Posted By: Green Cochoa
Why does Jesus call the woman healed of the issue of blood "Daughter"? - 02/05/21 07:18 AM
The story is recorded in both Matthew and in Luke, but it's a well-known story among Christians. The woman was healed of the bloody issue she had had for twelve long years, just by her faith-filled touch of Jesus' garment.
Mrs. White tells the story in all of its beautiful pathos in "The Ministry of Healing," copied below. But why does Jesus call her "daughter"? When He began His ministry, He was but 30 years of age. Supposing the woman had reached menarche at the age of fourteen (and this seems on the low side for that time period--even today, the average for Israel is over 13), and had immediately been symptomatic from that point forward, she would still have been about 26 years old--just a few years younger than Jesus--certainly not enough of an age gap to be calling the woman "daughter." It is quite possible that she was older than He was if, as is quite possible, her problem had not occurred immediately.
Was "daughter" a term of endearment that could be used regardless of age differences? Was it an especially polite reference to someone you had helped?
In Asia today, one might say "elder" for someone who is above the speaker in rank or status, regardless of actual age. Does Jesus mean to assert His status by this term?
Or is it really simply that the Divinity within Him, as He says in John chapter 14, was the very presence of the Father: His Father, and our Father?
(See beautiful story below.)
Blessings,
Green Cochoa.
Mrs. White tells the story in all of its beautiful pathos in "The Ministry of Healing," copied below. But why does Jesus call her "daughter"? When He began His ministry, He was but 30 years of age. Supposing the woman had reached menarche at the age of fourteen (and this seems on the low side for that time period--even today, the average for Israel is over 13), and had immediately been symptomatic from that point forward, she would still have been about 26 years old--just a few years younger than Jesus--certainly not enough of an age gap to be calling the woman "daughter." It is quite possible that she was older than He was if, as is quite possible, her problem had not occurred immediately.
Was "daughter" a term of endearment that could be used regardless of age differences? Was it an especially polite reference to someone you had helped?
In Asia today, one might say "elder" for someone who is above the speaker in rank or status, regardless of actual age. Does Jesus mean to assert His status by this term?
Or is it really simply that the Divinity within Him, as He says in John chapter 14, was the very presence of the Father: His Father, and our Father?
(See beautiful story below.)
Originally Posted by Ellen White
Chap. 4 - The Touch of Faith
"If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole." Matthew 9:21. It was a poor woman who spoke these words--a woman who for twelve years had suffered from a disease that made her life a burden. She had spent all her means upon physicians and remedies, only to be pronounced incurable. But as she heard of the Great Healer, her hopes revived. She thought, "If only I could get near enough to speak to Him, I might be healed." {MH 59.1}
Christ was on His way to the home of Jairus, the Jewish rabbi who had entreated Him to come and heal his daughter. The heartbroken petition, "My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray Thee, come and lay Thy hands on her, that she may be healed" (Mark 5:23), had touched the tender, sympathetic heart of Christ, and He at once set out with the ruler for his home. {MH 59.2}
They advanced but slowly; for the crowd pressed Christ on every side. In making His way through the multitude, the Saviour came near to where the afflicted woman was standing. Again and again she had tried in vain to get near Him. Now her opportunity had come. She could see no way of speaking to Him. She would not seek to hinder His slow advance. But she had heard that healing came from a touch of His garments; and, fearful of losing her one chance for relief, she pressed forward, saying to herself, "If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole." {MH 59.3}
Christ knew every thought of her mind, and He was making His way to where she stood. He realized her great need, and He was helping her to exercise faith. {MH 60.1}
As He was passing, she reached forward and succeeded in barely touching the border of His garment. That moment she knew that she was healed. In that one touch was concentrated the faith of her life, and instantly her pain and feebleness disappeared. Instantly she felt the thrill as of an electric current passing through every fiber of her being. There came over her a sensation of perfect health. "She felt in her body that she was healed of that plague." Verse 29. {MH 60.2}
The grateful woman desired to express her thanks to the Mighty Healer, who had done more for her in one touch than the physicians had done in twelve long years; but she dared not. With a grateful heart she tried to withdraw from the crowd. Suddenly Jesus stopped, and looking round He asked, "Who touched Me?" {MH 60.3}
Looking at Him in amazement, Peter answered, "Master, the multitude throng Thee and press Thee, and sayest Thou, Who touched Me?" Luke 8:45. {MH 60.4}
"Somebody hath touched Me," Jesus said; "for I perceive that virtue is gone out of Me." Verse 46. He could distinguish the touch of faith from the casual touch of the careless throng. Someone had touched Him with a deep purpose and had received answer. {MH 60.5}
Christ did not ask the question for His own information. He had a lesson for the people, for His disciples, and for the woman. He wished to inspire the afflicted with hope. He wished to show that it was faith which had brought the healing power. The woman's trust must not be passed by without comment. God must be glorified by her grateful confession. Christ desired her to understand that He approved her act of faith. He would not have her depart with a half blessing only. She was not to remain in ignorance of His knowledge of her suffering, or of His compassionate love and of His approval of her faith in His power to save to the uttermost all who come to Him. {MH 60.6}
Looking toward the woman, Christ insisted on knowing who had touched Him. Finding concealment vain, she came forward trembling, and cast herself at His feet. With grateful tears she told Him, before all the people, why she had touched His garment, and how she had been immediately healed. She feared that her act in touching His garment had been one of presumption; but no word of censure came from Christ's lips. He spoke only words of approval. They came from a heart of love, filled with sympathy for human woe. "Daughter," He said gently, "be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace." Verse 48. How cheering were these words to her. Now no fear that she had given offense embittered her joy. {MH 61.1}
"If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole." Matthew 9:21. It was a poor woman who spoke these words--a woman who for twelve years had suffered from a disease that made her life a burden. She had spent all her means upon physicians and remedies, only to be pronounced incurable. But as she heard of the Great Healer, her hopes revived. She thought, "If only I could get near enough to speak to Him, I might be healed." {MH 59.1}
Christ was on His way to the home of Jairus, the Jewish rabbi who had entreated Him to come and heal his daughter. The heartbroken petition, "My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray Thee, come and lay Thy hands on her, that she may be healed" (Mark 5:23), had touched the tender, sympathetic heart of Christ, and He at once set out with the ruler for his home. {MH 59.2}
They advanced but slowly; for the crowd pressed Christ on every side. In making His way through the multitude, the Saviour came near to where the afflicted woman was standing. Again and again she had tried in vain to get near Him. Now her opportunity had come. She could see no way of speaking to Him. She would not seek to hinder His slow advance. But she had heard that healing came from a touch of His garments; and, fearful of losing her one chance for relief, she pressed forward, saying to herself, "If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole." {MH 59.3}
Christ knew every thought of her mind, and He was making His way to where she stood. He realized her great need, and He was helping her to exercise faith. {MH 60.1}
As He was passing, she reached forward and succeeded in barely touching the border of His garment. That moment she knew that she was healed. In that one touch was concentrated the faith of her life, and instantly her pain and feebleness disappeared. Instantly she felt the thrill as of an electric current passing through every fiber of her being. There came over her a sensation of perfect health. "She felt in her body that she was healed of that plague." Verse 29. {MH 60.2}
The grateful woman desired to express her thanks to the Mighty Healer, who had done more for her in one touch than the physicians had done in twelve long years; but she dared not. With a grateful heart she tried to withdraw from the crowd. Suddenly Jesus stopped, and looking round He asked, "Who touched Me?" {MH 60.3}
Looking at Him in amazement, Peter answered, "Master, the multitude throng Thee and press Thee, and sayest Thou, Who touched Me?" Luke 8:45. {MH 60.4}
"Somebody hath touched Me," Jesus said; "for I perceive that virtue is gone out of Me." Verse 46. He could distinguish the touch of faith from the casual touch of the careless throng. Someone had touched Him with a deep purpose and had received answer. {MH 60.5}
Christ did not ask the question for His own information. He had a lesson for the people, for His disciples, and for the woman. He wished to inspire the afflicted with hope. He wished to show that it was faith which had brought the healing power. The woman's trust must not be passed by without comment. God must be glorified by her grateful confession. Christ desired her to understand that He approved her act of faith. He would not have her depart with a half blessing only. She was not to remain in ignorance of His knowledge of her suffering, or of His compassionate love and of His approval of her faith in His power to save to the uttermost all who come to Him. {MH 60.6}
Looking toward the woman, Christ insisted on knowing who had touched Him. Finding concealment vain, she came forward trembling, and cast herself at His feet. With grateful tears she told Him, before all the people, why she had touched His garment, and how she had been immediately healed. She feared that her act in touching His garment had been one of presumption; but no word of censure came from Christ's lips. He spoke only words of approval. They came from a heart of love, filled with sympathy for human woe. "Daughter," He said gently, "be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace." Verse 48. How cheering were these words to her. Now no fear that she had given offense embittered her joy. {MH 61.1}
Blessings,
Green Cochoa.