Luke 8:46-50

Luke 8:46 (KJB)
And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

He asks the question concerning who touched his clothes? When Jesus asked the question of who touched Him, all the disciples and those who were around Him had denied and stated that none of them had touched Him. He fully knew well who did it but asks the question for the purpose of confirming the woman’s faith and to quell any fears she may have had. This is just like today, when we pray, there are probably a hundred million prayers or more going to Heaven at any time of the day and even though it seems like big number, Jesus has personal time for each believer. Just as He did in the case of this woman. The power which had come out of Jesus did not diminish His power in any way but it was a faith lesson that when we have faith in Christ, then He empowers us in our Christian lives. He empowered the body of this woman to be healed without any ritual or cost to her because He is the Great Physician.

Luke 8:47 (KJB)
And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

After Jesus had asked the question, the next thing He did was turn around and speak to the woman who touched His garment. Jesus knew who touched Him because He turned around and knew it was a woman who touched Him. Jesus now wanted to see the face of the woman. The reason the woman had feared and trembled when Jesus looked at her was because in that culture it was almost a sacrilege for woman to have an open conversation in public, never mind reaching and touching the man’s garment. Another reason was because she was unclean according to the law, she would have ceremonially defiled everyone she came in contact with and that would have included Jesus. This is why she trembled because if Jesus would have been the same ilk as the Pharisees, then charges could have been brought against her for violating the law. Then, instead of her trying to escape, she told Jesus everything which had befallen her and especially about the plague which she suffered from. This shows that a believer can come to Jesus with any problem, even one that is temporary in this life, and they will never be turned away.

Luke 8:48 (KJB)
And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

Here we have the answer to the question where her faith lied. Her faith was in Jesus and His ability to heal her. Jesus responded to the faith that she had shown in Him and as a result she was healed from that very hour and no longer would she be unclean. She would now have to show herself to the priest so she would be officially permitted to rejoin the Jewish community in Capernaum. The woman was initially frightened. However, when she told Jesus everything, He did not chide her instead He encouraged and comforted her which resulted in her healing. Notice how He calls her “daughter.” Jesus had healed another woman of an infirmity which she had for 18 years and calls her a daughter of Abraham. (Luke 13:16 KJV) And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? Both of them had become saved. This is why Jesus told her to go in peace. It was the peace of God which was bestowed upon her in salvation. (Phil 4:7 KJV) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Luke 8:49 (KJB)
While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.

Just as the delay when Jesus received word of Lazarus being sick caused Lazarus to die. The delay here with the woman who had the issue of blood caused the girl to die. Once the little girl was pronounced dead by those who attended her, the people looked at it as finality. In fact, they even told Jairus that he need not bother the Master any further. Little did they know that just as Jesus had authority over disease, He also had authority over death. Jairus may have felt bad that there was so much delay and probably thought like Martha that if Jesus would have arrived in time then Lazarus would not have died.

Luke 8:50 (KJB)
But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

Immediately when Jesus heard these words that the girl was dead, He turned to Jairus and told him, in fact, commanded him not to fear but only believe. Belief cannot exist in an atmosphere of fear and fear cannot exist in an atmosphere of belief. It is an exchange principle, either you believe in the words of Jesus or you do not. It is always either/or. I wonder what went through the mind of Jairus when he was told to believe and not fear. What was he to believe at that moment? Or what was he not to fear? This is the essence of faith, that we trust the Lord Jesus Christ with every situation including those which seem to have no way out.

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