Jairus and His Daughter                                                                                                            D - 1

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.”

Mark 5:22-24 and 35-43 (NIV)

 

Perhaps the greatest lie we hear today is that Father God is distant, that Jesus was stoic and standoffish and always praying somewhere alone out in the wilderness, always adjusting the halo that we see in pictures.

The truth is very different.  The Gospels tell us that Jesus “wept” when His friend Lazarus died.  When He was approaching Jerusalem one time, He was deeply in anguish that too many people had hard hearts and wouldn’t believe and trust in Him.  We know He frequented weddings, parties and simple lunches at someone’s home.  He had special friends.  He showed emotions, like you and me.

For instance, the story above is about a man named Jairus, whose twelve-year-old daughter was near death.  Jairus asked Jesus to come and heal her, but by the time Jesus arrived, it was too late because she had died.  But God’s timing for us is always perfect, and Jesus marched into that girl’s bedroom, took her by the hand, and brought her back to life.

Try to “see” Jesus in that room.  How did He feel?  Was He emotionless?  Or maybe, just maybe, was He overflowing with joy that in this little bedroom, a younger sister of His would come from darkness into light, come from emptiness into fullness, come from death to life?  Was He also happy for the parents as well?  All in all, imagine what an exciting (yes, exciting!) day this was for Jesus.

Now it’s time to move on in our lives with great insight and optimism, with a sense of healing and a realization of a clean slate, and with a sense of being loved in a dramatically new way!

 

1) As you re-read this story, try to picture Jesus as an "Encourager".  How would He assume that role for you? 

2) What state of mind must Jairus have been in as he went to Jesus?  

3) What was he feeling?

4) Who did he think Jesus was?

5) How did He encourage Jairus?  What was His message to Jairus?

6) Was His encouragement in the midst of serious and seemingly hopeless struggles? 

7) How much faith was shown in the messengers who announced the little girl’s death?  Were they coming to conclusions because of what they could see, or because of their faith level? 

8) As Jesus was walking to Jairus’s home, what might have been in Jairus’s mind?  Could you sense a struggle between his feelings and his faith in Jesus?

9) When Jairus was informed that his daughter was dead, Jairus had to believe either that his daughter was indeed gone, or he had to cling to hope when Jesus said she will be OK.  

10) How did Jesus react to someone with deep faith in Him, yet in deep pain and suffering? 

11) Where is the exclamation point?  Why there?

12) Be SURE to re-read the very last words of Jesus.  What do those words say about Jesus, the Healer?  When He works with us, what is the quality, depth and width of the healing?

 

He’s dying to come into your home today and visit.  It’s not too late.  He has so much more for you.  He is excited about you and your future!