Mark 5
21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him
Imagine the ministry of Jesus. During his time, wherever he goes, people followed Him because they heard great signs and wonders happening in his road trips. One such man who heard of Jesus’ ministry was Jairus whose daughter is about to die. He desperately needed help, and He needed Jesus to come at the right time to heal her daughter.
Then a detour.
25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
The healing of the woman with a discharge is another story to tell for another time. I want to focus on Jairus and his daughter. The woman who was sick needed the healing touch of Jesus yet at the same time there was a dad, who was worried about the life of her daughter. It seemed like Jesus was using his precious time for somebody else who has a need who is not that life-threatening. I imagined being the dad – looking at my watch and trying to signal to the Lord -please hurry up and save my daughter.
35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”
The daughter of Jairus is dead. There was no need for Jesus. Jesus was no ordinary doctor – He controls body, time and space. He is sovereign, and He is the healer. When Jesus said, do not fear, only believe, he was communicating that He is in control.
39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was.
The child is not dead but sleeping. Only someone who can overcome death could make such a statement. The people couldn’t believe the report – it is a statement made by gods and not ordinary people. This statement is Jesus’ declaration of His rulership and deity.
41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
And this God went to the sleeping girl and whispered “Talitha cumi,” a word that shows how this powerful God is also a relational God. “Little girl” – a term of endearment – spoken by the Son of God. No other God-king would deal with His people in such an endearing, personal way.
Lord thank you for your sovereignty and your timing. May I always trust your timeline because you are God and you are in control. In Jesus’name.