Luke Reading (#24)

Take a few minutes to catch up and pray that God would bless you through the reading of His word.

Read Luke 8:40-56

[8:40] Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. [41] 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, [42] for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.
As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. [43] 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. [44] She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. [45] 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!” [46] But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” [47] 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. [48] And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
[49] 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.” [50] But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” [51] 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. [52] And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” [53] And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. [54] But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” [55] And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. [56] And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Observation

• Who was waiting for Jesus when he returned (v. 40)?
  • What was Jairus’ occupation (v. 41)?
  • What did he do when he came to Jesus (v. 41)
  • How old was his daughter? What was wrong with her (v. 42)?
• What do we know about the woman that Jesus encountered (v. 43)?
  • What did she do (v. 44)? What happened?
  • How did Jesus know what had happened (v. 46)?
  • What did the woman do (v. 47)?
  • What did Jesus say to her (v. 48)?
• What happened while Jesus was talking to the woman (v. 49)?
  • What did Jesus tell Jairus to do (v. 50)?
  • Who went into the house with Jesus (v. 51)?
  • What were the people doing at the house (v. 52)?
  • What did Jesus say (v. 52)? How did the people respond (v. 53)?
  • What did Jesus do (v. 54-55)? What did he say to the parents (v. 56)?

Interpretation

• Why would the people have been waiting for Jesus (v. 40)? What might they have heard about him?
• According to the Law of Moses, a woman with a discharge was unclean and barred from the temple. If she touched you, you also became unclean.
  • How do you think her experience of being unclean and an outsider impacted the way that she felt on a day-to-day basis?
  • Why would she be trembling when she admitted to touching Jesus (v. 47)?
  • The woman didn’t make Jesus unclean with her disease. Instead, Jesus made her clean. How is that a picture of the gospel?
• Did everyone who touched Jesus get healed? What does it mean that Jesus perceived that the power had gone out of him?
• How did her faith make the woman well?
• What do you think Jairus was thinking when Jesus stopped to help this woman? What do you think he felt about Jesus’ delay when he found out that his child had died?
• Was the girl really sleeping?
• Why would Jesus tell the parents not to say anything about what had happened?

Application

• Are there areas in your life where you wonder if Jesus really cares about you? How does Jesus’ tenderness in this passage encourage you?  
• Both Jairus and the woman had humble faith in Jesus. How can you express faith in your struggles?
• Jairus and the woman both suffered a lot of pain. Both wound up with a greater knowledge of Jesus as a result. Have you experienced anything like that?

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