New Testament in a Year

²¹ Jesus Heals a Woman and Raises a Child.^[a] When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed by the lake. ²² Then one of the leaders of the synagogue,^[b] named Jairus, came forward, and when he saw Jesus he threw himself down at his feet ²³ and pleaded with him, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. I beg you to come and lay your hands on her so that she may recover and live.” ²⁴ Jesus went with him, and a large number accompanied him and crowded around him.

²⁵ There was a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. ²⁶ In spite of long and painful treatment at the hands of many doctors, her condition not only had failed to improve but had actually become worse, and she had spent everything she had. ²⁷ Having heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, ²⁸ for she thought, “If I simply touch his clothing, I shall be made well.” ²⁹ And immediately her bleeding dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

³⁰ Instantly aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothing?” ³¹ His disciples said in reply, “You see this vast throng pressing upon you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” ³² However, he continued to look around to determine who had done it. ³³ Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She knelt before him and revealed to him the whole truth. ³⁴ He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your affliction.”

³⁵ While he was still speaking, some people from the house of the synagogue leader arrived and said, “Your daughter has died. Why bother the Teacher any further?” ³⁶ Jesus heard the message they had delivered, but he said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid. Just have faith.” ³⁷ He allowed no one to accompany him except Peter, James, and John,^[c] the brother of James.

³⁸ When they arrived at the house of the synagogue leader, he observed a great deal of commotion, with people weeping and wailing loudly. ³⁹ When he entered, he said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead; she is asleep.” ⁴⁰ In response, they laughed at him.

After sending them all outside, he took with him the child’s father and mother and his own companions and entered the room where the child was. ⁴¹ He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” which means: “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” ⁴² And immediately the girl, a child of twelve, got up and began to walk around.

On witnessing this, they were all overcome with amazement, ⁴³ but he gave them strict instructions that no one should be told anything about this. Then he told them to give her something to eat.