mark 5:26 (NKJV) … had SUFFERED many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.

She “suffered many things from the physicians”. There are good doctors, and there are bad doctors – but Jesus Christ is the BEST Doctor. He is the Great Physician. He can do what no others can do. I respect doctors, nurses, and hospitals – but make sure you invite Jesus into the process when you are sick and go to the medical profession. Doctors do not know all things, but Christ does. This woman “spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse”. Humans cannot fix all things. But Jesus can! Jesus said:

Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV) Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

God does not despise the lowly, but embraces them. He lifts up the weak, and those who will come to Christ and Christ alone. The Bible tells us that this lonely, forsaken woman ..

Matthew 9:20-21 (KJV) … came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: [21]  For SHE SAID WITHIN HERSELF, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

She “came behind Jesus” because the Law forbade her from touching anyone, lest she make them unclean. So she quietly reached out believing that “If I can but touch His garment then I shall be made whole”. Her faith was rewarded. The Bible says in …

Mark 5:29 (KJV) And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

Immediately the woman was healed! Mark tells us that Jesus asked “Who touched Me?” The disciples said “But Lord, there’s people all around You touching You. How can we tell who touched You?” But Jesus can tell. He looks around and sees that certain woman. Look what the Bible says:

Mark 5:33 ^(KJV) But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

Saving Faith is not hidden.
Saving Faith falls down before the Savior.
If your faith lies down to hide, then your faith is a lie.

2 Timothy 2:19 (NLT) … “The LORD knows those who are His”

John 10:27 (NLT) “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

If you are Christ’s then you may be saved in secret, but it will not stay a secret. There are many in our world today that think they are saved, but are ashamed to stand up for Jesus. This woman made her faith known. Our Lord has said:

Matthew 10:32-33 ^(KJV) Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. (33) But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Light cannot hide itself among the darkness.

If you are born again by faith in Christ you must shine for Christ.

Upon standing up for her faith by kneeling down unashamed to Jesus the Lord told her …

Matthew 9:22 (KJV) {Jesus said} DAUGHTER, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. 

When Jesus called her “Daughter” He was acknowledging that she is of the household of God, a child of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:19; Galatians 3:26).

What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought
Since Jesus came into my heart;
I have light in my soul for which long I have sought,
Since Jesus came into my heart.
Since Jesus came into my heart,
Since Jesus came into my heart;
Floods of joy o’er my soul like the sea billows roll,
Since Jesus came into my heart.

Why Did God Have This Healing Come
In The Midst Of Jairus’ Need?

As this certain woman was being healed, I can imagine Jairus standing off to the side watching and waiting. The faith that he has in Jesus is being tested. If I were the father of a dying child I can imagine how he felt. Maybe I would want to say, “Jesus, please hurry – let’s finish with this lady and move on”. But Jesus is in no hurry. He healed this woman, and we read:

Matthew 9:23 (KJV) And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

“Oh Jesus, you’re too late! If You had been here on time my daughter would not have died!” I can hear them now, mocking Jesus, finding fault with Jesus. But Jesus says,

She is not dead. She just sleeps!

Mark tells us in chapter 5:35-37 that Jesus sent everyone away but Peter, James, and John. These three men would be the leaders of Christ’s Church, and Jesus wanted them to know that nothing is too hard for Christ to do. Then we read:

Matthew 9:25-26 (KJV) But when the people were put forth, {Jesus} went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. 26 And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

Christ is able! Our God is able! He can raise the dead. He can give life to the spiritually dead. Christ is able! The great Evangelist Billy Graham once said:

“Faith literally means to give up, surrender, or commit. Faith is complete confidence. Fear can banish faith, but faith can banish fear.

Do you know Christ? Do you have faith in Him? Will you approach Him with your needs, and believe He is able to abundantly provide to those who trust in Him. There is nothing our Lord cannot do. Trust Him. Believe Him. Bring your lives to Him, and believe.

May God touch your hearts with His Word.