Healing of Jairus’ Daughter
The healing of Jairus’ daughter, recorded in all three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56), stands as one of the most moving and theologically rich miracles in the ministry of Jesus. This narrative is unique not only for the miracle itself but also for its literary structure, as it is intertwined with the healing of a woman suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years. The deliberate interweaving of these two stories invites deep reflection on faith, the nature of Jesus’ authority, the significance of the number twelve, and the inclusivity of Jesus’ ministry.
Narrative Overview and Literary Structure
The account begins with Jairus, a synagogue ruler, approaching Jesus with urgency and humility, pleading for the healing of his dying daughter. As Jesus sets out with Jairus, a large crowd presses around him. In the midst of this journey, a woman who has suffered from a chronic flow of blood for twelve years touches Jesus’ garment and is instantly healed. Jesus pauses to address her, commending her faith. Meanwhile, news arrives that Jairus’ daughter has died, but Jesus encourages Jairus not to fear but to believe. Arriving at Jairus’ house, Jesus raises the girl from the dead, restoring her to her family.
This “sandwich” or intercalation–where one story is inserted into the middle of another–serves to highlight the connections and contrasts between the two miracles. Both Jairus and the woman are desperate, both demonstrate faith, and both experience the life-giving power of Jesus.
The Historical and Social Context
Jairus is introduced as a “ruler of the synagogue” (Mark 5:22), a man of social standing and religious authority. His approach to Jesus is marked by humility and desperation: “he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, ‘My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live’” (Mark 5:22-23). In contrast, the woman with the hemorrhage is unnamed, marginalized by her illness, and considered ritually unclean according to Levitical law (Leviticus 15:25-27). Her condition would have excluded her from religious and social life for twelve years.
The juxtaposition of Jairus and the woman highlights the breadth of Jesus’ compassion: he responds to the needs of both the prominent and the outcast, the respected and the rejected. This inclusivity is a hallmark of Jesus’ ministry, fulfilling the prophetic vision of the Messiah who brings good news to the poor and healing to the brokenhearted (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18-19).
Theological Significance of the Miracle
The raising of Jairus’ daughter is a powerful demonstration of Jesus’ authority over life and death. When news arrives that the girl has died, Jesus says to Jairus, “Do not fear, only believe” (Mark 5:36). This call to faith in the face of death echoes throughout the Gospels and is rooted in the Old Testament’s affirmation of God as the giver and restorer of life (Deuteronomy 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:6; Psalm 30:2-3).
Jesus’ actions at Jairus’ house further reveal his authority. He takes the girl by the hand–an act that would have rendered him ceremonially unclean according to Numbers 19:11–but instead of being defiled, Jesus imparts life. He speaks to her in Aramaic, “Talitha cumi,” meaning, “Little girl, I say to you, arise” (Mark 5:41). Immediately, the girl rises and walks, and Jesus instructs her astonished parents to give her something to eat (Mark 5:42-43).
This miracle prefigures Jesus’ own resurrection and the promise of resurrection for all who believe in him. As Jesus declares elsewhere, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25). The raising of Jairus’ daughter is thus a sign pointing to the ultimate victory over death that Jesus will accomplish.
The Significance of Twelve Years
Both the woman’s illness and the age of Jairus’ daughter are specified as twelve years (Mark 5:25, 42; Luke 8:42). This detail is not incidental. In biblical symbolism, the number twelve often signifies completeness or the people of God (twelve tribes of Israel, twelve apostles). The parallel of twelve years connects the two stories and may suggest that both the woman and the girl represent Israel in need of restoration.
The woman’s twelve years of suffering end at the same moment that the twelve-year-old girl is restored to life. This convergence underscores the comprehensive scope of Jesus’ healing: he brings restoration to individuals and to the community as a whole. The healing of the woman and the raising of the girl together symbolize the renewal of God’s people through the Messiah.
Faith and the Power of Jesus
A central theme in both miracles is faith. Jairus demonstrates faith by seeking out Jesus and trusting in his power to heal. The woman, despite her fear and social exclusion, believes that merely touching Jesus’ garment will heal her: “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well” (Mark 5:28). Jesus affirms her faith: “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease” (Mark 5:34).
When Jairus receives the devastating news of his daughter’s death, Jesus challenges him to continue believing: “Do not fear, only believe” (Mark 5:36). The narrative thus contrasts fear and faith, urging readers to trust in Jesus even when circumstances seem hopeless.
The connection between faith and healing is not a guarantee of miraculous outcomes in every situation, but it does reveal that faith is the means by which individuals receive the blessings Jesus offers. As Hebrews 11:6 states, “without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
Connection Between Jairus’ Daughter and the Woman with the Issue of Blood
The interweaving of the two stories is more than a literary device; it is a theological statement about the nature of Jesus’ ministry. Both Jairus and the woman approach Jesus in desperation, both are associated with the number twelve, and both experience restoration. The woman’s healing occurs while Jesus is on the way to Jairus’ house, and the delay caused by her healing seemingly results in the girl’s death. Yet, this delay becomes the occasion for an even greater miracle: the raising of the dead.
The stories are also linked by the theme of ritual impurity. The woman’s bleeding renders her unclean, and touching a corpse would also defile. In both cases, Jesus is not contaminated by impurity; rather, he overcomes it with holiness and life. This reversal fulfills the prophetic hope that the Messiah will bring cleansing and renewal (Ezekiel 36:25-27).
Moreover, Jesus addresses the woman as “daughter” (Mark 5:34), the only time he uses this term for an individual in the Gospels. This tender address highlights her inclusion in the family of God and parallels Jairus’ concern for his own daughter. Both are beloved, both are restored, and both are recipients of Jesus’ compassion.
Lessons Learned from the Healing of Jairus’ Daughter
Several important lessons emerge from this narrative:
The universality of Jesus’ compassion: Jesus responds to the needs of both the prominent and the marginalized, breaking down social and religious barriers.
The necessity of faith: Both Jairus and the woman exemplify faith in action, trusting Jesus despite fear and apparent hopelessness.
Jesus’ authority over death and impurity: Jesus is not limited by ritual laws or by the finality of death; he brings life and restoration.
The importance of persistence: The woman’s determination to reach Jesus and Jairus’ perseverance in the face of bad news both model persistent faith.
The foreshadowing of resurrection: The raising of Jairus’ daughter points forward to Jesus’ own resurrection and the hope of eternal life for all who believe.
Old Testament Echoes and Fulfillment
The miracle echoes several Old Testament themes. The prophets Elijah and Elisha both raised children from the dead (1 Kings 17:17-24; 2 Kings 4:32-37), but only after fervent prayer and physical effort. Jesus, by contrast, raises the girl with a simple word, demonstrating a greater authority. The narrative also fulfills the messianic hope of Isaiah 35:5-6: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.”
Conclusion
The healing of Jairus’ daughter, intertwined with the healing of the woman with the issue of blood, is a profound testimony to the power, compassion, and authority of Jesus. It reveals his lordship over life and death, his willingness to cross social and religious boundaries, and his call to faith in the midst of fear. The significance of twelve years links the stories and points to the restoration of God’s people. Ultimately, this miracle is a signpost to the resurrection and the new life that Jesus offers to all who trust in him.