Jairus' Daughter and the Invalid Woman.

^c 41 And

  ^a 18 While he spake these things unto them [while he talked about fasting at Matthew's table], behold, there came, {^b cometh} ^c a man named Jairus, {^b Jairus by name;} ^c and he was a ruler {^b one of the rulers} of the synagogue [He was one of the board of elders which governed the synagogue at Capernaum. These elders were not necessarily old men-- Matthew 19:16-22 ; Luke 18:18-23 ], and seeing him, ^c he fell {^b falleth} ^c down at Jesus' feet, ^a and worshipped him [It was a very lowly act for the ruler of a synagogue thus to bow before the Man of Nazareth. But the ruler was in trouble, and his needs were stronger than his pride], ^c and besought him to come into his house;

  42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.

  ^b 23 and beseecheth him much, saying, My little daughter is at the point of death: ^a is even now dead [he left her dying, and so stated his fears in the very strongest way]: but ^b I pray thee, that thou come and lay thy hands on {^a hand upon} her, ^b that she may be made whole, and live. ^a and she shall live.

  19 And Jesus arose [From Matthew's table. Jesus did not fast for form's sake, but he was ever ready to leave a feast that he might confer a favor], and followed him, and so did his disciples.

  ^b 24 And he went him; and a great multitude followed him [The ruler, of highest social rank in the city, found Jesus among the lowliest, and they were naturally curious to see what Jesus would do for this grandee], and they {^c But as he went the multitudes} thronged him.

  ^a 20 And, behold, a woman, who had {^c having} an issue of blood twelve years,

  ^b 26 and had suffered many things of many physicians, and ^c who had spent ^b all that she had, ^c all her living upon physicians, ^b and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, ^c and could not be healed of any [Medicine was not a science in that day. Diseases were not cured by medicine, but were exorcised by charms. The physician of Galilee in that age did not differ very widely from the medicine-man of the North American Indians. One in easy circumstances could readily spend all during twelve years of doctoring with such leeches.]

  ^b 27 having heard the things concerning Jesus [her faith rested on hearing rather than on sight],

came in the crowd behind, ^c him, and touched the border of his garment:

  ^a 21 for she said within herself, If I do but touch his garment, {^b garments,} I shall be made whole. [The nature of her disease made her unclean ( Leviticus 15:26 ). Her consciousness of this made her, therefore, timidly approach Jesus from behind.]

  29 And straightway {^c immediately} ^b the fountain of her blood was dried up; ^c the issue of her blood stanched. ^b and she felt in her body that she was healed of her plague. [The feeble pulse of sickness gave way to the glow and thrill of health.]

  30 And straightway Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power proceeding crowd, and said, Who touched my garments? ^c Who is it that touched me? And when all denied, Peter and they

^b his disciples ^c that were with him, ^b said unto him, ^c Master, the multitude press thee and crush thee, ^b Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

  ^c 46 But Jesus said, Some one did touch me: for I perceived that power had gone forth from me.

  ^b 32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

  ^c 47 And