The Fifth Sunday of Easter (CL)

Luke 8:40-56

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.

The woman has been bleeding for twelve years. The child has been alive for twelve years. Is there some great significance with twelve years? I know that there are twelve tribes of Israel. I know there are twelve apostles. I even know that I buy eggs in packages of twelve. But is there something I am missing?

Jesus first has the father of a dying girl come to him asking that he would come to his house. (Interesting not for healing or raising the dead.) Then the woman does not want to bother Jesus, but comes up behind him and touch the fringe of his garment and her discharge of blood stops. Then someone from Jairus' house comes and says, "do not trouble the Teacher any more." I think when we ask for things, we hardly ever actually know what we really want. Is solving a symptom, solving the problem?

Jesus does not allow the woman to just walk away, without establishing faith in her, and in those around her. Likewise, Jesus does not leave it at entering the house, or healing a little girl, but raises her from death. He is about making people new. He is about changing our lives. Twelve years is a lifetime for the girl, and yet it is a lifetime of suffering for the woman. Twelve Apostles and Twelve Tribes is the entire household of God.

God's people are always suffering on account of sin. We are dying because of our sin. Jesus comes to take our place. So that it is not the woman who lies there bleeding but Jesus hanging their bleeding. It is not the little girl who dies, but Jesus himself who gives up his spirit upon the cross to give you life.