Matthew 9:18-26

¹⁸ While he was saying these things to them, see, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”

¹⁹ And Jesus, together with his disciples, got up and started following him.

²⁰ But see, a woman who had suffered for twelve years from constant bleeding came up behind him and touched the fringe of his robe,

²¹ because she said to herself, “If I only touch his robe, I will be made well.”

²² Jesus turned, and after seeing her, he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.

²³ And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a disturbance,

²⁴ he said, “Go away, because the girl is not dead but is sleeping.” And they laughed at him.

²⁵ But after the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.

²⁶ And the he was a celebrity because of this event through all that district.

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his touch of life

The apostle Paul was probably quoting a Pharisaical rule when he advised the Corinthians that it was good for a man not to touch a woman.[1] It was good advice in that context, although advice the Corinthians probably found hard to follow.

But Jesus did not live by that rule. He both touched, and allowed himself to be touched here. These ladies needed life, and that life came by touching Jesus. The fringe woman’s life had been draining away from her for years. When she saw Jesus, she dared to hope again. She took a risk accosting him the way she did, but it was worth it. He had the touch of life.

The ruler’s daughter was already dead. There was no hope. But when the ruler saw Jesus, he dared to put his faith in Jesus for her. He asked Jesus to “come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” He knew Jesus had the touch of life.

LORD, our daughters and sons need your touch of life. Come and lay your hands on them, and they will live.

[1] 1 Corinthians 7:1.