For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.
Introduction
- Review: There are three reanimations in the OT. And in the NT, not counting the mass event of Matt 27, this is the second reanimation (after the miracle in Nain).
- This takes place during the days leading up to the “Limited Commission” (Luke 9; Matt 10; Mark 3), when Jesus is training his disciples and building up their faith.
- In Luke 8 we find two miracles, intertwined, so we're probably losing something when we isolate one without analyzing its relationship with the other. The stories have in common a span of 12 years. Yet for the purposes of this series we will focus primarily on the reanimation.
Scripture: Luke 8:41-42, 49-56
- Jairus (v.41) is a synagogue ruler. Notice how Jesus’ influence is building. It’s not just the common man whom Jesus touches. He touched the lives of persons of influence as well -- highborn and lowborn, rich and poor, master and slave, leader and follower.
- Jairus is desperate. His daughter is slipping away (v.42). She may be his only child, or else his only girl. Either could be the case.
- Interestingly, Jairus means “[God] will awaken.”
- His daughter is at (or nearly at) marriageable age, the time when she herself would soon bring a life into the world. Instead, hers is about to be snuffed out.
- The clock is ticking, yet unfortunately the following (interrupting) scene leads to girl’s death. Jesus heals the woman with the flow of blood, but this delays his arrival to the synagogue ruler’s house.
- Jesus addresses the twin issues of fear and faithlessness.
- This isn’t mind over matter – or “word-faith” power – but the imperative to put our trust in the Lord. We can take him at his word, even if “common sense” or worldly thinking would lead us to reject it.
- Already this is a very different healing to the woman’s. She approached Jesus to tap into his healing power, seeking relief anonymously, apart from any relationship with the Lord. But that sort of seeking for blessings or power is impersonal, worldly – like magic or manipulation.
- Jesus restricts the number of persons in the house (v.51) – and even then there are seven there!
- Everyone else laughed (v.53); it was a good thing that Jesus excluded them (v.51). Faith is not easily nourished amidst mocking or skepticism.
- Notice that Jesus addresses the deceased directly (v.54).
- She rises (v.55). There are parallels with the reanimation of 1 Kings 17.
- Jesus tells them to give her something to eat. Even though she has been reanimated, she still has biological needs. Time to prime the system!
- Her parents are astonished. The disciples had been similarly astonished in 7:11-17 (the son of the Widow of Nain).
- “Don’t tell anyone” probably means not to implicate Jesus. After his death and resurrection, this will not be an issue. Before these events, it is too easy for things to be misunderstood and get out of hand.
Challenge
- I need to be patient. Sometimes before the Lord gets around to my request, he may need to take care of someone else’s. I am not the most important person. (He is.)
- In my approach to Christ, am I overly mechanical or intellectual? Do I truly cherish the relationship?
- How much am I governed by fear and faithlessness?
- Even if it appears that all is lost, I should trust him.
