Jesus Heals Two in One Trip
Jesus heals all who come to Him, but today, He travels to heal one specific person. But Jesus heals to in this single trip.
We come to the story of Jairus and his daughter, with the story of a woman who has been experiencing her monthly flow for 12 YEARS. I want to get to know the people in our stories today and give them a little bit of a ‘backstory’. I’m pulling from the stories I told many years ago on this blog. I have to weave them together with what is happening in Jesus’ life too. I hope I don’t lose anyone in the process.
I have given names to some of the participants, to make it easier to keep track, as well as identify with them. I’m pretty sure you will be able to figure out who is who without me telling you. So, let’s rejoin the story of Jesus’ ministry, with a little bit of a look back into the past of one desperate woman.
Holy Spirit, I believe that You gave me the original stories. Help me weave them together into one story, as well as take us to the shores of Galilee where Jesus is. Give me insight into these people’s lives, the message taught through their stories, and what to take from them for my own life.
♥ ♦ ♥
Ester has been planning her wedding since she was seven years old. She has envisioned every aspect of it, right down to the veil she is to wear. She is six months from recognizing that dream. She continues to embroidery on her wedding dress every day. Tomorrow she has to put it away, for her time of uncleanness is due to begin the following day. She is taking no chances on spoiling the dress she has worked so hard on. She feels sad that she won’t be able to work on it for two weeks, but the law is the law and she will not violate it, or risk sin creeping into her marriage before the vows are even exchanged.
It has been two weeks now since Ester’s cycle began. Why has it not stopped? She has had slightly longer cycles before but nothing lasting this long. She looks longingly at her dress folded in the corner but she knows it will have to remain there until her cycle and her days of purification are over. She wishes this would hurry up and end.
Ester’s cycle has been going for a month now. She has an appointment with her doctor tomorrow to see what is going on. She is nervous talking about such a private issue with anyone else. Her ima was helpful in the beginning but even she has become warry of Ester’s unclean state. During this whole time, Ester has been given one chair to sit upon, one place setting, has been confined to her room, and has had no contact with anyone besides her ima. Her ima is not even permitted to touch her because it would make her ima unclean too.
The doctor’s visit was humiliating to Ester. The doctor gave her a rag that she had to use to ‘collect a sample’ for him and the priest to examine. After the priest and doctor finished their consultation, they gave Ester herbs to take. It has been a week since the doctor’s visit and there has been no change.
Ester continues to hold out hope though. She keeps taking the herbs. Ester is also concerned about the fact that her wedding dress isn’t finished yet. When her ima comes to bring her breakfast, Ester asks for help.
“Ima, my wedding is in less than five months. I don’t know when this will end” Ester says with tears spilling down her cheeks. “I need help with my dress. Can you please finish it for me? That way, if I am cured in time, the wedding can go on as planned.”
“Ester” her ima answers. “Your wedding dress is supposed to be made with your own hands. It makes it more special that way.”
“Ima, please! My hands are unclean and there is still much work to be done on it.”
“Fine. I will finish it for you, but I cannot fit it to you, as your uncleanness would spoil it.”
“I understand. Thank you ima.”
Ester’s ima takes the dress in its basket and begins working on it in her spare time.
Ester’s dress is ready for the wedding, but she is not. The wedding is now two weeks away. “This HAS to stop” she cries. Ester has been to the doctor twice since the initial visit, and neither time has the doctor’s potions and ministrations had any positive outcome.
Ester’s cycle must end at least 8 days before her wedding day or she will not be allowed to consummate her union. She wouldn’t even be allowed to take part in her wedding because of her uncleanness.
Ester’s wedding day has come and gone by over six months now. She is a broken woman. Ester wept bitter tears on her wedding day and for weeks afterwards. “Why is God doing this to me? Why doesn’t He answer my prayers?”
Ester’s ima has even made a sacrifice at the temple for her and nothing helps. Ester’s abba says it is God’s curse on her. Today, He demands she leave his home, so she wouldn’t bring God’s wrath on the rest of the family.
As Ester stands outside the door to the home she has lived in all her life, her abba throws the dowery he was supposed to pay to her husband at her feet. “I have arranged for you to stay in a small one room dwelling near your physician’s home.”
Ester is grateful for both acts of kindness. “Thank you Abba. I will use this carefully. And I will not shame you.”
Ester watches as two street urchins are led into and back out of her former home. They are carrying her personal belongings, including the chair that she has sat on for far too long. Her abba refused to touch her belongings, for fear of becoming unclean himself.
The urchins follow Ester’s abba to the lodging he has arranged for Ester. “Put those things down anywhere.” Once their burdens are deposited in the home, Ester’s abba throws them each a silver coin. He won’t touch them, again, for fear of becoming unclean.
Ester has lived alone for eleven years now. She has spent every penny of her dowry in search of a cure. Her abba continues to pay for her dwelling, as she has no husband to support her. Her ima brings her bread each week. She can’t even go to the market. She has learned to live on what is dropped at her door.
Ester is weak and pale from being shut in for so long. She goes out nightly to draw water from the creek behind the physician’s home. She dare not go to the well as she is still unclean and would be defiling the town’s water source with her touch. Her only enjoyment and interaction with the world is through her window. She sits on her stool by her window where she can watch the rest of the world. The few friends she used to have who would visit with her through the window, have long since stopped coming. Ester is an outsider, even in her own life.
For over a month now Ester has heard people conversing as they pass her home that has become her prison. Many of them are talking about a man named Jesus. She has heard talk of Him healing a man of leprosy, one who was paralyzed, and many others while here in Capernaum. Her hope and faith has been growing with each new overheard account. “Surely, He can heal me” she thinks to herself.
The people say that He lives nearby and passes through town quite often. “He will never come here, so I must somehow get to him. Ester begins working out a plan that involves getting her ima to bring her another cloak or a blanket to wrap herself. “If my ima questions me about why I need another cloak, I will tell her that mine has become threadbare and no longer keeps me warm.”
Ester’s ima doesn’t even question her desire for another cloak. He heart breaks for her daughter. “Ester asks for so little” she tells her husband. Ester’s abba gives her permission to pass one of her older cloaks to Ester. It is dropped off on Ester’s doorstep the next morning.
As Ester carefully plans how she will reach Jesus, the very Man she is thinking about lands on the shore near Capernaum. He is met by a large crowd. They begin asking for His touch right away. Jesus doesn’t turn any of them away.
Early in the morning, while Jesus is ministering across town, Anna hears a sound coming from Rebecca’s room. Anna goes in to find Rebecca moving about in her bed. Anna believes Rebecca is having a bad dream. She sits down on the side of the bed and puts a hand on Rebecca’s arm to calm her and gently wake her from her sleep. Anna notices that Rebecca’s arm is very warm.
There is no response to Rebecca’s touch so Anna speaks softly to try and wake her daughter. Rebecca responds with a moan and attempts to open her eyes, without success. Anna is now a bit anxious as she reaches for Rebecca’s forehead. Rebecca is burning up with fever! As a mother, Anna has dealt with fevers before but this one is very high.
“Bring me cool water and towels, NOW” she calls out to the servant.
The servant girl arrives with the requested materials. She stands by as Anna wets the towel and applies it to Rebecca’s head.
While Anna works, Jairus comes to his daughter’s room. He heard the urgency in Anna’s voice as she called for the servant girl. “What is going on” he asks.
“Rebecca has a fever this morning. I don’t think there is anything to worry about. I am already working on bring it down.”
Jairus reaches over and puts a hand on his daughter’s forehead. His eyes widen in fear at the heat emanating from his precious child. “Are your certain about this? I could send for the doctor.”
“That would probably be a prudent idea. We can handle things here. You need to be off to work. One of the servants can fix your breakfast.”
Jairus sends a servant to fetch the doctor. He slowly eats his breakfast, hoping the doctor comes before he has to leave.
The doctor arrives in time to greet Jairus. “Please, help my daughter” Jairus pleads.
“I will attend to her immediately. You needn’t worry. I will send word on her condition when I have had a chance to examine her.”
“Let me know immediately if it worsens” Jairus demands.
The doctor pats him on the back and sends him out the door.
Jairus goes to the Synagogue where he serves as one of the rulers. Jairus is a judge between the people. They bring their disputes to him and he gives his ruling. These are ordinary matters that don’t rise to the attention of the Roman rulers.
Jairus struggles with distract this morning and occasionally asks questions he should already known the answer to. He is a just judge, so even with the distraction of his only daughter being sick, he ensures he makes fair and impartial rulings in each case. By the noon day recess, he is exhausted. He sends his assistant to his home to find out how Rebecca is doing. His assistant hurries back and reports that things have gotten much worse and he is needed at home. Jairus runs home, outpacing even his assistant, and arrives to find a frazzled Anna and an unnaturally still Rebecca. The doctor is having no success in bringing Rebecca’s fever down. Anna is nearly frantic with worry.
Jairus starts thinking about all the stories he has heard recently about Jesus and Him healing the sick. The Pharisees are beside themselves trying to quash all the talk, but they are facing a losing battle. “Should I search out Jesus and ask for His help?” he asks himself. He debates within himself a little longer, until a sound catches he ear. It is Rebecca and her breathing has become labored! “I HAVE to do something. My little girl is near death!”
Jairus runs back to the synagogue and starts questioning anyone he sees. “Do you know where Jesus is? Is he nearby today?”
“I heard a report that he is down by the sea. I am planning on going down there to ensure that He doesn’t speak blaspheme today” one of the Pharisees tells him.
“Let me do that for you” he quickly offers. He isn’t about to accuse Jesus of blasphemy, but he doesn’t want an audience when he approaches Jesus either.
“That would be greatly appreciated” replies the Pharisee.
Jairus hurries from the synagogue. Once he is out of sight, he takes of running. As he approaches where Jesus is, he slows down a bit because he is out of breath. Jesus is in the middle of a huge crowd. Jairus pushes his way through the throng of people until he gets close to Jesus.
Jesus is busy talking to a few other men. Jairus feels a little guilty interrupting like this, but he has no time to loose. He falls at Jesus feet in tears. “Please Jesus, I need Your help. My precious daughter is very sick. She is at death’s door. PLEASE come and heal her!”
Jesus sees the pain in Jairus’ eyes. “I will go with you” Jesus says.
There is a huge crowd surrounding and following Jesus, so getting back to Jairus’ house is taking a lot longer than getting here did. But Jesus’ demeanor and presence alone has somewhat calmed Jairus’ fears.
Ester is sitting by her window listening for news of Jesus.
“Jesus is coming into town.”
“Jairus, the synagogue judge is bringing Jesus to his house to heal his daughter.”
“Hurry! If we get there soon enough, He might have time for us.”
Ester knows the layout of the city; not that she goes out in it. It hasn’t changed in years. Jairus’ house is several streets over, in the district of the religious leaders. “They will have to pass close by” Ester tells herself. “It’s time to put my plan in action.”
Ester wraps herself in the cloak her mother brought, making certain to hide her face. There doesn’t seem to be anyone around so she slips out of her house. Keeping to the shadows she walks quickly to the mouth of the main road into the city. As she approaches, she sees a very large crowd moving in mass along the street. She knows she can’t approach Jesus directly because of her unclean state. She could be arrested, and probably killed, if she is found out. But if she can sneak close enough to just touch His garments she KNOWS she will be healed.
As the crowd proceeds past her, Ester slips in. She keeps her head bowed and presses between people towards the center of the mass. From the descriptions she has overheard she recognizes Jesus. He is walking right beside Jairus. She is so close she can smell the sea on the clothes of those around Him. She sneaks a hand out from under her cloak and quickly reaches out. She strokes the hem of His sleeve once, and then drops back into the crowd.
Jesus stops in His tracks, turns around and says, “Who touched Me?” (Luke 8:45a).
Ester tries to hide as Jesus speaks with His disciples. Even in her hiding, she knows that she is healed.
Jesus looks around at the crowd. They are all shaking their heads.
Peter looks at Jesus and says; “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you” (Luke 8:45b).
Jesus shakes His head and begins scanning the crowd again. “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me” (Luke 8:46).
Ester is undone by Jesus’ perception. She pushes to the center of the crowd and falls at Jesus feet. She knows she is healed and her exile is over! She tearfully tells Jesus the whole story.
As Ester relays her story to Jesus, the crowd watches to see how Jesus will react to this unclean woman touching His clothing.
Jesus waits quietly for her to finish her story. All the while, He is looking on her with compassion. Once Ester is finished with her story, Jesus looks her in the eye and says; “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace” (Luke 8:48).
Some of those hearing her story are appalled at the audacity of this woman. Some feel pity for her. Some even recognize her from her window. They say noting to her after hearing Jesus’ words. He recognized her courage and her faith. His is the only opinion that counts.
Ester melts back into the crowd as Jesus’ attention is redirected back to Jairus. As she leaves, she thinks; “This is the beginning of a new life for me!”
While Jesus is talking with the Ester, Jairus is focused on someone he recognizes pushing his way through the crowd. This is Jairus’ personal servant. “What’s going on?” he wonders.
When the servant finally gets to Jairus’ side, he looks at Jairus with tears in his eyes. The servant bows his head. “Don’t bother the teacher any more. Your daughter is dead now.”
Jesus hears this statement and speaks directly to Jairus. “Do not fear, only believe” (Mark 5:36).
Jesus looks at His disciples and says; “Send the crow away.”
The people don’t fight, too hard. Some only go a short distance away, but they respect Jesus’ request and His disciples bar their way with their own bodies.
Jesus calls out to Simon, James and John. “Accompany Me.”
The small group continues the trip to Jairus’ home.
As they approach, mourners can be heard two blocks away. Jesus refuses to be deterred. When He reaches the throng of mourners, He asks; “Stop wailing. She is not dead but asleep” (Luke 8:52).
Laughter breaks out amongst the mourners. “Of course she is dead” they cry. The doctor is in the crowd as well. He says; “I pronounced her dead myself.”
Jesus refuses to hear any of their objections. With a gentle hand on his back, Jesus propels Jairus through the crowd. His disciples follow closely behind. As soon as they are all inside the home, Jesus shuts the door.
“Take me to the child” Jesus tells Jairus.
He leads them to his daughter’s room. Anna sits beside Rebecca’s bed, tears streaming down her face.
Jesus quietly sits down on the side other side of Rebecca’s bed and takes her hand. In a voice ringing with authority and compassion, Jesus says; “Little girl, I say to you arise” (Mark 5:41).
Rebecca opens her eyes. Anna gasps in surprise. Both Anna and Jairus’ faces beam with joy as Rebecca gets up off her bed and starts walking around the room. Jairus and Anna envelop her in a fierce hug.
“Get her something to eat” Jesus tells them.
Everyone leaves Rebecca’s room. Anna takes Rebecca to the table to fix her a meal. Jairus turns to Jesus. “Words are insufficient to convey my thanks for what You have done for my family. Tell me how I can repay You, in some small part.”
Jesus smiles. “Care for your family, and tell no one about what has happened here today.”
Jairus nods. He will do exactly as Jesus has instructed.
Jesus and His disciples exit the home and push through the mourners.
Jairus follows Jesus outside and speaks to the mourners. “Please go home now. Your services are not needed.”
Jairus and Anna keep quiet about the events of the day, but when the neighbors see Rebecca on the street the next day, word begins to spread. This miracle won’t remain a secret for long.
Ester waits the eight days after her meeting with Jesus before going to the ritual pools. When she steps in, she washes away YEARS of uncleanliness. She feels it melt off of her body like a candle melting under the flame. When she leaves the bath, she goes to her childhood home to share the news with her family.
Ester’s parents welcome her and are overjoyed by her good news, but still hold reservations of how she went into the crowd while unclean.
“Did you tell anyone what you did” her abba asks.
“I told Jesus everything.”
“Was it in private that you told this Man?”
“No, Abba. We were all standing in the street together.”
“And what did the people say!”
“Nothing, Abba. They accepted the words of Jesus; that I was healed.”
Esther’s abba worries about someone coming and claiming that Ester somehow harmed them with her uncleanness. After a month, with no one coming, Ester’s abba forgets all about the threat to his family.
Ester eventually becomes the wife of a widow with small children. She becomes a wife and an ima at long last. Her isolation is over.
(to be continued)
I hope you enjoyed these stories. I wanted to end Ester’s story on a happy note. We have no idea what became of that desperate, brave, HEALED, woman.
My heart also identifies with Jairus and his family. I have never had a child on death’s doorstep with fever, but I have had illnesses that were life threatening. My oldest son was down with, what we thought was the flu. It turned out to be appendicitis. His appendix was moments away from rupturing. My husband had to have a heart valve repaired. The doctor said that his heart was barely pumping blood by the time they got to him. TERRIFYING moments for me.
My MOST terrifying moment in my life was when my oldest son went missing. After hours of frantic searching, I came home, one last time before calling the police, and found him in our living room. The police had brought him home, after he finally realized he was lost.
In my story, the person I’m angry at is Ester’s abba. I don’t know if this is what would, or did, really happen. But I can see it happening in that culture.
Father God, thank You for sharing Your stories with me. I was just thinking about what You would have me take from them both, and the word “faith” rose up in my spirit. The woman had extraordinary faith! Faith born in desperation. Jairus leaned into Jesus’ as they walked together. I have steadfast faith in You and in Your love for me. NOTHING will ever break that faith. But I struggle with faith for healing miracles. I KNOW that You STILL DO heal people. My own survival is a testament to Your sustaining healing. But, I need help when it comes to my husband’s health. He has been praying for YEARS for Your touch, and he is no better. He is getting worse.
Is it because I don’t have ‘enough faith’? Or is this all part of Your plan for his life? I KNOW You didn’t cause his tumor and are not responsible for the ‘side effects’ of the treatments for it. But his situation touches people’s hearts. His steadfast faith in Your love stands strong! He still occasionally asks if this all happened because of some sin he did in the past.
That hurts even more than him not getting better. I want him, and anyone else who is suffering, to KNOW that they are LOVED beyond measure! And that You do NOT hurt people and cause them pain. You USE the pain to help us move closer to You though. Draw both of us even closer Lord.
