Example: Ava’s first night in hospital
- Three Realities I experienced in that situation:
- The limit of my human ability was Prayer
- I would have fought through anything to get the help she needed
- Any delay to get her the help would seem to endanger her life
The Situation
40 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,[c] but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
The Interruption
45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”
- Its like taking a shower and pondering the “touch” of one drop of water
46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
- Notice, Jesus cares for this woman as DAUGHTER just as Jairus is Pleading for his daughter
4 Reasons Jesus did not let Her go Silently:
*Faith is not intended to be a “private” matter, as so many seem to think. Faith in Christ is not personal. Jesus acknowledged that it was the woman’s faith which healed her, but she must also confess that faith before men.
49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”
- These People believed where there is life, there is hope. Jesus could heal the sick, but not the dead
- Jesus goes to help, but He has two distressing delays:
- The crowds slowing him down- vs. 42
- A woman instantly healed followed by time-consuming conversation- vs. 43-49
- This took time, time Jairus felt would endanger his daughter
- We don’t know his response, but the actions of disciples show they were annoyed by his actions and lack of urgency
*The healing of Jairus’ daughter was interrupted by the healing of the bleeding woman that for a short time appears to have cost the life of Jairus’ daughter
- Vs. 49 says, “While he was still speaking…” and gets news the girl died
50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”
- Like the bleeding woman, Jesus says have faith…YOUR faith will heal her
51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.”
- Gospel of Mark calls it a commotion and Jesus sends everybody outside (Mark 5:39-40)
53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up.
Two Odd Commands
Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
- Odd Command 1: Give her something to Eat
- She is Physically resurrected…not a ghost, not a spirit
- God does not do for People what People can do for themselves
- Jairus could not heal his sick daughter or raise her from the dead, but he could feed her
- Miracles are not Performed where human effort is sufficient
*Maybe the reason you have not seen a miracle in your situation is because a miracle is not needed, your just unwilling to do what God has told you to do. God shows up in miracles in things you cannot do, He leads you in things you can
- Odd Command 2: Do Not Tell anyone
- Why does He demand the bleeding woman not keep her miracle a secret but demands Jairus keeps this miracle a secret?
- The People would have seen the little girl running around and been aware of the miracle?
- Imagine the conversation when those wailing saw her. What happened?! Jairus response, Jesus told me not to tell you….!
Few Takeaways
- Healing requires Gods Power and our faith. Our faith in Gods Power heals us, but it can also heal others!
- Faith in Jesus is a Public matter, not a Private matter
- God withholds blessing because His intended blessing exceeds what we ask for! For those who disbelieve, not only do they not receive Gods blessing, but cannot even witness them!
- Gods grace is infinite. The woman stealing a healing from Jesus did not rob Jairus of his blessing!
- Faith Produces hope, hope does not Produce faith
Questions for Guided Discussion
- The healing of the bleeding woman shows that when desperation meets faith in God’s power, miracles happen. You can be desperate but have little faith, or you can have faith but not be desperate. Think of a situation you desire healing. Do you have the faith God’s power can heal you? Are you desperate enough to want healing?
- Jesus makes a point to ensure the bleeding woman’s faith was made known. Like Jairus, who publically proclaimed his faith in Christ’s power, the woman wanted her faith and healing to remain private. Do you feel your faith is vocal enough? Where have you been healed of something shameful but have not vocalized the healing due to shame, hurt, or guilt?
- Jairus must have felt increasingly frustrated, stressed, and desperate by all the delays keeping Jesus from his sick daughter. Imagine his disappointment and grief when he learned she died. Ultimately, however, what Jesus gave ended up being a much greater blessing than what Jairus hoped for. How has God’s timing of blessing been better than what you originally asked for?
- Seemingly, the bleeding woman thought she had to “steal the healing,” and alternatively, Jairus may have thought Jesus’ blessings ran out. In healing them both, Jesus shows that God’s grace is not only infinite, but the blessings of others do not hinder His blessing for you. Do you ever feel like God’s grace and blessing will run out? Why do we sometimes feel that way?
- The people seemed to believe that as long as there was life, there was hope. When Jairus’ daughter died, there faith in Jesus’ power died with it. In response, Jesus tells Jairus, “Just believe.” The people’s faith in Jesus was contingent on the hope that existed, but Jesus makes clear that faith in Jesus creates the hope. How often do we let our situations, circumstances, and misguided hope dictate our faith? How has your faith in Jesus created hope where hope previously died?
- We also see from the raising of Jairus’ daughter that God won’t do for people what they can do for themselves. In what areas or fights in your life currently are you struggling with? Are you asking God to do something for you that you can do for yourself?