Then a man named Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come home with him. His only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying.
While he was still speaking to her [the woman He had healed], a messenger arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. He told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”
But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.”
When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn’t let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, James, and the little girl’s father and mother. The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but he said, “Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.”
But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died. Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, “My child, get up!” And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.
Luke 8:41-42, 49-55 New Living Translation (NLT)
Yesterday, we read Scripture that spoke of the time when Jesus healed a woman after she had bled for 12 years. During this same time, a leader of the synagogue sought Him out to heal his dying daughter, who interestingly enough was 12 years old. The woman had been bleeding the entire life of this child. What was a very long time for the woman's illness was a very short time for the life of a child. This helps us realize that our Savior is not into clock watching. He gave His life for everyone — young and old. We are all precious in His sight no matter what time of life it is.
As the man was told his daughter had died, Jesus then determined to bring her back. He spoke to the child's father and focused on increasing his faith, for Christ knew that faith had led this man to Him and He was not going to let him down. As Christ approached the house of weeping people, He threw everybody out. If we ever wonder why Jesus wept when His friend Lazarus died (John 11:35), the Scripture above confirms that He did not weep over a life He knew He was going to restore, but the lacking faith of people crying about death. When He told them she was only sleeping, these folks stopped crying long enough to laugh at Him in disbelief. That's a "WOW" verse! Sometimes people are so comfortable grieving death to this world that they cannot even perceive an everlasting life in God's Kingdom.
Well "Oops! He did it again!" He brought her back and told them to feed her. The child's trip to nowhere had probably left her hungry and should have left everyone who witnessed this miracle hungry for the healing God offers and the everlasting life He promises to those who put their faith in Him. We may not all experience the miracle of a life restored from death to this world, but when we believe in and follow Jesus, He promises eternal life in God's Kingdom. He got up from that grave so that we could too.
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.” John 11:25-26 NLT
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