Wednesday, April 20, 2021
Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, “my little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. Mark 5:22-24
A Story of Redemption and New Life
In Mark 5 we find the story of a man named Jairus. His little girl was dying, and he knew of Jesus and His powers to heal, so he begged Jesus to come to His house and heal her. Jesus had just come back from a trip out in a boat with His disciples. People were talking about Jesus and seeing all the miracles He was performing so they were following Him and gathering around Him. Jairus came and fell at His feet begging Him to come heal His daughter and Jesus went. As He went, the crowd followed and thronged all around Him. It was during this trip to Jairus’ house that the woman with the issue of blood reached through the crowd and barely touched Jesus’ robe.
Jesus
stopped. I imagine that Jairus was feeling very impatient as his daughter lay
dying. As he watched as Jesus took care of this woman and healed her, a servant
came from his home to let him know that his daughter had died. While He was still speaking, there came from the ruler's
house some who said, “your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any
further?” Mark 5:35
Jesus
heard what the servant said to Jairus and He told him not to worry, that his
daughter would be fine. But overhearing what
they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only
believe.” Mark 5:36 And
Jesus honored that word. He did not heal Jairus’ daughter, He raised her from
the dead. He stopped and healed the woman in the crowd and raised a little girl
from the dead, one sick for 12 years and the other only 12 years into her life.
Both were touched by Jesus and healed to live a full life.
Jesus
set the bar for us. He gave us example after example of how we are to live and
most of all, He showed us how we are to treat people. He loved people completely
and utterly unconditionally. He took time for this woman who was practically an
outcast because of her illness, right in the middle of performing another
miracle. He stopped for the people everyone else ignored. He cared about those
that no one else cared for. He loved the unlovable and was a humble servant to all,
yet He was still the King of Kings.
God
never intended for us to live quiet, perfect lives. He intended for us to go
and love and serve. He wants us to love the unlovable like Jesus did, and He wants
us to stop for the ones that everyone else passes by. Jairus was an important
person. He was the ruler of the synagogue and probably very respected. So Jesus
was on His way to help this very respected man’s sick daughter, but He stopped
to help a woman who was not respected at all.
Jesus loved all the same and treated everyone with the same respect. Her
problem was just as important to Him as the ruler of the synagogue’s daughter. This
is the love and respect for people that Jesus modeled for us and wants us to
show others for His glory.
And He allowed no one to follow Him except Peter and James and John
the brother of James. They came to the
house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping
and wailing loudly. and when He had entered, He said to them, “Why are you making
a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” and they laughed
at him. But He put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and
those who were with Him and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand He said to her, “Talitha
Cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the
girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were
immediately overcome with amazement. And
He strictly charged them that no one should know this and told them to give her
something to eat. Mark 5: 37-43
