Please read through the Bible text before reading this article.

​

Wherever Jesus went it seems a large crowd gathered around him.

​

In this story we have a daddy and his little girl is dying.  He arrives at the shore of the lake, sees Jesus, falls at his feet, and pleads with Jesus.  The daddy was begging for Jesus to heal his daughter.  Jairus was hurting, he was anxiously fearful of losing his daughter,  and he turned to Jesus with all of his heart.  His deepest desire was, “Heal my little girl so she can live.”  And Jesus, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, went with Jairus to his home.  And all the people followed after him, crowding him.

 

The little girl dies before Jesus can get to her home.

​

Now we will skip a few verses and go to the end of the story with Jairus and his daughter.  Please read Mark 5:35-42.

 

Because the little girl had died the messengers thought there was no hope of the girl recovering. They had no idea that the ‘teacher’ was the God of the impossible.   Jesus had other plans.

​

Imagine being Jairus, and getting the message that your precious little girl had died.  Immediately Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”

​

I remember when my children were small and sick.  My heart ached, longing for them to be well.  My pain was temporary for my children recovered, but I have friends who have lost a child and the grief is so very deep, for so very long.  Oh, how we must love and embrace our friends who have experienced such loss.

​

At this critical point of the story we get a glimpse of an incredible character trait of Jesus Christ.

​

“Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn’t let anyone go with him except Peter, James, and John (the brother of James).”

 

Jesus was never about impressing people!  Over and over in the Scriptures you will see that many of the miracles Jesus performed were done with just a few people present.  He wasn’t an expensive dressed, loud talking orator, wanting to impress people with his power.  He was God, who came to earth as a simple, humble man, doing the work God the Father asked him to do.  He came to rescue, save, and help people, not to show off his power.

​

Jesus arrives at Jairus’ home.

​

When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw much commotion and weeping and wailing.  He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping?  The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep."  The crowd laughed at him.

​

For emphasis, let’s again list the details of this part of the story.

​

• There was a lot of commotion and weeping going on at Jairus’ home.
• Jesus questioned the people.
• Jesus said, “The child isn’t dead, she’s only asleep.
• The crowd in the house laughed at him.

If I had been Jesus at this point, I might say to this laughing crowd, this crowd looking down upon me, and mocking me, “Well just sit and watch and see what happens next.  I’ll show you something to make your eyes pop out.”  But that was never Jesus’ style.  Jesus wasn’t there to impress a mocking crowd; he is answering a pleading father’s request.  Jesus was all about answering this hurting Daddy’s deepest desire.

​

• Jesus made the mocking crowd leave and he took the girl’s father and mother and his three disciples into her room.
• He spoke to the little girl and she immediately stood up and walked around!
• Jesus told the parents to feed their daughter; their daughter was given back to them.
• The parents were overwhelmed and amazed.
• Jesus told them not to tell anyone what had happened.

And what about the laughing crowd?

​

And how do you think the mocking, laughing crowd reacted if they peered into the windows of the house and they saw the little girl walk to the table and eat a meal with her parents?  What did the mockers think when the little girl went to synagogue or to the market with her parents the next day?

​

This is a tender story.  Jairus turned to Jesus and his daughter was healed.  There was an awesome happy ending because Jesus, the God of the impossible, did what only He can do.  He raised a little girl, and gave her life.