Text: “While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.” So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples. And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour. When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went out into all that land” (Matthew 19:18-26 NKJV).
Sermon: I want to tell you a story about a day in the life of Jesus.
One day a ruler of the synagogue named Jairus fell at the feet of Jesus and begged for help. The crowd around Jesus thought this was a strange sight because normally such an important man would not plead for assistance, but Jairus was desperate. He told Jesus, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and lay your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” As Jesus looked into the man’s tear filled eyes, He felt compassion; so, He followed him towards his house.
As the crowd moved toward the house of Jairus, a woman interrupted Jesus. She was a desperate women. For twelve long years she had suffered from a terrible sickness. She could still remember the day she started to bleed. At first it did not concern her, but when the bleeding continued after several days it began to worry her. Nothing she did was able to stop the flow of blood.
The woman went to her family doctor, but he was unable to help her. Then she found some specialists, but they were just as powerless to cure her disease. After that she traveled from doctor to doctor in an effort to find a solution. Some gave her medicine, some told her to go on vacation to rest, and some just shook their heads in resignation. There were two common denominators between the multitude of doctors: they were unable to cure her and they charged her outrageous sums of money.
Now after twelve years she was completely broke. She had spent every single penny she owned on doctors hoping they would find a cure. Her pockets were empty, and her heart was empty of almost all hope.
One day she heard about a man named Jesus. Perhaps she heard the story of the paralyzed man who as healed or about the leper who was healed. Somewhere she had heard a story about Jesus healing the sick and faith sprang up within her heart.
She said to herself, “If I can just touch the edge of His clothes, I will be healed.” Jesus became her last hope. She believed the reports she had heard about Him, and she was willing to step out in faith for her healing. If you can touch Jesus, you can be healed.
When you hear about Jesus, your life is about to change for the better. From the moment the woman heard about Jesus’ ability to perform miracles, she was focused on reaching Him. She knew Jesus was the answer to her problem.
It was illegal for her to be in a crowd of people because her condition made her unclean. But she ignored the law and pushed her way through the crowd surrounding Jesus. Hundreds of people were around Him and she had to push, pull, and crawl through cracks in order to get near Him. Finally, she came up behind Him, reached out her hand, and touched the edge of His garment.
Immediately she felt the power of God flow through her body. The bleeding stopped and she knew her body was healed. She was healthy again!
Instantly, Jesus realized that power had left His body. He felt a sudden outpouring of power in response to the woman’s faith. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” The disciples thought the question was foolish. They told Him, “Master, all the people are crowding around you, how can you ask ‘Who touched me?’”
The woman heard the question of Jesus and realizing what had happened to her, fell trembling at His feet with fear, and told him the whole truth. She feared His displeasure, because according to the Law (Leviticus 15:19), her touch made Him unclean until evening time. But Jesus did not condemn her; instead He completed the healing process of her soul by saying, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” If the woman with the issue of blood was healed when she touched Jesus, you can be healed when you touch Jesus. Reach out and touch Jesus right now.
The woman believed the reports she heard about Jesus. Her faith literally created her miracle. Jesus explained, “Daughter, your faith has healed you” (Mark 5:34). Faith is the catalyst that turns God’s promises into God’s power. The promises of the Bible can be yours if you put your faith in God.
The woman took action by pushing through the crowd until she could touch the hem of Christ’s garment. Faith is never static, it always takes action. Begin using your faith right now and take action. Do something you were not able to do before. If you have not been able to stand up before, try to stand up now. If you have not been able to use your arm in a certain way, begin moving it now. Whatever you were unable to do before, use your faith and start doing it.
The healing touch of Jesus can even raise the dead. When Jesus finally arrived at Jairus’ house, it was too late. Some men came and told Jairus, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t bother the teacher any more.”
Of course Jesus ignored their bad news and encouraged the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” The people around the house were crying loudly because of the death. Jesus asked them not to cry and added, “The child is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed in His face because everyone knew the child was already dead.
Jesus left the crowd outside and entered the room where the dead girl was lying. He touched her hand with His hand and gently whispered, “Little girl, I say to you, get up.” The moment Jesus touched the girl’s hand, she rose from the dead. Immediately she stood up from her death bed and hugged her excited parents.
Call for Healing
The same Jesus that touched the daughter of Jairus and who healed the woman with the issue of blood is ready to touch you right now. If you need healing, reach out your hand right now and touch Jesus. Your arm may be short, but His arm is long. He is ready to heal you right now. Put your faith in Christ if you need healing tonight.
Call for Salvation
The woman said to herself, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed” (Mark 5:21-34). This confession opened the door for her to receive her miracle. Every word you speak is important. The words you confess with your mouth can bring health and healing or death and destruction. According to Proverbs 18:21, “The tongue has the power of life and death…”
Romans 10:9 says, “…if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” If you will use your mouth to cry out to Jesus, you can be saved. Paul goes on to say, “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Romans 10:10). If you want Jesus to save you, then pray with me right now.
