Lord’s Day, Vol. 14 No. 20

Thy Faith Hath Made Thee Whole

Luke 8:41-48 (KJV) And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: 42 For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him. 43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, 44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. 45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

While Jesus was on the way to save the only daughter of Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, a woman sought His help to heal her but it may have been some kind of hemorrhaging, described as “an issue of blood” for twelve years. An ailment that physicians could not treat and she has exhausted her financial means as a result. She was desperately in need of help. She came to Jesus in the midst of a throng, touched Him and was healed immediately. Jesus perceived that “virtue” is gone out of Him. The word “virtue” is the Greek word “dunamis” where is derived English word “dynamite”. It means “power”. “Power” came out of Him to heal her. “Inherent power” flowed out of Jesus to heal her. The stem “duna” have the basic meaning of being able, capable. It means also one who has an ability. Here it means one who exercises authority, powers, miracles coming out of that mighty power of God inherent in Christ. Jesus is God. He demonstrated His Deity in healing the woman. 

This word “virtue” is translated “power” and first used in the New Testament in the Lord’s Prayer ascribing God’s power to help the supplicant recorded in Matthew 6:13 (KJV) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

The healing came as a result of her touching Jesus. This woman had come in faith acknowledging Jesus’ ability to help her. Jesus said to her, “Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.” God’s comfort and God’s peace came to her. She was saved because she trusted in Jesus! The object of faith for this woman is Jesus Christ. She touched Him in demonstration of that faith. Her faith came as a result of a sense of need. She felt herself needing a Saviour. She finds Jesus to be just such a Saviour she wants, and therefore because she cannot help herself, no physicians could, she believed in Jesus! She was glorious saved! 

All who come to Jesus as sinners shall have their sins washed by the blood of Jesus and be saved. Jesus died on sinners’ behalf and rose from the dead the third day! Amen.