Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Monday after the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity Sunday

Posted on August 19, 2024 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: St. Mark 5:22-43 (NKJV)
 
5:22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” 24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.
 
25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
 
29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”
 
31 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”
 
32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
 
35 While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”
 
36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” 37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. 39 When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”
 
40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. 41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. 43 But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.
 
Devotion
 
Our Lord Jesus Christ shows His power over sin and death in His ministry by proving the works of God. Since He is God in the flesh, this is seen throughout the Gospels in His miracles. In today’s reading we see two miracles: the raising of Jairus’ daughter and the healing of the woman in the crowd.
 
The woman, who had suffered from her ailment for twelve years, simply touches Jesus and is healed. This showed the divine power that our Lord Jesus has, while demonstrating that faith is how all who are in the ailment of sin receive Him. Our Lord tells the woman that her faith has made her well. Without the gift of faith, we would not know the divine authority of Christ for us.
 
The healing of Jairus’ daughter then shows us our Lord’s authority over death as He tells the young girl to rise, and she does. By proving His divine power over sin and death, our Lord Jesus has given us hope in Him through His Word. The faith that healed the woman is the same faith that you receive by the Holy Spirit to believe in Jesus. The same power with which the Lord raised Jairus’ daughter will be seen even more when the dead rise on the final day.
 
Collect: Almighty and Merciful God, of Whose only gift it cometh that Thy faithful people do unto Thee true and laudable service: Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may so faithfully serve Thee in this life, that we fail not finally to attain Thy heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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