We have before us two stories, the story of a sick woman with a twelve-year-old hemorrhage and the story of a twelve-year-old girl who has died. The stories are integrated by one theme -- the compassionate healing of Jesus.

The Sick Woman

Our stories start out with Jairus, a synagogue leader, approaching Jesus with a request to come and heal his sick daughter. On his way to the home of Jairus, Jesus was met by a woman who had been sick with bleeding for twelve years. In terms of modern medicine, she probably needed a hysterectomy. Jesus gave her more. He gave her a compassionate healing. The woman approached Jesus with a theology that was limited, distorted, and based on misconceptions. She thought that by touching Jesus' garment, she would be healed. That is called magic. What's going o…