Mark 5:24–34; Matthew 9:20–22

Drawing on the Power of Jesus Christ

woman reaches for the hem of the garment of Jesus Christ

Jesus healed a woman with an issue of blood on His way to heal the daughter of Jairus. The purpose of this lesson is to help you understand how to draw on the Savior’s power in your life by exercising your faith in Him.

Using the words of modern prophets to identify doctrine and principles. Modern-day prophets often teach truths and principles from scriptural accounts. Seek opportunities to help students identify doctrine and principles using the words of modern prophets. Students will be blessed as they feel the Holy Ghost testify of truths taught by both ancient and modern prophets.

Student preparation: Invite students to reflect on a time when they turned to Jesus Christ for help. They may also think of someone else’s experience.

Possible Learning Activities

Spiritual stretching

Consider inviting students to stand up and stretch. Another option is to ask a student to lead the entire class in a one-minute stretching exercise.

Did you feel any difference in your body?
How do you think regular physical stretching could benefit you?

There are various benefits to stretching. When athletes stretch, they perform better and are less likely to suffer injury. Likewise, when students stretch their minds and go beyond their regular study habits, they increase their learning.

What does it mean to you to spiritually stretch?

Similar to the benefits of physical stretching, our spirituality increases as we exercise our faith in the Savior and draw on His power. In today’s lesson, you will learn about a woman who had extraordinary faith in Jesus Christ and stretched out her hand to the Savior and drew on His power to be healed. On the way to heal the daughter of a man named Jairus, Jesus Christ was followed by a crowd (see Mark 5:22–24). Among the crowd was a sick woman.

Read Mark 5:25–26, looking for the woman’s condition and her needs.

The scriptures do not define the nature of the woman’s “issue of blood” (Mark 5:25). We know that it disrupted her life in multiple ways. She “had spent all that she had” seeking a cure from physicians (Mark 5:26). Under the law of Moses, someone with an issue of blood was considered ritually unclean (see Leviticus 15:19–33). This likely meant that the woman was excluded from society in some ways during the 12 years of her ailment.

Invite students to silently reflect on the following question. They could record their responses in their study journals.

What do you feel like you need the Savior’s help with in your life?

Read Mark 5:27–29, looking for what this woman did to receive the Savior’s help (see also Matthew 9:20–22). The phrase “came in the press behind” refers to her struggle to break through the crowd of people so she could touch Jesus’s clothing (Mark 5:27).

You may also watch the video “Jesus Heals a Woman of Faith” (1:38), located at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, and follow along in your scriptures.

What impresses you about what this woman did to draw on the Savior’s power?
In this account, the woman actually stretched out her arm to touch the Savior. What are some ways that you can “stretch” yourself and reach out to the Savior?
Do you believe that the Savior can heal you, even though you can’t physically touch Him? Why?

Read Mark 5:30–34, looking for the Savior’s response to this woman’s act of faith. The word virtue in verse 30 means “power” or “strength” (Mark 5:30, footnote a).

What did you notice about the Savior in these verses?

Despite Jairus’s immediate need to bring Jesus to his home to heal his daughter, Jesus stopped and helped this woman.

What does this teach you about the Savior?
In what ways does this influence your desire to turn to Him for help with your needs?

President Russell M. Nelson applied this account to our own lives. You may want to watch the video “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” from time code 11:30 to 13:20, or read the text below. As you do, look for principles President Nelson taught about drawing on the Savior’s power.

Consider replacing this video with the video “Reach Up to Him in Faith” (3:54) in the “Supplemental Learning Activities” section.

Do you remember the biblical story of the woman who suffered for 12 years with a debilitating problem? [see Luke 8:43–44]. She exercised great faith in the Savior, exclaiming, “If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole” [Mark 5:28].

This faithful, focused woman needed to stretch as far as she could to access His power. Her physical stretching was symbolic of her spiritual stretching. …

When you reach up for the Lord’s power in your life with the same intensity that a drowning person has when grasping and gasping for air, power from Jesus Christ will be yours. When the Savior knows you truly want to reach up to Him—when He can feel that the greatest desire of your heart is to draw His power into your life—you will be led by the Holy Ghost to know exactly what you should do [see Doctrine and Covenants 88:63].

When you spiritually stretch beyond anything you have ever done before, then His power will flow into you.

(Russell M. Nelson, “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 41–42)

Consider displaying President Nelson’s statement and inviting students to share the principles they identified and the words that illustrate those principles. Students could also write their principles on the board.

What are some principles you identified from President Nelson’s statement?
In what ways do you think these principles can help you spiritually stretch to draw on the Savior’s power?
When have you experienced one of these principles in your own life?

Consider sharing a personal experience of spiritually stretching to draw on the Savior’s power. Then display the following questions, and invite students to answer three or more in their study journals.
What can you do to demonstrate that receiving the Savior’s help is your greatest desire?
How would your life be different if you drew on the power of Jesus Christ more often?
What obstacles may you need to overcome as you reach out to the Savior in faith?
What can you do to recognize instruction from the Holy Ghost to reach out to the Savior?

Commentary and Background Information

Matthew 9:20. What is the significance of the woman touching the hem of the Savior’s garment?

“The hem of his garment” refers to “an important part of an Israelite’s dress.” The hem was “a tassel at each ‘wing’ or corner of the tallith or mantle (Matt. 14:36)” (Bible Dictionary, “Hem of garment”). The tassels were bound by blue thread, symbolizing heaven (see Numbers 15:38–40). The tassel that hung over the shoulder at the back was the one that the woman touched. Her act of reaching up to touch the tassel represents a reach for the Savior’s heavenly power. The prophet Malachi prophesied that the Savior would “arise with healing in his wings” (Malachi 4:2).

How do I receive the Savior’s healing?

President Jean B. Bingham, Relief Society General President, said:

As you study Christ’s life and teachings in a myriad of ways, your faith in Him will increase. You will come to know that He loves you individually and understands you perfectly. …

No matter what we have suffered, He is the source of healing. Those who have experienced any manner of abuse, devastating loss, chronic illness or disabling affliction, untrue accusations, vicious persecution, or spiritual damage from sin or misunderstandings can all be made whole by the Redeemer of the world. However, He will not enter without invitation. We must come unto Him and allow Him to work His miracles.

(Jean B. Bingham, “That Your Joy Might Be Full,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 86)

Sister Reyna I. Aburto, Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, taught:

Thru Cloud and Sunshine, Lord, Abide with Me!

During His mortal ministry, Jesus Christ healed the sick and the afflicted, but each person had to exercise faith in Him and act to receive His healing. Some walked for long distances, others extended their hand to touch His garment, and others had to be carried to Him in order to be healed. When it comes to healing, don’t we all need Him desperately?

(Reyna I. Aburto, “Thru Cloud and Sunshine, Lord, Abide with Me!,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 58)