Today I want to tell you about one of Jesus' most amazing miracles - "A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed". This incredible story shows how Jesus helped two very different people: a desperate father whose daughter was dying and a sick woman who had suffered for many years.

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This special story appears in three gospels - Matthew, Mark, and Luke - which shows how important it was to the early Christians. It reveals Jesus' power over sickness and even death itself, and how He cares for people from all walks of life.

A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed Summary

Chapter 1: A Father's Desperate Plea

One day, as Jesus returned from across the lake, many people gathered around Him, waiting for His arrival. "Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him" (Luke 8:40).

Among this crowd was a very important man named Jairus. The Bible tells us, "Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying" (Luke 8:41-42).

This wasn't an ordinary request. Jairus was a leader of the local synagogue - a respected religious official who would normally be very careful about associating with someone like Jesus, who sometimes challenged religious traditions. But when it came to his daughter's life, none of that mattered. His love for his child was greater than any concern about his reputation.

Mark's gospel shows us how desperate Jairus was: "He fell at Jesus' feet and pleaded earnestly with him, 'My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live'" (Mark 5:22-23).

Jesus immediately agreed to go with him. Every moment counted - the girl was slipping away. "So Jesus went with him" (Luke 8:42).

Chapter 2: An Unexpected Interruption

As Jesus walked toward Jairus' house, something unexpected happened. The streets were packed with people pressing in from all sides, all wanting to be close to Jesus.

"As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her" (Luke 8:42-43).

This woman's condition was not only physically painful but socially isolating. According to Jewish law, her bleeding made her ceremonially "unclean," meaning anyone who touched her would also become unclean. She had spent all her money seeking help: "She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse" (Mark 5:26).

In a bold, desperate move, this unnamed woman pushed through the crowd with one thought: "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed" (Mark 5:28).

"She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped" (Luke 8:44).

The woman tried to slip away anonymously, but Jesus stopped. "'Who touched me?' Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, 'Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you'" (Luke 8:45).

But Jesus insisted, "'Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me'" (Luke 8:46).

Chapter 3: Faith Revealed

Realizing she couldn't remain hidden, the woman came forward trembling. "Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed" (Luke 8:47).

Instead of scolding her for making Him ritually "unclean" by touching Him, Jesus spoke kindly to her: "He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace'" (Luke 8:48).

This brief but powerful encounter showed Jesus' compassion and the woman's remarkable faith. After twelve years of suffering, she was completely healed in an instant - all because she believed Jesus could help her.

But while this miracle was wonderful, poor Jairus had been waiting anxiously. His dying daughter needed help immediately, and now there had been a delay.

Chapter 4: Heartbreaking News

Just as Jesus finished speaking to the healed woman, devastating news arrived. "While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. 'Your daughter is dead,' he said. 'Don't bother the teacher anymore'" (Luke 8:49).

Imagine how Jairus must have felt. If only they had hurried. If only they hadn't been interrupted. Now it was too late - or so it seemed.

But Jesus immediately reassured the heartbroken father: "Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, 'Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed'" (Luke 8:50).

Mark's gospel adds that Jesus told him, "Don't be afraid; just believe" (Mark 5:36). Even when all hope seemed lost, Jesus encouraged Jairus to keep trusting Him.

Chapter 5: At the House of Mourning

When they reached Jairus' house, the scene was chaotic. "When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly" (Mark 5:38).

Professional mourners were already there, loudly grieving according to custom. But Jesus did something surprising: "He went in and said to them, 'Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.' But they laughed at him" (Mark 5:39-40).

The people's laughter shows they were certain the girl was dead. But Jesus used the word "asleep" because He knew death would not be permanent in this case.

Jesus then did something bold: "After he put them all out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was" (Mark 5:40).

Chapter 6: The Miracle of Restoration

In the quiet room, with only the parents and three disciples (Peter, James and John) watching, Jesus performed an amazing miracle. "He took her by the hand and said to her, 'Talitha koum!' (which means 'Little girl, I say to you, get up!')" (Mark 5:41).

Mark preserved Jesus' actual Aramaic words - "Talitha koum" - giving us a precious glimpse of Jesus' native language and the tender way He spoke to the child.

The Bible records what happened next: "Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened" (Luke 8:55-56).

The girl was not only alive but completely well - healthy enough to stand up and eat food! Jesus showed His practical concern by making sure she received nourishment after her ordeal.

The little girl who had been dead was now fully restored to life. Jairus and his wife had their precious daughter back - a miracle that demonstrated Jesus' power even over death itself.

What Can We Learn From "A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed"?

1. Faith can persist through desperate situations - Both Jairus and the bleeding woman came to Jesus when all other options failed. Their faith led them to seek Jesus even when circumstances seemed hopeless.
2. Jesus cares for all types of people - In this story, Jesus helped both a respected religious leader and a socially outcast woman. Neither status nor social position affected His willingness to show compassion.
3. Sometimes help comes in unexpected ways - Jairus wanted immediate help for his daughter, but Jesus paused for the woman's healing first. God's timing and methods might surprise us, but His plans are perfect.
4. Jesus has power over both sickness and death - The two miracles in this story demonstrate Jesus' complete authority over the physical world, including the ultimate human problem - death itself.
5. Jesus treats people with dignity - He called the healed woman "daughter," restored her socially as well as physically, and preserved the young girl's dignity by limiting who could witness her return to life and ensuring she was fed afterward.

5 Trivia Quiz about "A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed" for kids

What was the name of the father whose daughter Jesus brought back to life?

His name was Jairus, and he was an important synagogue leader who humbled himself by falling at Jesus' feet to beg for help for his daughter.

How old was Jairus' daughter?

The Bible tells us she was "a girl of about twelve years old" (Luke 8:42). Interestingly, the woman with bleeding had suffered for this same amount of time - twelve years.

How long had the woman been suffering from bleeding?

The woman had been bleeding for twelve years. During all that time, no doctor had been able to help her despite her spending all her money trying to get well.

What did Jesus say made the woman with bleeding become well?

Jesus told her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you" (Luke 8:48). It wasn't just touching His cloak that healed her, but her faith in His power to heal.

What did Jesus say to the little girl to bring her back to life?

Jesus said "Talitha koum!" which is Aramaic for "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" (Mark 5:41). These words were powerful enough to bring her back from death to life.

If you enjoyed learning about how Jesus restored a girl to life and healed a woman with bleeding, next time I'd love to tell you about "Jesus Calming the Storm" - another amazing story where Jesus showed His power over nature when He commanded a furious storm to be still, saving His frightened disciples!