Today's reading tells us about the raising of the daughter of a synagogue official named Jairus (the Gospel text calls this man a “ruler of the synagogue”). The official's role in the synagogue in those days, as today, resembled that of a churchwarden in churches where such a position exists: this person...
Today's reading tells us about the raising of the daughter of a synagogue official named Jairus (the Gospel text calls this man a “ruler of the synagogue”). The official's role in the synagogue in those days, as today, resembled that of a churchwarden in churches where such a position exists. This person did not replace the rabbi, who remained the head of the synagogue as a religious community, but he was responsible for all its administrative and practical affairs. Such an office naturally carried great responsibility, and the person who held it enjoyed universal respect.
Meanwhile, on the way to Jairus' house, the Savior encounters a sick woman suffering from a flow of blood. The description we see in the Gospel does not allow us to determine exactly what illness she had, but it is clear that no physician had been able to help her in any way (vv. 25–26). She resolves to try one last means and, with faith and hope for healing, touches Jesus' garment (vv. 27–28).
In those days, such a bold step could well have provoked the Teacher's anger. Among the Jews, a person suffering from a flow of blood was considered unclean and could not participate fully in religious life, for example in sacrifices. To be cleansed, a person first had to wait until the bleeding stopped, which meant recovery had begun, and then perform a special purifying washing with water. The Old Testament, for example the Book of Leviticus, describes in detail how this was to be done. Yet this woman's bleeding had not stopped, and by touching Him she could, as she herself apparently believed, render Him unclean as well, since contact with someone or something unclean was thought to defile the person who touched it.
This is probably why she became very frightened when Jesus began looking around for the one who had touched Him. Nevertheless, she thought it best to approach the Teacher and confess everything, even at the risk of provoking His anger (vv. 32–33). But the Lord's answer was evidently not condemning; on the contrary, it was entirely approving (v. 34). While all this was happening, Jairus' daughter died (v. 35; apparently her father sought help only when the illness was already far advanced, perhaps after every other means had been tried). But this does not stop Jesus, for He is able not only to heal but also to raise the dead (vv. 41–42).
12
12:1 Wherefore, being encompassed with a cloud - A great multitude, tending upward with a holy swiftness. Of witnesses - Of the power of faith. Let us lay aside every weight - As all who run a race take care to do. Let us throw off whatever weighs us down, or damps the vigour of our Soul. And the sin which easily besetteth us - As doth the sin of our constitution, the sin of our education, the sin of our profession.
12:2 Looking - From all other things. To Jesus - As the wounded Israelites to the brazen serpent. Our crucified Lord was prefigured by the lifting up of this; our guilt, by the stings of the fiery serpents; and our faith, by their looking up to the miraculous remedy. The author and finisher of our faith - Who begins it in us, carries it on, and perfects it. Who for the joy that was set before him - Patiently and willingly endured the cross, with all the pains annexed thereto.And is set down - Where there is fulness of joy.
12:3 Consider - Draw the comparison and think. The Lord bore all this; and shall his servants bear nothing? Him that endured such contradiction from sinners - Such enmity and opposition of every kind Lest ye be weary - Dull and languid, and so actually faint in your course.
12:4 Unto blood - Unto wounds and death.