Gospel of Matthew 9:18-26
Jesus Heals the Ruler's Daughter
While Jesus was teaching [the lesson of new wine in old skins], an official came to him and bowed before him, saying, "My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand upon her, and she will live." Jesus arose and followed him, as did his disciples.
On their way, a woman, who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years, came up behind him and touched the hem of his robe; for she said to herself, "If I just touch his clothng, I will be cured." But Jesus turned and, seeing her, said, "Daughter, take heart; your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed.
When Jesus came to the official's house and saw flute players and a crowd of noisy guests, he said, "Make way. This girl is not dead, but asleep." And they jeered and laughed at him. But when the crowd had been sent outside, he entered, and took her by the hand; and the girl arose. And the news of the event spread throughout the area.
Notes on the Scripture
The man who came to Christ is identified in Luke 8 as a man named Jairus, who had a leadership position in the local synagogue. The Hebrews did not have the separation of church and state we sometimes take for granted, especially in their justice system, so Jairus would have had civil as well as religious authority. We don't really have a word to translate his position; many translations describe him simply as "a ruler". He would have been accustomed to great deference, and would not have bowed before many residents; although Capernum's size was significant in terms of Palestine 2000 years ago, its population was likely less than 15,000. (Luke also recounts that the daughter was 12 years old.)
The illness of the woman who is healed by touching Christ's robe is described vaguely. One might speculate that it was a gynecological problem, a relatively common cause of chronic hemorrhage without other (more serious) symptoms; the era's sensibility and medical ignorance would likely cause such a problem to be described simply as a "flow of blood" .
