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Chapter 36—The Touch of Faith Brings Healing
This chapter is based on
Matthew 9:18-26
;
Mark 5:21-43
;
Luke
8:40-56
.
Returning from Gergesa to the western shore of Lake Galilee,
Jesus found a multitude gathered to receive Him. He remained by
the seaside for a time, teaching and healing, and then went to the
house of Levi-Matthew to meet the publicans at the feast. Here
Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, found Him. In great distress he
exclaimed, “My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray
Thee, come and lay Thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and
she shall live.”
Jesus set out at once with the ruler for his home. The disciples
were surprised at His compliance with the entreaty of the haughty
rabbi, yet they accompanied their Master, and the people followed.
Jesus and His companions advanced slowly, for the crowd pressed
Him on every side. The anxious father was impatient, but Jesus
stopped now and then to relieve suffering, or to comfort a troubled
heart.
While they were on the way, a messenger pressed through the
crowd, bearing the news that Jairus’s daughter was dead. The word
caught the ear of Jesus. “Fear not: believe only, and she shall be
made whole.”
Together they hurried to the ruler’s home. Already hired mourn-
ers and flute players were filling the air with their clamor. Jesus tried
to silence them: “Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel
is not dead, but sleepeth.” They were indignant at the words of the
Stranger. They had seen the child in the embrace of death. Requiring
them all to leave, Jesus took the father
[231]
and mother of the maiden, and Peter, James, and John, and
entered the chamber of death.
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