Matthew 9:18 ¶ While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. 19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. 20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. 23 And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. 25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. 26 And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
The comparable passage in Luke makes it clear that the little girl
is dead and not just in a coma as her spirit is said to return to her. It is
important to note that it is not the power of prayer or the power of our faith
but the power of the one we pray to and have faith in that is vitally important
in these circumstances.
First, let’s remember Abraham’s faith. He was told to offer his
son as a sacrifice, the son of promise from God.
Genesis 22:1 ¶ And it came
to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him,
Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 2
And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest,
and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering
upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
Hebrews tells us why Abraham was willing to obey such a command
which seemed to counter the promise made to him by God earlier in Genesis.
Hebrews 11:17 By faith
Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the
promises offered up his only begotten son, 18
Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up,
even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
And Genesis itself tells us of Abraham’s confidence in God.
Genesis 22:8 And Abraham
said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they
went both of them together.
The ruler, as well, has the faith of Abraham in believing that
Christ could raise his daughter from the dead. The woman with the issue of
blood believes that just by touching Christ’s clothing she can be healed. This
is the essence of faith, trusting that God can do what you need, and even just
being in His presence is sufficient. What it would have been like to shake
Christ’s hand or have Him pat you on the back when He walked the earth in
flesh.
This incident added to His fame.






