Yesterday, some of my Bible preparation and teaching involved a series of miracles performed by Jesus early in His ministry.

Two of those miracles were intertwined and occurred almost simultaneously.

Though they are found in both Mark and Luke, I studied and taught from the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew’s gospel has the shortest account of what happened (Matthew 9:18–23). Mark (5:21–43) and Luke (8:40-56) fill in many of the details of these wonderful healing stories.

The events of these healings give us many insights into the person of Jesus. We see His miraculous power and His warm humanity. We recognize that even the “wind and waves” obey Him. In this passage of Scripture, He made the blind to see, healed illness, and raised the dead.

While several aspects of these healing miracles thrilled and encouraged me, I saw the most significance in the tenderness of Jesus toward the woman with the hemorrhage and the little girl who had died.

The woman with the issue of blood may have been older than Jesus and in a man’s world probably experienced humiliation and sorrow over her condition.

She came to Jesus and dared to touch “just the hem of his garment.” When Jesus knew that power had gone out from Him, He questioned the crowd about who had touched Him. The woman fearfully came forward and told her story.

It was then that Jesus said these tender, compassionate words: “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well” (Matthew 9:22).

The word “daughter” is a tender and kind word filled with compassion. Whatever else she experienced in her healing, the woman certainly experienced the love of God expressed through Jesus Christ His Son.

After Jesus healed the woman, He proceeded with the ruler of the synagogue to the home where his daughter lay ill.

When the father (Jairus) and Jesus arrived, they learned the daughter had died. The paid mourners and flute players as well as friends and relatives were all in the house. Jesus put them out and went with the mother and father to the child. Jesus took her by the hand and the child arose.

The Gospel of Mark records what Jesus said: “Little girl, I say to you, arise” (Mark 5:41).

These were the words the mother probably spoke to her little daughter as she awakened her each morning.

These events show us the humanity and love of Jesus. They show us a tenderness and compassion that impels us to be more loving and more kind.

These words and actions of Jesus give us a tangible picture of our loving Heavenly Father who cares for us deeply.

Simon Peter probably witnessed this miracle and heard these words. This is what he says about the Father: “Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7).

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