Jesus defies death to save 12-year-old girl

 Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5: 21-43; and Luke 8: 41-56. Yeshua is the original Hebrew name for Jesus.

The 12-year-old girl, flushed with fever radiating throughout her young body, lay suffering in her bed. Her father Jairus felt helpless, a feeling that was foreign to a man who wielded tremendous power as an elected leader of the local synagogue.

Under normal circumstances, even today, a proud Hebrew father would begin planning an elaborate Bat Mitzvah, complete with generations of family members feasting on lavish foods and beverages. Instead, Jairus focused on seeking Jesus – Yeshua Messiah – to heal his only daughter.

Jairus knew just where to look for Jesus in the town of Capernaum, located on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Capernaum in Galilee was Jesus’ hometown when he was not in Nazareth. The well-known religious leader also knew how to spot Yeshua. Jairus looked for crowds because people naturally followed Jesus for entertainment, healing, or confirmation that He was Yeshua Messiah.

And true to character, “a large crowd gathered around [Jesus]on the shore,” Mark 5:21 NLT. Jesus had just disembarked a boat that had earlier taken Him to the region of the Gerasenes, where He sent demons out of a man and into a herd of pigs.

When Jairus saw Jesus, “he fell at his feet, pleading fervently with Him,” Mark 5: 22-23 NLT. The worsening condition of his daughter made Jairus desperate. Although the synagogue leader had ties to Pharisees who despised Jesus, Jairus embraced a significant and daring act of respect and worship by bowing down before Yeshua Messiah.

Today, you could compare Jairus to the pastor of a mega-church, a wealthy businessman or CEO. As the local synagogue leader, his duties were to care for the building, supervise worship, and manage a weekly school that taught Hebrew and other noted Jewish customs. This day he humbled himself, belying social status.

“My little daughter is dying,” he pleaded to Jesus. “Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live,” Mark 5:23, NLT.

With little discussion, “Jesus went with him, and all the people followed, crowding around him,” Mark 5:24 NLT. Time was of the essence. Jairus’ daughter was near death. But the crowd was thick and pressed hard against Jesus, slowing his pace.

Jairus was ecstatic that Jesus responded so quickly to his plea to come heal his daughter. But he was frustrated too by all the people crushing him and Jesus as they pushed their way in the direction of his home.

Jesus stopped. What!?! Another delay for Jairus? An unnamed and outcast woman who had been bleeding for 12 years reached out and touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. The woman believed that “If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole,” Matthew 9:21, KJV. https://wordconsultingllc.com/encouraging-your-own-self-a-sick-woman-talks-herself-into-finding-jesus/

From this touch, the woman was immediately healed.

Jesus stopped and asked in Luke 8:45, KJV, “Who touched me?”

His disciples thought Jesus’ question was unreasonable amid a massive crowd.

But, underscoring his desire for relationship, Jesus forced the woman to publicly acknowledge her need for Him and that He provided.

Once the woman who had lived as dead for 12 years as an outcast from society came forth, Jesus called her “Daughter,” the only time he is recorded using this affectionate title. He said, “Your faith has made you well. Go in ease. Your suffering is over,” Mark 5:34, NLT.

On the surface, Jairus had approached Jesus first and should have had priority. Afterall, he was a synagogue leader and had societal credentials. He did not lack compassion and, perhaps, on another day – when his daughter’s life was not at stake – he could have appreciated the fact that this woman’s condition kept her continuously unclean and unable to go to the temple to worship – not the one he led or any other synagogue. She was cut off from normal fellowship with others and with God, unlike Jairus who had unlimited fellowship privileges.

But Jesus did not neglect the needs of a lowly woman to impress an influential religious leader, even if Jairus did bow before him in humility.

OK crisis over! Jairus is back on top of Jesus’s agenda.

But, as Jesus was speaking to the woman, some messengers ran up to Jairus to declare, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now,” Mark 5:35, NLT.

What Jairus had worked so hard to prevent, happened.

Jesus overhead the conversation Jairus had with the messengers. He spoke directly to the synagogue leader, giving him two commands in Mark 5:36, NLT: “Don’t be afraid; just have faith.”

Then, Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn’t let anyone go with him except disciples Peter, James, and James’ brother John. He demonstrated that we must choose widely who we invite to our inner prayer circles.

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,” James 5:16 b, KJV.

Together they walked to Jairus’ home, “where Jesus saw much commotion and weeping and wailing. He went inside and asked, ‘why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep,’” Mark 5: 37-39, NLT.

The crowd laughed at Him. So, He put them all out. Jesus ushered the young girl’s parents and his trusted disciples into the room where the child was lying.

Jesus held the girl’s hand and said to her: “Talitha qumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise,” Mark 5:41, ISR.

Yeshua Messiah awakens the girl. She immediately rose and walked.

All in the room were completely astonished.

 ***

Many around the world celebrate the Bar Mitzvah when young boys become men. The celebration typically takes place around the 12^th year of a boy’s life. In the patriarchal society of Yisrael and the Middle East, you could easily think that the Messiah would show little interest in a little girl’s life. WRONG. How did this Bat Mitzvah begin? With weeping and mourning by neighbors and spectators who thought the girl was dead. However, the celebration ended with Yeshua Messiah giving the girl life, as he had the woman with the 12-year history of bleeding.

The scriptures are true: “He will turn our weeping in to dancing and our sorrow into joy,” Psalm 30:11-12.

And when Jairus and his wife celebrated the girl’s Bat Mitzvah, Jairus could very well reflect on the fact that Jesus truly is God and that God’s timing, and purpose are not like ours.

Jesus healed a woman on the way to healing the young girl. He cured the woman’s disease while defying the death of Jairus’ daughter. He performed both public and private miracles within hours of each other. He cared for both those inside the church as well as those outside the church.

Perhaps, Jairus concluded that Jesus is the answer, regardless of our social status. All those who believe in Yeshua Messiah shall be raised from the dead to everlasting life.

Written by COH

Sources:

Questions about People in the Bible: Who was Jairus in the Bible? Gotquestions.org

Scott, Seth L. Three Lessons We Can Learn from the Story of Jairus’ Daughter. Crosswalk.com.