I can imagine that Jairus was getting pretty anxious as Jesus
has stopped on their way to his house to heal this woman of her “flow of blood”
issue, and to take the time to talk with her and then send her on her way with
these beautiful words of encouragement, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your
faith has made you well. Go in peace.” His daughter is dying, and the
sooner Jesus gets to his house the better. Do you ever feel like Jesus is
taking too much time to help you or to answer your prayer?
Then, sure enough, someone comes from Jairus’ house and
gives him the message: “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.” You
can only wonder what Jairus must have thought and felt at that moment! “Jesus,
my daughter was dying, and you could have healed her. Instead, You stop and
help this woman who has had this problem for 12 years. You could have come back
tomorrow and taken care of her problem. Now my daughter is dead!”
But Jesus responds to assure and comfort him by saying, “Do
not be afraid; only believe, and your daughter will be made well.” Now
remember in this chapter it was right after Jesus says, “Don’t hide the light
of your candle under a basket or bed, but put it where it can help everyone”, that
He reveals His authority over the wind and waves of the storm on the sea by
simply saying, “Peace be still” (Mark 4:39). Jesus has power over the
elements of nature!
At Gadara on the other side of the sea, Jesus cast out a legion
of demons from the maniac and reveals His power and authority over the demonic
forces of hell. And He still has power over them today! Then Jesus also reveals
His power over sickness and disease when He heals this woman of her flow of blood.
And now, as we come to the end of the chapter, Jesus reveals that He has power
and authority over death itself. Is it no wonder that Jesus said to Jairus, “Do
not be afraid; only believe!”
About a year and half later, we find a similar situation in
John 11. Martha and Mary’s brother, Lazarus was deathly sick, and they sent
word to Jesus to come and heal him. But Jesus lingered where He was so long
down by the Jordan River that when He finally arrived Lazareth had died. When
Jesus finally shows up, Martha confronts Him by saying, “If you had been
here my brother would not have died.” Jesus responds to her with these
famous words in John 11:25-26, “Jesus said to her, "I am the
resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall
live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe
this?" And a few minutes later, Jesus would call Lazarus out of grave
and present him alive to his sisters and their friends!
My friend, Jesus still has power over sinners who are dead
in their trespasses and sins! (Ephesians 2:1). Paul goes on to assure us of His
resurrection power in Ephesians 2:4-9: “But God, who is rich in mercy,
because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in
trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and
raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in
Christ Jesus..."
It doesn’t matter whether you are a dead religious sinner
like Paul, or a wicked evil bad sinner, Jesus has the power to save you because
of His love, mercy and grace and the power of His resurrection! When Jesus and
Jairus arrived at the house the people were weeping and in deep sorrow over the
dead girl. Jesus separated the unbelieving crowd from the believing crowd and went
in and raised the girl from the dead!
The question Jesus asked Martha is still the same today, “Do
this believe this?” To Jairus Jesus said, “Do not be afraid, only
believe!”
Today you can believe that Jesus can save you or your lost family
members and friends! Only believe!!!! And you don’t need to be afraid of death
for yourself or your loved ones! Only Believe!
God bless!
