Today’s reading: Mark 5:21-43
Our text for today in Mark 5 is the story of Jarius. Jarius was the manager of the local synagogue. He was responsible for overseeing worship and taking care of the building. When Jesus arrived in his town, Jarius threw himself at Jesus’ feet with a plea to come heal his sick daughter. He begged Jesus to come lay hands on her, as she was on the brink of death. He was desperate. Verse 24 tells us –
Jesus went with him (Mark 5:24).
As Jesus was following Jairus to his house, he was detained by a woman with a bleeding disorder. While Jesus was still speaking to the woman, messengers from Jairus’ home came to tell him that he was too late. His daughter had already died. They suggested that there was no use bothering Jesus with the situation any longer. Verse 36 tells us –
Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just trust me” (Mark 5:36).
At this point, Jesus turned the crowd away. When they finally arrived at Jarius’ house, he only let 5 people come with him into the girl’s room – Jairus, his wife, Peter, James, and John. Jesus commanded the girl to get up, and she immediately came back to life.
This amazing miracle story is the only passage the Bible has recorded about Jairus. What can we learn from his life? As I studied and prepared for this post today, three key lessons spoke to my heart:
Following Jesus requires that we take risks – because of Jairus’ role in the synagogue, he likely had a close tie to the Pharisees. His outward display of faith in Jesus was risky, as the Pharisees would have pressured Jairus and other synagogue leaders from following Jesus. Like any other parent, however, Jairus was desperate for his daughter to be healed. He knew Jesus was capable of healing her. He was willing to display his faith and risk his position in the synagogue for it.
God is in control – in the first part of the passage, Jairus was trying to get Jesus to follow him to his house. Did you notice that by the time they arrived, however, Jesus had taken control of the situation? He already knew the need and he led Jairus, his wife, Peter, James and John into the room so they could witness his miracle.
God’s timing is not our timing – Jairus was trying to get Jesus to his house to heal his daughter before she died. When messengers came from his house to announce her death, they all assumed it was too late. It wasn’t. God has all power, even over death.
Today I ask myself, is my faith really in Jesus? Do I really trust him? If the answer is yes, I need to remind myself he knows my needs. Instead of running ahead and asking Jesus to follow me, I need to slow down and get out of his way so he can take the lead. He has every situation under control.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).