You really see all of this coming together in a Gospel story about two people who were healed by Jesus through physical touch.

Matthew 9:18-25

…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.” And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples.

And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.

And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.

The story begins with a man approaching Jesus — we know from the other Gospel accounts that he is a ruler of the synagogue and his name is Jairus. Jairus’s daughter has just died, but He believes that Jesus has the power to bring her back to life. This is incredible faith, so Jesus follows Jairus back to his home.

But on the way to perform this miracle, another miracle breaks out. That’s how powerful and miraculous Jesus is! A woman approaches Jesus and she has been dealing with an extreme medical condition for many years. And we know from the other Gospel accounts that she had spent all of her money on different treatments. And yet she’s no better. But she hears about Jesus and she thinks, “If I could just touch his garment, I will be made well.”

There was a Jewish tradition that said the Messiah would have healing “in his wings” (based on the rabbinic interpretation of Malachi 4:1-2). The rabbis took this to mean that the Messiah’s healing power could flow even through the tassels of His garments. That’s a pretty powerful picture of the Messiah!

So by reaching out for the fringes of His garment, this woman is showing that she believes Jesus is the Messiah — she believes that there is healing power even in the tassels of His clothing.

And this woman is healed instantly because of her faith — the faith that prompted her to reach for Jesus, to touch Him.

Jesus then arrives at Jairus’s house and everyone laughs at Him when He says, “The girl is only sleeping.” But the Bible says that Jesus took this girl by the hand and she arose back to life. She was healed when Jesus touched her.

Two people, both of whom are healed by Jesus.

The woman in the crowd was healed when she reached out and touched Him.

The young girl was healed when Jesus reached down and touched her.

But in both cases, they were comforted and consoled and revived because of this touch.

Do you need to feel the touch of Jesus today?

Maybe you need to have Him reach down and touch part of your life to bring revival, to bring some part of you back to life. Maybe it’s your joy. Maybe it’s your sense of peace. Maybe you need Him to restore a sense of purpose to you. Sometimes we’re like this young girl. We need Jesus to touch our lives and bring us back to life.

And at other times we are like this woman. We need to reach out to Jesus in faith. We need to bring our infirmities to Him, our struggles, our pain. We need to reach out for His healing touch. Maybe today you need to reach out for Him in faith.