“Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,[c] but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. 45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” 47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” 49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” 50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” 51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” 53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.” Luke 8.40-42, 49-56
Yesterday we examined the miracle on the way to the miracle — the woman who was bleeding for twelve years who touched Jesus’ cloak by faith and was healed. That was amazing story. And how could that be topped by the next miracle? Only if that miracle was Jesus raising someone from the dead. And this is exactly what Jesus does.
Jairus is the distraught father desperate to get to Jesus. As a father of a girl, I can only imagine the pain of what he was feeling. He would have done anything possible to save his little girl, even given his own life without a second thought. But he finds Jesus and pleads with him to come to his house. Now Jairus was a prominent Jew, a synagogue leader. He had wealth, reputation and respect in his community but there was nothing he could do to save his daughter and so he finds Jesus.
But on his way to heal the girl, Jesus is interrupted by the bleeding woman. The exchange they have is quite extraordinary but it it delays Jesus from going to help the girl. When he finishes the first miracle, and headed off to the next, he learns the girl has died. This is tragic. Only God can save her now. And isn’t it a good thing God is on his way?
Jesus gets to the house after saying to the father, “Don’t be afraid, just believe, and she will be healed.” Then mourners at the house laugh at Jesus because he tells them that she is only asleep. Jesus only allows Peter, James and John, and the parents of the girl to go with him into her room where he takes her by the hand and says, “Child, get up!” The Bible says that her spirit returned and at once she stood up. Then Jesus instructs them to give her some food and orders “them not to tell anyone what had happened.”
This is one of three people that Jesus will raise from the dead. No big deal. Jesus calls forth her spirit to return to the body. What the heck?! How can this be? How can he control such things? He is God. He made this world, created all things and nothing is impossible for him. So why do we worry about COVID? Why do we worry about work, our jobs, our houses, our families and our futures? If we trust the one who can raise people from then dead then our faith must reside with him.
Is your faith in Jesus today? Are you trusting in his word? Clean to the Lord, the Savior of the world, the one who raises sick girls from the dead. For he is here and he is your God. He’s calling out to you — won’t you lean into his love?
“O Lord God, you are good. I praise your name. I exalt your goodness. Come now, Holy Spirit, fill me with your grace and love. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen