February 25 - Jairus & his family

February 25 - Jairus & his family

Just after Jesus has healed a demon-possessed man, he returned by boat and a man comes up to him, falls at his feet and begins pleading with Jesus to come to his house. I am certain that Jesus would have recognized Jairus. He was a ruler of the synagogue. He knew who Jesus was, I can't imagine that there were too many religious leaders in the region that wouldn't know about a man who was performing miracles, healing people and casting out demons, all while claiming to be the Son of God.

His daughter was sick, so sick that she was dying. Consider the conversation that Jairus and his wife had before he left that morning to go to the synagogue. Imagine the nights that they were spending awake by the child's bedside. They would have been praying, laying cool cloths on her forehead while trying to reduce her fever, hoping that the tide would turn and she would be ok. It was bad enough that everyone knew what was happening in their home. Matthew tells us that by the time Jesus got there, a musician was playing the flute and there was a noisy crowd that had gathered! (Matthew 9:23) Luke tells us that people were gathered around wailing and mourning by the time he arrived.

This child's sickness was a big deal to the community. And a very big deal to Jairus and his wife.

Once he asked Jesus to come to his daughter's bedside, Jesus began walking with him to the home. Crowds were pressing against them. Luke 8:42 says that the crowds almost crushed him. Here was a man (Jairus) desperate to get the healer home to his twelve-year-old daughter who was dying. He knew that his wife would be frantic, because he himself was at the point of begging for Jesus' help.

They were interrupted by a woman who was a hemophiliac. Jesus stopped to deal with her, yet Jairus had to know that by now, every moment counted. And sure enough, while Jesus was still speaking to the crowd and to the woman, someone came from Jairus' house to tell him not to bother, the child was dead (Luke 8:49).

Can you see this poor man's shoulders slump? He would be crushed. This person told Jairus not to bother the teacher any longer. The pain and agony in Jairus' face would be replaced with resignation. No, it wouldn't do any good to bother Jesus any longer. I imagine that he shook his head, turned away as if to return to his home alone.

Jesus spoke, "Don't be afraid; just believe." (Mark 5:36) Matthew says that the flautist and all of the others were put out of the house, Mark and Luke tell us that only Peter, James, John and Jairus & his wife were asked to join Jesus. The crowd scoffed when Jesus told them that the child was only asleep. Jesus ignored them. The six entered the girl's room. He took her hand and spoke "Talitha Koum!" (which means "Little girl, I say to you, get up.") (Mark 5:41)

Not only did she get right up from her bed, but she stood and began walking! Jesus told her parents to feed her (Luke 8:55). They were astonished and Jesus asked them not to tell anyone what had happened.

Now, I'm not sure how that was going to work - there was an immense crowd gathered and they would have known the difference between a girl lying on her deathbed or walking around ... but, something happened in that room and Jesus was not ready for the general public to be made aware of his incredible power ... not just yet.

A family that was restored. Who knows how long this illness had hovered over their lives. But, His touch removed the power of death and brought life.