| (Copyright 2024) by Ted E. Bowling (Charlotte, North Carolina) |
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 Source: www.LumoProject.com “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction.” (Mark 5:34) During the ministry of Jesus Christ, only on three occasions did He raise anyone from the dead. The most well-known, of course, is His resurrection of Lazarus, His friend (John 11:38-44). The second, His raising of a widow’s son to life, is found in Luke 7:11-17. The third occurred when He raised the young daughter of Jairus, a leader in the synagogue in Capernaum. Accounts of this astounding miracle are found in Matthew 9, Mark 5, and Luke 8. The story contains lessons we can learn and apply to our lives in this modern world nearly two thousand years later. We will focus on Mark’s account beginning in Mark 5:21: Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea. And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet. We need to get to know Jairus a little. He was a ruler in the synagogue in Capernaum, a fishing village in Galilee with a population of around 1,000 to 1,500 people during the time of Jesus. A ruler of the synagogue was chosen to care for the physical arrangements of the synagogue services. For instance, he arranged the Scripture readings and brought out the Torah scrolls at the appropriate times. He determined who would speak in the service and enforced rules and traditions. He was also responsible for maintaining the building and its premises. Another of his duties was to manage the synagogue’s records, correspondence, and archives. Finally, the ruler of the synagogue would collect monies from its members to fund ongoing operations. In today’s lingo, we might say he was equivalent to a president or manager of a large community association. However, the synagogue was no ordinary community group but the center of the town’s religious life. At that time, Jewish religious leaders held great control over their communities. In this way, Jairus was one of Capernaum’s most powerful and best-respected citizens. It is also likely that he was among the wealthiest. Jairus, then, was a man of stature and power in the town. Knowing this helps us appreciate the story of Jairus and his daughter. A Change of Heart Scripture reveals that Jairus knew very well who Jesus was. In Mark 1:21-22, Jesus taught in the very same synagogue of which Jairus was a ruler: Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. On Christ’s first visit, Jairus may have been among those who questioned His “new doctrine” that He preached in their synagogue (Mark 1:27). Generally, the Jewish religious authorities of the day considered Jesus to be a “nobody,” one without formal religious training and therefore suspect. But they were soon astonished as Jesus commanded a demon to leave a man who tried to disrupt the service (Mark 1:23-26). The synagogue’s members were amazed, and perhaps this exorcism made Jairus wonder about this Man who preached and performed miracles with such authority. This supposition cannot be proven, but sometime between the events of Mark 1 and Mark 5, Jairus’ daughter became quite sick, which could have played a significant role in altering his stance toward Jesus. None of the gospel writers inform us about what caused her grave illness. We only know that she was about to die. When Jairus hears that Jesus was arriving on the boat, what does he do? Mark 5:21 says that “a great multitude gathered,” and among them was Jairus. This time, his attitude is far different: And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” (Mark 5:22-23) His statement is one of faith. He is confident that, if only Jesus would lay hands on her, she would recover and live. Acknowledging the man’s faith and haste, “Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him” (Mark 5:24). The first thing we can appreciate about Jairus is his humility. He did not come to Jesus secretly like Nicodemus, who met Him by night (John 3:2). He not only met Jesus in front of the multitudes following Him but implored Him to save his daughter by falling to the ground at His feet. Remember, Jairus was one of the most powerful men in Capernaum. It would not be out of line to believe the people of that city were probably stunned by his action. Most people realize how hard it is to humble themselves. Few like having to make themselves vulnerable. Not many are willing to beg for help. But Jairus did just that. Here was a man accustomed to having others serve or humble themselves before him, yet he was willing to get on his knees before Jesus with a great multitude as witnesses because he was sure Jesus was the answer to his dilemma. Note again that, at the time, most rulers, priests, Pharisees, and others of religious influence did not believe in Jesus. In fact, they were against Him, considering Him an upstart who taught falsehoods to the people. Jairus had to make a vital decision: For his daughter to live, he would have to sacrifice his pride and position and believe what he had observed about Jesus and knew to be true. By this action, Jairus realized that his present way of life would cease to exist. Asking Jesus for help would be his “point of no return.” It put his position of power and respect as a ruler in the synagogue on the line. He likely lost the respect of many in the instant he knelt before Jesus and begged for his child’s life. What was that moment of stepping out in faith like for Jairus? He could not know for certain if Jesus would even help him. Would Jesus, knowing Jairus’ position in the synagogue, knowing the near-unanimous disbelief of the religious authorities among the Jews, reject his plea? But “Jesus went with him.” Jairus must have been so thankful and thrilled when Jesus agreed to follow him to his house. His heart must have been filled with the hope of seeing his daughter healed! The Chronically Ill Woman Along the way to Jairus’ home, he and Jesus had to forge their way through the packed crowd that had come to see Jesus (Mark 5:24). At some point on that walk, someone touched Jesus, and He stopped. In his hurry to reach his daughter’s bedside, Jairus must have been concerned at the very least. We can imagine him asking himself, “What is going on? Why have we stopped? We need to hurry! My daughter’s life is slipping away!” Mark 5:25-34 answers why Jesus stopped: Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction.” Jesus, in His boundless compassion, halted and acknowledged the woman and her faith. Like Jairus, she also fell at Jesus’ feet. However, she seems to have knelt out of fear rather than humility. Jesus reassures her, “Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” To Jairus, time was of the essence. How long did this halt take? Jesus’ interactions with the woman occurred over just a few minutes, but even so, this brief interruption must have been agonizing for him. He likely felt great anxiety, afraid that Jesus was taking too long, but there is no evidence that Jairus became impatient or upset with Him. “Your Daughter Is Dead” Matters were about to get much worse for Jairus: While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” We can imagine what went through his mind when he heard this. At that moment, his despair must have been enormous, his heart broken, his worst fears having come true. Tears must have welled up in his eyes. But Jesus provides comfort: “As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, ‘Do not be afraid; only believe.’” How Jairus would react would be a defining moment in his life. Again, he is faced with a choice: His daughter is dead. He could despair, but Jesus is implying that she would be made well. Jairus chose to believe Jesus. They continued to walk toward his house, accompanied by Peter, James, and John. Upon arriving at their destination, the house was in an uproar, with people weeping and wailing loudly. When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. (Mark 5:39-40) Instead of showing empathy—his daughter had just died! —Jairus’ family and friends ridicule Jesus and perhaps even Jairus himself for bringing Him and believing He could do any good. Maybe they told him he was crazy to follow this Man. How much more could he take? But again, Jesus moves to alleviate the situation: But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. (Mark 5:40-42) Jairus’ faith in Christ is rewarded. He sees his child raised from the dead. That he and his wife “were overcome with great amazement” is an understatement. To hold his daughter in his arms after all the sickness, pain, and death she had experienced had to be overwhelming. Then Jesus adds something a little surprising: “But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat” (Mark 5:43). Once the girl walked into the street, the friends and family who had ridiculed him and everyone in the town would know what Jesus had done. Perhaps He thought that, by that time, He and His disciples would be elsewhere and not have to face the people’s reactions to this stupendous miracle. Jairus is never mentioned again in Scripture. We are probably safe to assume that he ultimately lost his position as ruler of the synagogue since the religious authorities did not believe in Jesus, and some even hated Him. We do not know what happened to this humble and faithful man, but we can speculate that he became a follower of Jesus. Rejecting Jesus after He had resurrected his daughter would be far less likely. Parallels and Contrasts That the accounts of his daughter’s resurrection and the chronically ill woman’s healing are recounted together is not a coincidence. Throughout the two stories, a few parallels and contrasts between them come to the fore. For instance, the reader learns that Jairus’ daughter was twelve years old, the same number of years the woman had suffered from the issue of blood. Also, Jairus’ child is never named; she is only called “Jairus’ daughter.” The only time Jesus addresses the ill woman, He calls her “Daughter.” The differences between Jairus (and his daughter) and the woman are also significant. As already noted, Jairus was a leader who was highly respected and influential in the community. As a ruler of the synagogue, he held a position of power that likely afforded him wealth, respect, and admiration. On the other hand, the text gives no sign that the woman had any standing in the community and seeking a cure for her affliction had drained her of all her money. She appears totally alone, a nobody among the crowd. However, though very different, they had something in common: They both recognized Jesus as their only hope, and they had faith in His ability to heal. Jesus had compassion on both, answering their requests with stunning positivity. Rich or poor, Jesus is not a respecter of persons. Jairus’ story in Mark 5:21-43 is one of humility, patience, and faith. It shows Jairus’ humility. The story illustrates how much of a family man and father he was. He put his family above himself, choosing to swallow his pride, sacrifice his status, and rethink his beliefs when faced with new information and a new urgency. By falling at the feet of Jesus before hundreds or perhaps thousands of witnesses, he renounced everything, approaching the Savior in sincerity and earnestness. Only a truly humble person can do this. The story also reveals the testing of Jairus’ patience as Jesus took a detour to heal the woman with the issue of blood. Despite any inner turmoil, he waits on Jesus, trusting Him even when circumstances seem bleak and time is critical. The man, exhibiting unwavering faith, does not lose hope when the situation appears dire but continues to trust Jesus. In this, we also see that God’s timing often differs from our own. In having to wait for Jesus, Jairus’ request escalated from a healing to a resurrection (see also John 11:1-15). This story reminds us that when God delays healing, it does not mean He will not heal. To know the depth of our faith and patience, God often makes us wait for His blessings. We would do well to imitate Jairus. His story encourages us to endure in faith, even when circumstances seem dire. We must remain firm in our belief in the faithfulness of our God. ————————————————————————————————————————– See Ted E. Bowling’s other articles at: Bowling, Ted E. – The “New” Church of God Messenger (church-of-god-bismarck.org) Reprinted with permission from: Church of the Great God https://www.cgg.org/ ————————————————————————————————————————– |
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