Jairus Just Had to Wait

                     

                        Jairus Just Had To Wait

       Now when  Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, because
       they were all expecting him.

       Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came
       and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come to his
       house...(Luke 8:40-41)

Jairus was "one of the synagogue rulers" - so we know he was someone of authority and importance.

He fell at the feet of Jesus, a mere carpenter from Galilee. He must have been desperate.

And so he was.

       ...because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve was
       dying. (Luke 8:42)

We can imagine him there, anxious and worried - just one thread of hope - that this man they called Jesus could heal her. If only there was enough time
 - they must hurry - wonder if they were too late?

His heart was pounding. He was frantic. Hurry!

       As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.
       And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding
       for twelve years, but no one could heal her.

       She came up behind him and touched the edge of his
       cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

       "Who touched me?" Jesus asked.

       When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are
       crowding and pressing against you."

       But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power
       has gone out from me." (Luke 8:42-46)


Jairus is probably thinking: "Who cares? Of course someone has touched you! Probably many people have touched you! I must hurry!  Before it's too late!"


       Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.  

     Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you.
       Go in peace."  (Luke 8:47-48)


Jairus is getting angry. "That woman," he might be think, has had her illness for twelve years. She has had opportunity for healing, and can later. My daughter has only been alive twelve years!  This is her only chance! Don't delay us any longer!"

No ordinary doctor would behave like this.  The emergency, especially involving an important public figure, would get first attention.

But Jesus is no ordinary doctor.

You know the rest of the story - a messenger arrives to tell Jairus that his daughter has died, but Jesus continues to Jairus' home, saying, "Don't be afraid; just believe and she will be healed." (Luke 8:49)

And the little girl in her bed, like the woman in the crowd, was healed.

One of the lessons for us is that "our timing is not His timing."

Jairus was frantic, the disciples were probably impatient and irritated, but Jesus is calm and composed.

Jesus will not be hurried.  He says, "You may think all is lost if I don't act right now. You may think that I don't love you because I delay. I delay because I love you."

"I have something much bigger to do for you. Just wait and watch!"

Right now, are you anxious for God to work out something in your life? Do you feel He has forgotten, or even abandoned, you?

Are you impatient and frustrated?

Jesus is saying, just as He said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid....don't be anxious....don't panic....just believe and I will astound you with what I am doing!"

Just wait and watch!