Jairus

“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 5:21-24, 35-43)

Jairus was a leader in the synagogue. He was well looked upon in the society in which he lived. Parents would bring their small children to him so that he could bless them. People who were in difficult situations or who needed guidance would seek him out.

He was a man who knew the Torah and who taught the people what the Law and Prophets said. Jairus served the God of Israel.

One day, sickness struck Jairus’ small family. His only daughter fell ill. Usually when a child becomes sick, most parents count on the illness passing after some care and time. This didn’t happen in the case of Jairus’ daughter. Her situation did not improve and instead she became more ill as each day passed.

In this situation, it would have been easy for Jairus to think about why this happened to him. –Was there sin in his life? – Didn’t he have enough faith?

Instead of staying home and taking care of his sick daughter, Jairus wandered about restlessly. That’s when he sees a crowd of people. He sees Jesus in the crowd: “…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.”

The people around Jesus were those Jairus had helped and guided in different ways. Now, he needed help and he did not care about what others thought. He threw himself down in front of Jesus and pleaded with him to help.

He said, “My little daughter is dying.” In Matthew’s telling of the story we read, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” (Matt. 9:18)

When our friends ask us how it is going with our sons and daughters, we will not want to share the truth about what their situation if it is not good. But we cannot hide anything from Jesus, he knows everything.

What Jairus is saying is, “Jesus, my daughter isn’t just dying, she has died. But come and lay your hand on her, because when you put your hand on her she will live!”

“So Jesus went with him.”

Jairus must have felt such joy in this moment. Jesus was going to come to his house and raise up what was dead in his family! He had seen the life in his daughter disappear over time. But a change was coming now.

How good it is to receive a Word from the Lord!

Jesus was delayed along the way to Jairus’ house because a woman with a blood disease touched him. Jairus had gone on ahead and reached his house before Jesus. When he got home, “…Some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”

Those who spoke to Jairus had firsthand knowledge about the situation in his house and they gave it to Jairus. Hopelessness and fear came back as he heard these words. There was no hope after all. But these voices weren’t actually saying anything new. Jairus already knew that his daughter was dead, that was exactly why he invited Jesus to his house.

By listening to and receiving the words from those at his house, Jairus received a spirit of discouragement. But overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

Those in and around his house laughed when Jesus told them that Jairus’ daughter was just asleep. Then Jesus sends everyone out except those he had with him and the girl’s parents. He takes the girl by the hand and says, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up.

A miracle had come to Jairus’ house. His daughter who had died was raised from the dead.

Jairus served the God of Israel but did not know the power and authority of Jesus. Since Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life, dead daughters, sons, and spouses receive new life when he enters a family.

So do not hide anything from Jesus, but instead pour out your heart to him and invite him into your home. Do not give up hope if he gets delayed along the way.

And do not let those who have firsthand information about you and your household give you fear and discouragement.

Even if you are in a difficult situation that has lasted a long time, Jesus is the same today as he was yesterday. The one who puts his trust in him will not be put to shame. “He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.” (Psalm 91:15)