Luke 8:40-44: a reflection

40When Jesus returned, the multitude welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41Behold, a man named Jairus came. He was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come into his house, 42for he had an only born daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as he went, the multitudes pressed against him. 43A woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her living on physicians and could not be healed by any, 44came behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak. Immediately the flow of her blood stopped.

Two people in desperate need come to Jesus in this passage. Jairus, a synagogue ruler, falls at Jesus' feet and begs him to come, for his only daughter is dying. And a woman who had suffered a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all she had on physicians and could not be healed, comes up behind Jesus in the crowd and simply touches the fringe of his cloak. And immediately her bleeding stops. Both, in their desperation, reach out to Jesus; and neither is turned away.

Notice the desperate faith that reaches out to Jesus. Jairus, though a man of standing, falls at Jesus' feet and pleads. The woman, having exhausted every other hope, with nothing left to try, reaches out to touch even the edge of his garment, believing that would be enough. Both had come to the end of their own resources; and in their desperation they turned to Jesus, reaching out to him in faith. And Jesus received them.

That desperate reaching out is a faith Jesus welcomes. We may feel we have exhausted every other hope, spent all our resources, come to the end of ourselves; and it is there, at the end of our own ability, that faith reaches out to Jesus. He does not turn away the one who comes in desperation; the woman had only to touch the edge of his cloak. When you are desperate, when you have come to the end of your own resources, reach out to Jesus in faith, as these two did. You need not have great strength or standing; you need only reach out to him. The Jesus who received the pleading father and the trembling woman receives you too; reach out to him, however desperate, and do not think yourself beyond his help.

Lord Jesus, two desperate people came to you: Jairus falling at your feet for his dying daughter, and the woman who had spent all she had and could not be healed, reaching out to touch the edge of your cloak; and neither was turned away. Give me that desperate faith that reaches out to you. I may feel I have exhausted every other hope, spent all my resources, come to the end of myself; and it is there, at the end of my own ability, that faith reaches out to you. You do not turn away the one who comes in desperation; the woman had only to touch the edge of your cloak. When I am desperate, when I have come to the end of my own resources, help me reach out to you in faith, as these two did. I need not have great strength or standing; I need only reach out to you. You who received the pleading father and the trembling woman, receive me too; help me reach out to you, however desperate, and never think myself beyond your help. I reach out to you now, Lord.