A Sick Woman and a Dead Girl

Part 3

22^nd December 2012

Matthew 9v18-26
While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, "My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live."
Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed."
Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment.
When Jesus entered the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.
News of this spread through all that region.

(continued from last week)

By the time Jesus finally arrived at Jairus's house, it was certain that the girl was dead (see Luke 8v49). Was Jairus frustrated or angry that the woman had delayed Jesus? Scripture doesn't tell us. But despite Jesus saying "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed" (Luke 8v49 again) he must have wondered: Why didn't Jesus come sooner?

Jairus might have given up, but he didn't. He might have thought, "If Jesus was going to save my daughter, he would have done it by now. I suppose He doesn't want to heal her. He won't answer my prayer now." But instead, he kept on trusting Jesus. It's never too late for God to answer prayer.

We never get to a point where Jesus can't change our lives. We can rebel. We can try to solve our problems ourselves. We can turn away. We can just get distracted. But it's never too late to turn back to Jesus. It's never too late for Him to visit us, and make a difference.

Jesus entered Jairus's house, and found a noisy group of mourners there. Some of them were playing the flute, and others were crying and wailing (see Mark 5:38). He told them to leave, and said, "The girl is not dead but asleep". The crowd then made a serious mistake; they laughed at Jesus.

Just think about that for a moment. They weren't laughing with Him; they were laughing at Him. They were mocking the King of Kings, the Lord of all creation, the Prince of peace. Beware laughing at Jesus! And beware ridiculing the Bible! Beware ridiculing the power of God to change lives! Some laugh today at the idea of miracles. Some find the idea that Jesus raised the dead ridiculous. Beware! God can do ANYTHING. Who are you or I to say He can't?

When we hear about what God can do, do we laugh inwardly and think, "Not my life! Maybe theoretically, maybe theologically, maybe 2000 years ago, maybe in Israel, but not here! Not now! Not me! Not my life!"?

The next thing Matthew tells us is that the crowd was put outside. I don't know how much to read into that. Was it just a practical matter, of Jesus wanting a bit of peace and quiet when He was praying for the girl? Or was it more serious? The crowd had laughed at Jesus, the Son of God, so they weren't going to see the amazing miracle that was about to take place. Those who mock God will not see His glory.

Then Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. There is nothing He can't do.

If you're in great need right now, if your heart is crying out to God, can you believe that Jesus wants to come to you, and take you by the hand, and raise you up?

Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins. He rose from the dead. He ascended into heaven. He has all power and authority. He can do anything. And He loves you.

Is there a situation, or a relationship, or a dream, in your life that feels like death, like Jairus's daughter? That no-one can fix, except Jesus? Are you like Jairus the synagogue ruler, who can confidently come to Jesus, and worship Him, and ask for his Help? Or are you like the woman with a flow of blood, who didn't dare to speak to Jesus, but did reach out and touch the hem of his garment? Either way, we serve a God who can heal the sick and bring the dead back to life, who can take a situation that seems beyond remedy and raise it again, and make it beautiful.

Consider the woman and the girl. One had touched Jesus and been healed. One had been touched by Jesus and been healed.

Consider Jairus and the woman. One was a ruler, one was an untouchable. One was the most popular and respected man in the synagogue, one was lonely. One was wealthy, one was poor. One was male, one was female. And Jesus answered both their prayers, spoken and unspoken, because He loves us all.