Do you ever feel like God’s timing is all wrong for your life? Do you feel like He might be delaying too long, and that by the time He does show up to answer your prayers it might be too late? That’s how a guy named Jairus felt.
Jairus was a devout man, and ruler of a local synagogue. In our day, we would say that he was a parish pastor. Jairus also was a father. His daughter was the apple of her daddy’s eye. She loved the Lord, and would soon be a beautiful woman of God, but life has a way of taking us down unexpected (and unwanted) paths.
This pretty pre-teen became sick, and so Jairus gave her the appropriate “over the counter” herbal medicines of his day. Unfortunately, they had no effect, and so he fetched the local physician. The doctor came to examine the girl, whose health had quickly deteriorated, and as he walked into the room, he knew what the outcome of this house call would be. He tried to make the girl comfortable, but beyond that, there was nothing else he could do. The physician pulled Jairus aside, shook his head and whispered, “I’m sorry.”
Jairus’ mind was now racing. He would not give up until his girl’s final breath. Because he was the local parish pastor, some of the folks in town had been telling him about a Rabbi named Jesus. Not only was He a powerful preacher, but He also healed people. Perhaps, Jairus thought, it’s time I met him personally.
Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. Luke 8:41-42.
“Pleading” is a polite way to put it. The Greek tells us that he begged. This wasn’t just a single polite request. This respected ruler fell at Jesus feet, his tears mingling with the dust of Christ’s sandals, and he begged. “Please, please, please Lord. Save my daughter.” Seeing this man’s faith, Jesus responded differently than the physician from earlier that day. Instead of shaking his head hopelessly, Jesus smiles and consents.
Up to this point, our story is going according to plan. The girl is still living. Jesus agrees to come and help. They are just a short distance from the house in which she lies. It looks like we are going to have a happy ending. But then Jesus gets interrupted…
There is a woman in the crowd who has come to see Jesus also. She has suffered from menstrual bleeding for years, and she had spent all she had on doctors. Her physicians could only shake their heads and tell her, “I’m sorry.” Hiding in the crowd, she reaches out, believing that if she could just touch this Great Physician who heals, she might find relief. At that moment, Jesus feels the power go out of Him and He stops the procession. He wants to find out who touched Him.
“What are you talking about?” Peter asks Jesus. “There’s a throng of people surrounding you. Why are you delaying? We have to hurry. There’s no time for interruptions.” Yet Jesus insists. He wants to know. In the Old Testament, Jesus wrestled with Jacob, who wouldn’t let go until Christ blessed him. Now in the New Testament, He wouldn’t let it go until He found out who touched Him.
Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. (She had the same view as Jairus had moments before.) 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."
You know what happens next. This interruption had deadly consequences. Because Jesus stopped to heal the “daughter” who bled for years, He let the Jairus’ daughter, who had just had her first pre-teen period, die. How is this fair? Why did God delay? Jairus must have looked at this spectacle and just shook his head. “I am sorry I even came.”
Do you ever feel like God’s timing is all wrong for your life? Do you feel like He might be delaying too long, and that by the time He does show up to answer your prayers it might be too late? Do you look at your neighbor whose prayers have been answered and wonder, When is God going to visit my home with some blessings?
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9
Our story concludes with the ending Jairus was hoping for. It just so happens that this Jesus who heals is also able to raise the dead. He took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Later, after His own resurrection, Jesus ate breakfast with His disciples on the beach. Now that the girl’s spirit has returned, it’s good that she break bread with her parents – not only for her own strength, but to confirm to Jairus that Jesus truly does give life.
Maybe you’ve reached that moment in your life when you realize, like Jairus did, that only Christ Jesus can truly supply you with your heart’s desire. You fell at His feet in prayer and begged Him to bless you, and just being in God’s presence gave you great peace. But now you must wait. Waiting for God’s answer to your prayers is maybe the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do. You wonder, What’s causing the delay? When will He visit my house?
By faith, Jairus learned that what looks like an unnecessary interruption can turn out to be God’s perfect timing. When Jesus pauses, He does so for a purpose. He is never too busy to bless His people, and He is never too slow to fulfill His will. And even when we stand at the bedside of a loved one who has died, we know that we have a Jesus who not only heals, but can raise the dead. Therefore, Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:13-14