People come from many different backgrounds, societies and cultures. However, no matter who we are, we all have something in common. Someday, all of us will die. As King Solomon wrote, “All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. As it is with the good man, so with the sinner; as it is with those who take oaths, so with those who are afraid to take them.” (Ecclesiastes 9:2 NIV)
People fear death and do their best to prolong their lives. Yet, in spite of all their efforts they still die. One of the most conclusive proofs that Jesus had divine power was His ability to raise people from the dead.
The people on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee asked Jesus to leave after He healed a demon-possessed man. In verses 21 through 43 of chapter 5 in the Gospel which bears his name, Mark tells us what happened next. “When Jesus had crossed back over in the boat to the other side, a great multitude was gathered to him; and he was by the sea. Behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, came; and seeing him, he fell at his feet, and begged him much, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Please come and lay your hands on her, that she may be made healthy, and live.” He went with him, and a great multitude followed him, and they pressed upon him on all sides. A certain woman, who had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things by many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather grew worse, having heard the things concerning Jesus, came up behind him in the crowd, and touched his clothes. For she said, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Immediately Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd, and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” His disciples said to him, “You see the multitude pressing against you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’” He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be cured of your disease.” While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue ruler’s house saying, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?” But Jesus, when he heard the message spoken, immediately said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.” He allowed no one to follow him, except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. He came to the synagogue ruler’s house, and he saw an uproar, weeping, and great wailing. When he had entered in, he said to them, “Why do you make an uproar and weep? The child is not dead, but is asleep.” They ridiculed him. But he, having put them all out, took the father of the child, her mother, and those who were with him, and went in where the child was lying. Taking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha cumi!” which means, being interpreted, “Girl, I tell you, get up!” Immediately the girl rose up and walked, for she was twelve years old. They were amazed with great amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and commanded that something should be given to her to eat.”
The most serious opposition Jesus faced came from religious leaders. We do not know whether Jairus was among those who protested on a previous occasion when Jesus healed a man in the synagogue on the Sabbath day. Whether he was or not, when his own daughter became ill, Jairus begged Jesus to heal her. No doubt, Jairus had already done everything in his power to help his daughter – but without success. From this we learn that in spite of their opposition to Him the religious authorities knew that the miracles Jesus performed were genuine. Jairus was willing to risk his own reputation and his standing with the other religious authorities by asking Jesus to heal his daughter. This incident also shows Jesus’ compassion. No matter who asked, Jesus was willing to help.
There was another person who, like Jairus, had nowhere else to turn but Jesus. She had already spent all her resources in search of healing to no avail. While Jairus approached Jesus openly, this woman did so secretly. While she hoped for much, she also had much more to lose. Jairus merely risked his reputation and his standing among his fellow leaders. What the woman did was against the law. The Law of Moses clearly states that a woman who has a hemorrhage is unclean. She should not have been in the crowd and she certainly should not have touched anyone.
Instead of rebuking the woman for endangering those around her, Jesus commended her for her faith. It was her faith which enabled her to receive Jesus’ healing power. It is interesting to note that Jesus’ disciples did not understand the connection between faith and healing. They pointed out that many people in the crowd had bumped into Jesus. Why was He trying to single out only one person? The difference was this: None of the others reached out to Jesus in faith. The woman did, and was healed.
Jairus also demonstrated unusual faith. Instead of giving up all hope when he was told that his daughter had died, Jairus brought Jesus to his home.
At Jairus’ home Jesus met another group of people who did not understand or believe. The professional mourners who had gathered laughed at Jesus when He assured them that the girl was not dead. They knew she was dead – who was Jesus to tell them otherwise? Fortunately, Jairus did not allow their unbelief and ridicule to deter him from doing what Jesus asked. As a result Jesus raised his daughter from the dead and restored her to her parents.
What can we learn from these incidents? Perhaps one reason we do see more of God’s power at work in our lives is because we do not believe as we should. Perhaps we are unwilling to risk the disapproval of others in order to reach out to Jesus so we may be healed and have peace. More importantly, Scripture assures us that Jesus holds power over death itself. Just as He raised Jairus’ daughter, He can raise us from the dead and give us eternal life. Do we believe it, or do we laugh and mock as the mourners did? Are we willing to allow Him to restore us to our Heavenly Father as He restored the girl to her parents?