“I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
— Psalm 16:8
Jairus, a synagogue ruler, had a sick daughter. As a synagogue ruler, he was a powerful man, but he was powerless to heal his sick daughter.
Jairus heard Jesus had the power to work miracles, and Jesus was coming to their town. While his daughter lay at home dying, Jairus left to find Jesus. When he did find Jesus, Jairus hurried into the crowd, fell at Jesus’ feet, and begged Jesus to come to his house and heal his daughter.
The Bible doesn’t describe Jairus’ daughter’s illness, but she must have been very ill when her father left to find Jesus. While Jesus stopped to speak to a woman in the crowd, someone came from Jairus’ house and told him, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”
Jesus heard and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Believe, and she’ll be healed.”
When Jesus arrived at the house, mourners cried for Jairus’ daughter. Jesus only let Peter, John, James, and the girl’s father and mother inside the room with him. Perhaps because he knew they were the only people who believed he could heal her. Meanwhile, the mourners continued to wail and Jesus said, “Stop wailing. She’s not dead. She’s asleep.”
The mourners laughed at him. They believed the girl was permanently dead because they didn’t believe Jesus could bring her back to life.
Jesus reached out and held the girl’s hand. “My child,” he said, “get up.”
Immediately, her spirit returned to her body. Having received her miracle, the girl stood up and walked around. Do you know what Jesus did next? He told her parents to give her something to eat. Jesus made sure all of her needs were met.
Jesus wants us to trust him to do the same for us. You can give your health and your very life to Jesus. And like Jairus’ daughter, you can accept Jesus’ gift of grace. Maybe your heart has been broken by the loss of a friend who moved away or by the rejection of someone you love. Maybe you need to accept Jesus’ hand and let him help you up, out of sadness, grief, or anger.
Or maybe, like Jairus’ daughter, you’ve seen Jesus work a miracle in your life or in the life of a family member. Have you thanked Jesus for his presence in your life?
More To Explore: Mark 5:21 – 24, 35 – 43
Girl Talk: How have you seen the healing hand of God in your life or in the lives of those around you?
God Talk: “Dear God, you are my provider. You know my needs. And I’m so glad you take care of me and will never leave me. Thank you. Amen.”
From Real Girls of the Bible by Mona Hodgson