Tackling Tradition 44: Hems & Handkerchiefs

Many people read Luke 8:40 - 49 & Acts 19: 11 - 12 in a literal fashion.  

40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41 And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house, 42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.

As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. 43 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. 44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased.45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler's house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” 50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” 51 And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. 52 And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” 53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.”55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. 56 And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Is it possible that this woman literally reached out to touch the hem of Yeshua’s garment & was miraculously healed?  Yes, of course it is.  

 

That said, I am not so sure that is what the author (Luke) intended to convey.  Why?  Because Luke’s major emphasis is on Yeshua as the true Caesar, a civil title.  If understood literally, that seems to veer too much toward Yeshua’s offices of Prophet & King.   

Moreover, the term “hem of his garment” has a specialized meaning in the Bible.   The term refers to the fringe or border of a garment, which in Jewish tradition, often included tassels known as "tzitzit." These tassels were commanded by God in the Mosaic Law as a reminder of the commandments.”  The hem symbolizes covenant & identity.  

This woman had spent her life savings on physicians.   In the 1st Century AD/CE, medicine as a science was extraordinarily primitive.  In those days, the minds of a great many were full of their religion.  Witchcraft & sorcery were often associated with physicians. 

The woman’s behavior indicates that she may have been reduced to prostitution in order to get by or even pay her physicians.  

She is afraid to identify herself. 

In addition, the following text gives us some clue about what most likely happened.   When they arrived at Jairus’ house, Yeshua takes control of the situation & only allows Peter, James, & John & the parents of the child into the house.   For all intents & purposes, Yeshua interacts with the mourners, assuring them that she is not dead, although she appears to be at death’s door.    When He enters the room, He says “Child, arise.”  

I don’t think Luke is telling us that Yeshua raised her from the dead.  If that was the case, then why were Peter, James, & John in the house?  To manage the parents?  I doubt it.   John’s emphasis is pn Yeshua, the Son of God.  Luke’s emphasis is on Yeshua’s humanity.   

These two texts are related.  It’s far more likely that what we have here isn’t  two miracles —- rather,  when we put it all together, I think we have here are two historical accounts not of faith healing but of medical missions.    

In the first account, this woman, who has heard about the itinerant medical mission looked to Yeshua’s figurative tzitzit - one or more of the people who traveled with Him, & received care she needed.  Witchcraft had failed her (if witchcraft or sorcery) had been involved, but the medical mission around Yeshua did not.  

Likewise, although it is certainly possible that Yeshua did raise her from the dead, I think what really happened in the case of Jairus’ daughter is that Peter, James, & John ministered to her medical needs & the emotional needs of her parents.   They may have even remained there a few days in the hopes that  she would recover. 

Acts 19

11 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. 

This incident took place in Ephesus, which Acts depicts as a city filled with idolatry, demons, & eventually a Sodomite lynch mob.   The use of handkerchiefs or aprons is a symbolic act of inductive prophecy in answer to the sorcery common in that time & place.    This isn’t faith healing. Rather in literal terms it’s a species of inductive prophecy, and in figurative terms, this too is medical missions work.   After all, Luke is/was/is a physician.  

O LORD, Hear our prayer(s) & heal our land.   May we all, in these last days, “Go & sin no more.”