Luke 8:44-56

She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. 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!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” - Luke 8:44-46 ESV

This woman believed Jesus had power in Him to heal, and that by just a touch, she would be healed. And she was. And Jesus knew she had been, and I feel that He knew exactly who had been healed, where she was in the crowd, and why she had wanted to be healed. He was now giving her the chance to come forward. Commanding her to come forward. Not in anger it would seem, but to explain to her why she had been healed. Why? Healing without change only helps the body, not the soul. Comfort for the lost without pointing them to Christ leaves them spiritually in the dark and, unless the light shines upon them, eternally lost. As I thought of this passage this morning, it seemed to click that Jesus did not want this woman to go away from this experience without Him speaking to her so she may be changed, not just healed.

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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. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” - Luke 8:47-48 ESV

She was trembling, He tells her to be of good cheer. She may have been worried about punishment for touching Him unauthorized, He tells her to go in peace. The world may have wondered how she'd been healed, Jesus tells them. Faith. Have faith in Jesus for all things, in all things, through all things, in spite of all things.

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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.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” - Luke 8:49-50 ESV

Once more, faith is a key part. Jairus would have heard the woman's confession and Jesus' reply. Now he's faced with the news that his daughter died. Jesus tells him clearly, "only believe, and she will be made well." The woman believed she would be healed. Now it's Jairus' turn.

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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. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. - Luke 8:51-53 ESV

Our Lord chose some miracles to be witnessed by many, and others by few. But each miracle had great impact. Don't look for crowds to witness you but instead faithfully obey God's directing.

Mourners without hope will ridicule the hope of others. Remain faithful.

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But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened. - Luke 8:54-56 ESV

This passage makes it absolutely clear that the little girl was dead. It was repeated, many times, that she was dead. And here we see her spirit return to her. She had died. Her spirit had departed. Jesus has power over life and death and is able to return life to the dead.

Here He commands them to tell no one. It would seem strange that He would want His miracles to be secret if we didn't take into consideration a few facts pieced together from other passages. The people were expecting the Messiah, but they were expecting a Messiah that would come, overthrow the rule of Rome, and set up an earthly kingdom. They wanted to make Jesus their king when He gave them bread to eat, how much more when He raised the dead. He still had work to do and teaching to provide, and to keep the people from hindering Him the whole way, it would appear He commanded some miracles to be kept secret until the proper time came for them to be revealed.