Verses 40-42 When Jesus crossed the lake to return to Galilee, the people were lined at the banks awaiting His arrival. I would like to believe this is where I am daily, standing at the banks of life awaiting Jesus’ return. Are you?
When we are in desperate circumstances, it can cause us to exercise desperate faith. Jairus is one of the Jewish leaders in the local synagogue. Though many of the Jewish leaders were opposed to Jesus’ ministry, Jairus was in need of healing for his 12-year old daughter. Jairus, though a religious ruler himself, is humble and respects Jesus as he falls at Jesus’ feet.
While Jesus is trying to get to Jairus’s daughter, a woman who had been suffering from bleeding for 12-years was in a crowd.
Verses 44-48 This woman had heard of Jesus and believed he had the ability and power to heal her. Her belief in his healing power was so great that she squeezed through the crowd and extended her arm to catch the threads on Jesus’ robe. And in that instant, all bleeding stopped. She may have wanted to be secretly healed but Jesus noticed. We cannot hide from Jesus, even in a crowd. This should encourage us to pour out our hearts to Him with all our troubles and sin. And though it seemed like it could be anyone’s shoulders that touched him, Jesus knew one, in particular, reached out to him in faith. He called her out in the crowd so that she could testify of the healing and glorify God. This woman knew she couldn’t hide and confessed her act of faith. And it was indeed that kind of faith that healed her.
Verses 49-56 While attending to this woman, Jesus receives news that the 12-year old girl he was on his way to heal has now died. Jesus challenges Jairus, the girl’s dad, to believe and act in faith no matter what it looks like. Walking in that stretch of faith, Jairus took Jesus to his home. This is a bold and daring move of belief because the girl looks obviously dead. This group obviously didn’t believe Jesus when he said the little girl was only sleeping. So Jesus decides to take only Peter, James, and John, as well as the little girl’s parents into the house with him. The people mourning start to laugh at the thought that Jesus thinks this girl is only asleep. I love that Jesus didn’t just walk away in the face of their laughter. But he also didn’t let them witness this supernatural work firsthand. Those laughing in unbelief had to wait outside while Jesus worked a miracle in front of those who did believe.
Jesus held her hand and told the little girl to get up. Notice her spirit returned to her. Our spirit is separate from our body. When we die, our spirit leaves its shell and moves on. We are no longer residents of that body.
Jesus told them not to tell anyone. We’re not entirely sure why He didn’t want anyone to know. There are other occasions where Jesus silences those who wish to share a testimony of his miracles. This silence may only be a delay as a greater reveal awaits.
Prayer: Jesus, Miracle-worker, you make a way when there seems to be no way. You are a light in the dark places and you restore what has been broken. You move in our midst doing amazing works of healing daily. Give us the eyes of faith to believe your healing can restore what’s been broken in our lives. Give us the faith to believe you can bring back what’s been lost. If our hope has been lost, help us hope again. If our joy has been destroyed, mend the threads of joy in You, Jesus. If our peace is gone, usher in a new era of supernatural rest in our souls. Replace the hardship with a light burden. Comfort the pain with Your presence. Speak to the sting of my wounds with Your Word. I believe, Jesus. I believe in who You are, Jesus. I believe you have the power and ability to heal. I believe you are all my answers and every solution I’ve been seeking after. I believe Your name is above all depression, disease, divorce, disability, loneliness, estrangement, worry, and fear. I believe You came to save us and that you’re daily walking with us, rescuing us from the pulls of this world. See this bleeding heart that is stretching out to touch the threads of your robe in heaven, Jesus. I don’t want to wait until desperate circumstances to be desperate for you, Jesus. I’m desperate now for your touch from heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen.