Week 4 - Jairus Part 2

Our study today picks up where we left Jairus, at the feet of Jesus (and no better place is there to be I might add). We studied last week about Jairus’ plea to the Lord. Now, take a look at the next event described in the scripture (Luke 8: 41-56). In all 3 gospel accounts of this story, we do not see Jesus respond to Jairus at this time. Instead, we see Christ’s attention turned immediately away from Jairus to another medical emergency. Now how do you think Jairus might have felt at this point? He was in desperate need of help and he needed it in a hurry…you know like yesterday kind of hurry. However, went don’t see Jairus get angry, throw a fit, or even leave the scene. Instead, he waits on the Lord, and we know he did because no sooner had Christ dealt with the other emergency that had surfaced then we see Him shift his attention back to Jairus. Why do you think this happened? Why do you think Christ allowed this other event to be interjected into the middle of Jairus’ story? Perhaps it was to let Jairus see the miracle he would and did perform for this lady who had been sick the entire length of his daughter’s life, 12 years. No better boost for our faith than to see a hopeless circumstance given new life, and Jairus was on the verge of facing what appeared to be a hopeless situation. As the story shifts back to Jairus, he is given the worst news that I think any parent could ever bare to hear, “… [your] daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.”

Oh, can you sense the pain that just flooded his soul. He had pled his case to Christ, waited for Christ to go home with him, and then he is told it is over; his daughter is dead. His servant didn’t help matters either when he told Jairus not to trouble the Master (or in my terminology, there is nothing Jesus can do about it); he just added coal to the flame. I’m sure that awful sick feeling, you know the one I’m talking about, flooded Jairus’ soul and nearly knocked the breath out of him. His baby, his only precious, beautiful daughter was dead. Oh, the agony he had to be feeling. Pause a moment and consider and empathize with Jairus’ new situation. How would you feel if you were in his shoes?

Now praise be to God, the story doesn’t end there. No, verse 50 tells us that Jesus heard what was said by the servant, and He chose that moment, that perfect moment to respond to Jairus. Finally, a word from the Master. Let’s just picture how this scene might have unfolded. With all the strength he had left, Jairus raises his head to Christ and their eyes meet. No words yet, but perhaps their eye contact spoke volumes to Jairus’ soul. Perhaps Christ heard his soul cry out, “Master, I want to believe you can still do something, but….” Then the Savior spoke. He spoke words that no doubt resonated through Jairus’ heart, “Fear not, believe only, and she shall be made whole.” You see, Christ knew all about what was transpiring. Nothing about the situation was a shock to Him. (Aren’t you thankful nothing is ever a shock to Him! Praise Him!)

I believe Jesus waited until the perfect moment before he addressed Jairus’ plea. While his daughter (as Jairus believed) was still alive, he was able to exercise faith that Christ could do something for his daughter. But now the tables had turned and his daughter was dead. How would his faith react to his now hopeless situation? Christ could see to Jairus’ soul. He knew this poor man was dying himself on the inside. Yet Christ used this time to reach out and say, “Fear not, believe only.” Don’t you know those words were like a balm to Jairus’ soul. I imagine they ignited a new spark of hope in him. You see, Christ had seen Jairus desperate and humbled, but for some reason He needed to remove all distractions from Jairus’ view. He needed Jairus to see beyond the death that lay inside his door and to look to the Life standing in front of him. He had allowed Jairus to witness His healing of a 12 year disease just moments before for a reason, more than likely to strengthen his faith. Now Jairus had seen first hand the power of Christ, and Christ was calling him to not let fear and doubt invade but to keep trusting with his original faith.

Sometimes, God has to remove all things that we are clinging to for hope and security and humble us to the point that when we look up, all we can see is Him. I know that those times in my life have never been comfortable and they probably haven’t been/won’t be for you either. However, we can rest assured that God ALWAYS has our best interest at heart. Romans 8:28 reminds us that, “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” So, the next time you feel Christ is stripping some things from your life, continue to trust Him and know that He is working to build your faith and make you more like Him. (Next week we’ll close by looking at how Jairus faced his new dilemma.)

Monday: Read and meditate on Luke 8:41-56.

Tuesday: Why do you think God allowed Jairus’ to witness His healing of the woman with the 12 year issue of blood?

Wednesday: Do you think it is significant that Christ waited to verbally respond to Jairus as long as he did?

Thursday: Have you ever faced a time in your life when it felt like God was removing everything of value from you? How did you handle the situation?

Friday & Saturday: Memorize Romans 8:28