When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Popularity, culture, and customs get thrown out the window when a child’s life is involved. It strikes me as interesting that Jarius was a synagogue leader. The Jewish synagogue was the local church for the Jews who were not near a temple.
It is very interesting the number of people who do not believe in Jesus when life seems to be going fine, but when everything is on the line, then they will ask for prayer. We don’t know if this was where Jairus was or not, but given his position and the pressure on him, it would have been tempting to not engage Jesus. But that temptation meant nothing to Jairus. Why? His daughter mattered more to him. And he knew Jesus could heal her.
What he may not have known is that Jesus could raise her from the dead! I imagine his faith expanded a few sizes that day. And what a powerful miracle Jesus performs. She had clearly been dead for quite a while, because the mourners had already been summoned to wail over her.
Such a display of power could leave no doubt that Jesus was the Lord of Life. “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
So the question arises, why did Jesus allow this girl to die? He could have healed her from a distance. I believe it was to show not only was he able to heal, but he was God himself, with authority over life and death.
I can take this truth and apply it to circumstances in life that I do not understand: 1) Why did this bad thing have to happen? 2) Why did so and so have to die? 3) Why did he allow this person to treat me so with so much meanness? While we do not always have the answers, many times there are reasons God allows us to go through pain. And if we have faith, like Jairus, we will see the hand of God act!
Jairus probably looked foolish to his friends when he brought in Jesus, who said she was just sleeping, to heal his dead daughter. So he had to trust Jesus with a crazy plan. What crazy plan is God asking me to trust him with today?
Lord, thank you that you encouraged Jairus to have more faith and you rewarded his faith. Help me to loyally trust you and follow you in the ups and downs of life. Teach me to follow you even when the road is unknown or seems crazy. Praise your name!
