But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.”
LUKE 8:50
Jairus stood on the shore with a large crowd anxiously watching as the boat came across the lake from Gerasenes. He was a man of stature, the leader of the local synagogue who took care of the building and supervised worship and the rabbis who taught there. It would be out of character for him to do what he was about to do. Jesus was a traveling teacher, and a controversial one at that. But he was desperate, more desperate than he had ever been in his entire life. The boat finally landed, and Jesus and His disciples came ashore. Pushing through the crowd, Jairus fell at Jesus’ feet and pleaded fervently. “My little daughter is dying,” he cried. “Please come and lay Your hands on her; heal her so she can live!”
Jesus nodded and walked with him, and all the people followed, crowding around Him. While on their way, Jesus stopped suddenly. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched My robe?” His disciples shrugged it off. “Look at this crowd pressing around You. How can You possibly know who touched You?” But His eyes kept searching the crowd. Clearly, He wasn’t moving on until He could see who touched Him. Jairus shuffled his feet impatiently. Come on, Jesus. We need to keep moving! My little girl is dying! Finally, a frightened woman came and fell to her knees in front of him. “It was me,” she said. “I knew if I could just touch your robe, I would be healed. Immediately, my bleeding stopped, and I could feel in my body that I am healed!” And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.” Jairus grew more anxious. Hurry, Jesus. My daughter is suffering!
Just then, some messengers arrived. “Jairus,” they called out. “Your daughter is dead! There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.” His heart stopped. It’s too late! But Jesus overheard them and immediately said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.” Telling the crowd to stay back, He followed an anguished Jairus to his home with only Peter, James, and John at His side. Commotion filled the house when they arrived. They went inside and Jesus asked, “Why all this weeping and wailing? The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd just laughed at Him. He told them all to leave and then took Jairus and his wife, along with His three disciples, into the room where their little girl was lying. Jairus’s eyes filled with tears when he saw her motionless body. But Jesus took her hand and said, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!” Immediately, she stood up and walked around! Overwhelmed and totally amazed, Jairus and his wife embraced with tears of joy (Mark 5:21–43; Matthew 9:18–26; Luke 8:40–56).
In this culture, the mourners who wept and wailed over the dead were often paid professionals. These mourners laughed at Jesus. But God made it clear that the world would never know Him through human wisdom, and that our faith might seem crazy and even offend people (1 Corinthians 1:21–22). The enemy will always use the logic of unbelievers and the doubt of skeptics to steal our hope. In the midst of heartbreak, Jesus encouraged Jairus and wouldn’t let him give up. Jairus chose to follow Jesus instead of giving in to the scoffing mourners. We have the same choice—either to believe the world or to stand with Jesus and surround ourselves with people who will do the same.
In just one day of ministry, Jesus reached out to a bleeding woman, a demon-possessed man, and a family of the dead—all of whom would have been considered unclean and avoided by the religious leaders of the day. But His compassion changed their lives forever. He feels the same compassion for you. It’s never too late to ask Him for help. Your need will never trouble Him. He is never distracted or too busy handling more serious prayers than yours. There is more than enough of Him to go around! Even in His humanity, when He was physically detained by another ministry need, Jesus was able to solve Jairus’s problem. He can say yes when the entire world says no because He alone is the source of all hope. And His words to you today are simple. Just have faith.
Lord, forgive me when I allow the wisdom of this world to distract me from Your presence, Your power, and Your promises. Help me not to focus on the troubles I can see right now but to fix my gaze on the things I can’t see. I know these troubles are temporal and will not last, but You and Your promises will last forever (2 Corinthians 1:20). Please bring people into my life who will stand in faith with me.
Lord, increase my faith when I’m tempted to give up. Help me to hear Your voice of encouragement above the voices of a world that tries to steal my hope and trample on my faith. Help me to hear Your voice of promise, even when it makes no human sense. Lord, You know my every need and nothing I pray is insignificant to You. No prayer is “too late” to pray. You have the power and the compassion to say yes when the entire world says no. You are my Source of hope. Help me to just have faith.