Jairus And His Daughter

Mark 5:22-24, 35-43

When most of us need help, we don’t wish to be brushed off or pushed aside while the one who can help us turns to someone else. Maybe we’ve called the doctor’s office, and get put on hold while they take other calls. Perhaps we’ve been in a store, and when we’ve finally found a clerk to help us, they turn to assist someone else while we stand there helpless.  In today’s reading in Mark’s Gospel, we read of a man named Jairus to whom this happened. However, in Jairus’s case it was a lot more important than being ignored by a store clerk or being put on hold during a phone call.

Jairus had a young daughter, and in a culture that put real strong emphasis on male children, he loved her very much.  She fell very ill, and he decided to find Jesus and request Him to come to his house and heal her (vs 22-24). Mark describes Jairus as a ruler of the synagogue.  One who held this position was in charge of arranging the worship services in the synagogue. He would also oversee most other synagogue affairs. This was a prominent and important position.  For Jairus, going to Jesus could easily put him at odds with the Pharisees, and could risk his position and standing in the community.

Jesus agrees to come with Jairus, but on the way He is interrupted by another person who desperately needs His healing.  We won’t get into the story of this woman today, but throughout their encounter Jairus stands at the side, waiting for Jesus to resume their trek to his house.  How patient would you be if your child lay dying, and someone else grabs Jesus’s attention? I know I would probably say, “Hey! Wait your turn! I was here first!”  Jairus, though, waits and receives a wonderful miracle in God’s time!

As he waits, though, Jairus receives some really bad news.  While this delay was happening his little girl has died! (vs 35)   Rather than comfort the man upon hearing of the girl’s death, or even offer an apology for the delay in coming, Jesus challenges Jairus on to stronger faith.  Jesus does that to us as well - move away from fear and on to faith. We need to look at our problems from Jesus’s point of view. He, alone, is the source of all hope and promise.

When Jesus and Jairus arrived at his home they were met by a number of mourners, proving the messenger was right and the girl dead (vs 38).  Loud mourning, weeping, and wailing was a sign of love for the deceased in the ancient Middle East. The louder, the more love. Frequently professional mourners were hired.  Jesus asked them why they were mourning, as the girl was only sleeping (vs 39). Jesus used the image of sleep to indicate the girl’s condition was only temporary, and that she would be restored.  He knew she was actually dead, not in a literal sleep or coma.

Imagine coming into a funeral home and telling the mourners there something like Jesus did?  You would be considered certifiably crazy, or at the least laughed at. This is how everyone in the house reacted to Jesus.  They laughed Him to scorn! (vs 40) This was ridiculing, humiliating laughter, with not a iota of faith or trust.

Jesus was not going to have that type of spirit present.  He put out all who had no faith in order to perform His miracle.  Faith, trust, and obedience are needed, and all doubt and scorn cast out.  Jesus brought into the room those who had faith - three of His closest disciples, along with Jairus and his wife. With a spirit of faith present, Jesus went to the body of the young girl, took her by the hand, and brought her back to life.

When Jairus knew there was nothing he could possibly do, then Jesus was free to step in and bring a miracle.  When we come to the end of ourself, the end of our strength and ability, God will move on our behalf. Reach out to the Hand that is bigger than ours, the nail-pierced Hand.