MPV Commentary

Jairus' Daughter Raised and Issue of Blood Healed.

The crowd had eagerly awaited Jesus' return to the shore after a long day of teaching (Matthew 13:1-58; Mark 4:36). They had been disappointed when he left them in the evening to cross the lake, but they remained on the beach, expecting him to come back. Perhaps they even witnessed the sudden calming of the storm from a distance. As Jesus arrived, they welcomed him with open arms, their enthusiasm for his teaching still high.

Jesus was surrounded by a large crowd (Luke 8:40), and he asked, "Who touched me?" This question seems almost rhetorical, given the throng pressing in around him. But Jesus is not asking who touched him in general; rather, he's seeking to identify the one person who intentionally reached out with faith.

The crowd had indeed pressed against Jesus, but their touch was involuntary (Luke 8:46). They were swept up in the moment and didn't have a conscious desire for healing. However, there was one woman who touched him with deliberate intent, reaching out her hand to make contact with him. This is what Jesus acknowledges and seeks out.

The believing woman's public declaration of her healing (Luke 8:47) was not easy for her, but it was exactly what Jesus wanted. By sharing her story, she bore witness to the facts of her case – her illness, her failed attempts at treatment, and the instantaneous relief she experienced through Jesus' touch.

Later, when Jesus was leaving, a woman who had been suffering from bleeding for twelve years approached him (Luke 8:43). She touched the hem of his garment, hoping to receive healing. Jesus asked, "Who touched me?" again, seeking out the one person who had intentionally reached out with faith.