The story of Jairus and the Woman who Touched Jesus’ Cloak

(Matthew 9, Mark 5, Luke 8)

Jesus and his friends went to a lake called Galilee. Lots of people had heard about Jesus and had come from far away to see him.

One man, a very wealthy and important man, whose name was Jairus, came to join the crowd because his daughter was very ill. The doctors had seen her but had no tablets or medicine to make her better. Jairus threw himself down in front of Jesus and begged him to come to see his daughter at home. Jesus took pity on Jairus and started to go with him to his house.

As he began to walk in the crowd he felt someone touch his cloak. He turned around to ask who had touched his cloak. Nobody answered. He asked again. A woman came forward and said that it was her. She said that she had been ill for 12 years, she had spent all her money on doctors, but they could not make her better, but because she had touched his cloak her illness had gone. She said that she knew if she touched his cloak that she would be better. Jesus placed his hand on her forehead and kindly told her that it was because she had believed that she was better. She said thank you.

Just then someone in the crowd said that it was too late, that Jairus’ daughter had died. Jesus had heard this, but said to Jairus that he should not be afraid, just to believe. He came to Jairus’ house and heard people in the family crying. He said “Why are you crying, the child is not dead - only sleeping”. The family were shocked, but he sent them out of the house and went in to see the little girl. He said to her the words “Talitha, koum” which means “Little girl, I tell you to get up!”

The little girl got up at once and started to walk. Jairus smiled at Jesus and said thank you.

This story shows how kind Jesus is. Both the poor woman and the rich little girl have been treated by doctors, and there seems to be no hope that they will get better. They are both the same to Jesus, and because they believe in him, he shows them how kind he can be.

How do you show you care about others?

Who looks after you if you are ill?