How did my daughter get better? Sit down and I'll tell you! I had heard about Jesus of Nazareth before, and was rather skeptical about all the cures and driving out of demons that he had supposedly done. I thought he was a scam, to be honest with you. This son of a carpenter was being called "teacher;" but what did he know?! When I would see him in our synagogues I would quickly become incensed and storm out into the streets.
But then, one day, my darling little one grew faint while playing outside with the others. My wife brought her inside to rest, but soon her condition worsened and she had to be put to bed. When I came home from my duties at the synagogue I found the physician with her; he had no words of encouragement. Our once healthy, beautiful little girl now lay ghost-white in her darkened room, soon she would inhabit a tomb. I could not bear the sight of such pain; I wept for my little one all through the night. Could no one save her from death?
As I stirred from what little sleep I had, I remembered Jesus and all the works he had performed. Apparently he would be in town that very day! Whether he was a fraud or not I did not care; I went into town to see if he could heal my daughter and save her from death.
Once I arrived by the shore I found myself in the midst of a very large crowd. There, in the midst of them, was Jesus, eyes filled with mercy. He had just finished his teaching and was talking to a group of his followers. When I spotted him I ran forward, pushing aside the crowd and lunged towards him. Clinging to his feet I pleaded, "My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay hands on her that she may get well and live." He looked at me with such a profound gaze that I knew that he was truly capable of all that had been said of him. He motioned for me to lead the way, and thus our trip to my house began, with all his followers in tow.
There was a bit of commotion with some woman wanting healing; I stood by Jesus as he healed her--but what would come of my daughter? By the time he had finished with this woman from the crowd some relatives of mine came running down the hill. They had said that my daughter had died and not to trouble the teacher any longer. Then Jesus put his hand on my shoulder and, gazing at me once more, said, "Do not be afraid; just have faith." At that we continued on towards the house. In a time of great agony I trusted in him and hoped that he might save her.
When we arrived up the hill all my relatives were mourning rather loudly the loss of my child. As we approached them Jesus said, "Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep." At once their sobs turned to shouts of rage at such a bold declaration. Taking me inside to my wife and child, he only allowed three of his followers inside behind him, thus barring all others from the house. I saw my wife holding our baby in her arms and felt a sword pierce my heart. Jesus then asked my wife to lay the child back onto her bed.
Then, it happened. Kneeling down beside my daughter, he placed his hand upon her head. With his eyes closed he prayed over her, far unlike some of the frauds I was used to seeing. Then, as he stood up, he said to my daughter, Talitha koum, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!"
As our daughter opened her eyes and sat up in her bed, tears rushed from my eyes, tears of great joy in witnessing this miracle and saving of my little girl. As she began to walk around, my wife and I embraced our little one, and then the teacher himself. Gently he told us not to tell anyone of this healing--whoops--and to give her something to eat. With that, he and his three followers were gone.
That is how Jesus healed my little girl! May many more come to believe in the healing power of this great one, Jesus the Messiah!
PHOTO CREDIT, Ilya Repin
