Luke 8:41Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Monarchs aspire to attain it, but it is found in the simple, nobles may pursue it, yet it bestows itself upon the lowly, it reaches the weak to strengthen and guide them, freely offering healing. Therefore, beloved, as you witness Christ descending from the mountain and ascending again, approaching the lake, crossing the sea, traversing fields, towns, and villages, alongside His earthly ministry, also remember His heavenly presence: do not forget His position upon the cherubim, do not overlook the divine for the sake of the temporal, keep heaven in your thoughts, and remember that the Word became flesh as He chose. Indeed, the Word became flesh: as flesh, He moves, yet as the Word, He abides; as flesh, He climbs the mountain, while as the Word, He remains on the cherubim; as flesh, He undergoes human experiences for my sake, while as the Word, He accomplishes His Father's works effortlessly, transforming water into wine at Cana. He opens the eyes of the blind with His light and recreates sight by His touch. He spoke to the leper, 'I want, be cleansed' (Matt. 8:3), and instantly the affliction vanished. 'Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thy house' (Matt. 9:6). 'Get up,' He commands the paralyzed man, and His word becomes a substitute for limbs, empowering the sick man to walk with the very command given. He arrived at Jairus' home, and despair was swiftly replaced with joy. Today, amidst the gathered multitude, He radiates light from the edge of His garment and halts the flow of blood through the stream of faith. What does the Evangelist convey to us today, revealing the abundant blessings of faith? 'There was,' he states, 'a certain ruler of the synagogue, a devotee of the law of Moses, and a teacher of the people, named Jairus... This blow (his daughter's illness) did not waver the father's faith: immediately Jairus approached the Savior, pleading for Him to come to his home.' As noted about the woman with the issue of blood, from the Gospel of Luke.

If a man holds the position of a synagogue leader, symbolizing a mind that transcends the greed for material wealth, but if his daughter, representing his thoughts, becomes ill, he should turn solely to Jesus in faith, and he will find salvation.

Moreover, you worship Him as Almighty God, fully aware and affirming that He is capable of fulfilling your desires. What defense can you muster if, having once persecuted Christ, the Savior of all, you foolishly declared, “We stone you not for a good work, but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God”? We ought to be astonished not only at this, but also at what follows. For indeed, Lazarus rose from the dead by the command of Christ, who called him forth from the tomb after he had been buried for four days, and decay had begun. Those who witnessed this miracle were filled with wonder at the greatness of what took place. Yet, the rulers of the synagogue viewed this act with envy, allowing such a magnificent miracle to serve as the seed from which their murderous intent grew. They gathered together, not to deliberate on a righteous act, but on one that would lead to their utter ruin. They questioned among themselves, “What shall we do? This Man performs many miracles. If we do not stop Him, the Romans will come and take away both our people and our place.” What thoughts linger in your mind, Jairus? You saw death overcome in Lazarus’ case—death that is cold and relentless. How could you believe you might conquer Him who transcends death, the conqueror of destruction and the giver of life? How is it conceivable that He who has redeemed others from death's grip could be subject to it Himself, unless He willingly did so for the sake of salvation? Thus, it is written of them, “They are foolish children and unwise.” Yet, the plight of the young girl ultimately was not in vain for her father. Just as a tight rein may guide a wayward horse back to course, adversity can lead the soul to accept what is right and beneficial. In this scenario, we see how the blessed David spoke to God on behalf of those who, unwilling to walk in righteousness, followed the errant inclinations of their hearts to destruction. “With bridle and scourge Thou wilt restrain the jaws of those who do not draw near to Thee.” It is as I mentioned: life’s circumstances often compel even the unwilling to submit to God, as illustrated in the parables of the Gospel. For as Christ remarked, when the banquet was prepared, a servant was sent to summon the invited guests; yet, they made various excuses and declined to attend. The Lord instructed the servant, “Go into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled.” What might it signify to invite people from the hedges, even by force, if not to draw attention to the general disinclination of some? For at times, unbearable misfortunes can plunge individuals into desperation, possibly leading them, with the support of those who fear Christ, to faith in Him and love, shedding the errant beliefs passed down through generations to embrace the life-giving gospel. Such individuals truly are those gathered from the hedges. It is, indeed, far more admirable when a person chooses to turn from falsehood in pursuit of truth freely; such converts, strengthened by the Holy Scriptures and guided by skilled instructors of the mysteries, advance in straight and honorable faith. Conversely, those who are driven by hardship to recognize truth are not on par with the former group; yet, upon accepting faith, they must remain vigilant, hold firm, and steer clear of instability. It is essential they maintain unwavering faith, lest they become negligent and unreliable, abandoning their commitments and turning cowardly after once taking courage. They should avoid hastening back to their former ways, lest it be said of them, as one of the holy apostles declared, “For it would be better for them not to know the way of truth than, having learned it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them.” The well-known saying describes them aptly: “The dog returns to its vomit, and the sow that was washed goes back to wallowing in the mire.” Nevertheless, to avoid extending this digression, let us return to our initial focus. Jairus approached, yet it is evident that his coming arose from a fear of death rather than from free will; grief over his only daughter compelled him to act. He had entirely undermined the consistency of his previous denouncements against Christ by seeking His aid to overcome death. To reveal the cruel and abhorrent nature of his character, Christ accompanied him and agreed to his plea. Yet, there was wisdom in this acceptance; if He had refused to respond, those suffering from ignorance would assert that He lacked the power to raise the girl and overcome death, suggesting that His displeasure with Jairus was a mere pretext for His absence. Thus, to silence the impure slanders of the Jews and quell the voices of the multitude ready to accuse, He promptly consented and pledged to restore her. This promise was promptly fulfilled, to eliminate any excuses for the unbelief of the Jews and to ensure this miracle, alongside others, served as a condemnation of their disbelief. For Christ also asserted, "If I had not done among them the works which no man has done, they would have no sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father." Consequently, the Savior resolved to resurrect the maiden, instilling in the world the hope of resurrection for the dead.

The petitions of both this woman and Jairus were fundamentally similar, yet there may be varying degrees of intensity between them. Such prayers, imbued with faith, hope, and devotion, are never ignored. People often express frustration, saying, "I pray and yet feel my prayers go unanswered." However, strive to elevate your prayers to a level that cannot be overlooked, and you will understand the reasons for perceived silence. Whether positioned like Jairus in earnest prayer or in a more commonplace situation like the woman with the hemorrhage, genuine prayer emerging from your heart will certainly reach the Lord and attract His grace. The key lies in learning how to cultivate such profound prayer. With commitment, this can be achieved. All forms of prayer aim to elevate the believer to this level of earnest supplication, and those who diligently follow this path will find success.

The Compassionate One promptly acknowledged his request and agreed to accompany him to bring healing to his sick child. This scenario teaches us that three essential elements are necessary for our prayers to reach the Lord: faith, which includes trust and reverence. As Jesus made His way to Jairus's home, a large crowd gathered, pressing in on Him.

However, one might question whether Jairus possessed the same level of faith as others who had received the Lord's favor. This is suggested by his plea: “My daughter is at the end of her life; come and lay your hands on her so that she may be healed” (Mark 5:23). His words indicate a faith that fell short of that of the centurion, who believed that a single word from Jesus was adequate for the healing of his servant. Although both men felt that the Lord's presence was crucial, there was a distinction; at the time the centurion approached Jesus, He was only known for a single miracle at Cana, whereas Jairus knew of many miracles He had performed. Additionally, while the centurion was a Gentile, Jairus was a Jew, suggesting that greater faith could be expected from him. Nevertheless, the Lord, as described in Isaiah, does not crush the broken reed or extinguish the smoldering wick, and therefore sought to ignite the small flicker of faith present in Jairus. Despite the inadequacy of his faith, the Lord agreed to accompany him, and as He set out, the throngs of people pressed around Him.

However, since Matthew does not mention the arrival of messengers bearing news of the daughter's death, the phrase αΰτη ετελέυτησεν aligns more closely with the situation. It is probable that Jairus's initial plea for healing evolved into a silent request for resurrection upon receiving the news of her death, even if he did not verbally articulate such a request.

The woman suffering from hemorrhages was understandably hesitant to openly ask Jesus for help, particularly due to her unclean condition (Luke 15); yet her faith was profound enough that she believed touching the fringe of His garment (κρασπεδον Mt. 20. Lk. 44 cf. Num. 15:38. Matthew 14:36. 23, 5. Lk. 8:44. Mk. 6:56) would bring her healing. Jesus, calling her to openly acknowledge her faith and the miracle she experienced, asked, “Who is he that touches Me? I know someone touched Me” (Luke). His last statements may suggest that His miraculous power could emanate from Him even without His conscious intent. Nevertheless, it is clear that Jesus recognized the woman’s intention and her action when she reached out to Him, and within Himself, He affirmed, “Courage, woman, your faith has saved you” (which He later expressed aloud to reassure her). Though many people pressed around Him, crowding Him and reaching out, only the woman’s faith summoned forth His healing power; her touch had a significance not for Jesus, but for her—a genuine manifestation of her faith as she connected with Christ.

The Roman centurion believed that Jesus could heal his servant from a distance simply by His word, but Jairus lacked such unwavering faith. He pleaded with Jesus to come and place His hands on the ailing girl. The looming threat of death for his only child drove the distressed father to grasp at his final hope, setting aside any reservations about the new teachings and falling at the feet of the Master from Nazareth. Jesus could not deny Jairus's plea and chose to accompany him. Seeing their leader imploring Jesus, the crowds followed with heightened curiosity to his home, eager to be near Christ and pressing around Him.

Falling to His feet, his voice choked with sorrow, he pleaded that his beloved daughter, his only child, was gravely ill, possibly even deceased, yet he believed that if Jesus would come and place His hand upon her, she would be healed. Moved by compassion that never ignored the cries of the afflicted, Jesus immediately stood up and accompanied him, along with His disciples and the large throng that had gathered to witness the event. As they proceeded, the crowds pressed in eagerly around Him.

When the Lord says, ‘I felt the power go out,’ this expression is not meant to suggest that His healing ability left Him without His awareness; rather, it serves to reveal the woman’s act and to demonstrate her faith, providing an example for others to follow.