A long section to read today, and there's a reason for that. To break up these 16 verses would be to spoil a lovely story. Go and read it now, before you finish today's post.
Two healing miracles are twined together in today's passage, and the one adds suspense and depth to the other. It begins with Jesus honouring a request to help the leader of a local synagogue, whose daughter is dangerously ill. We can speculate that it was hard for Jairus to swallow his pride and ask for help in this way. He would have heard OFSTED's conclusion that Jesus was not to be trusted, and would have presumably resented the way he took people's attention away from their normal worship.
But when your daughter is dying, you will do anything. Even fall on your knees before a heretic preacher.
Jesus, fresh (if that's the word) from his victory over the mad foreigner across the lake, has returned to home territory and adulation from the crowd, Eager to see another miracle, they all follow him on the way to Jairus' home.
But there's a delay. If you were at the back of the crowd, you'd wonder what was going on.
Why are we stopping? I thought this was meant to be urgent. Can anyone see what's going on?
Word filtered back that Jesus had stopped to identify someone who had reached out to him.
Well of all the selfish things! Couldn't they wait? Just wanted to touch his cloak did they?
The crowd conveniently forget that if only they could get close enough they'd do the same themselves.
The delay goes on, while Jesus searches the crowd, No one knows what he is looking for - one face among so many.
But Jesus knows, He is is looking for the only face that isn't looking back at him. In a flash, he's realised that somebody needed him, but wanted to keep it a secret. He's going to have to disappoint this person, he's going to have to bring their need out into the open. If he doesn't, they'll never understand what has really brought about their healing.
Eventually, a woman's nerve breaks, and trembling with fear, she becomes the second person that day to be on their knees before Jesus.
The crowd are hushed into silence. straining to hear her whispered conversation with Jesus.
Ill for 12 years? Oh, poor soul!
Jesus is looking her in the eye, earnestly explaining something to her. "It's not me - it's your faith that has made you well. Do you understand? What matters for the future is not that you just happened to meet me in the flesh - it's your faith that counts! Work on that!"
The crowd begin shuffling, making room for someone to come through. A messenger. Making a beeline for Jairus.
Don't bother the rabbi any more. It's too late. Your daughter's dead.
His words fall into a deep well of silence.
Jairus is numb. The newly healed woman is desperately contrite. Oh I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hold you up. I could have waited. I'm so sorry - I wish I'd never come here today. I wish I was still ill so that your daughter could live.
This situation is going out of control. What should have been a beautiful healing is going horribly wrong.
But not to Jesus. It might look like he's lost control, but he hasn't. He's still in command. Turning to Jairus, he urges him not to give up.
They press on, reaching the house. They go in, Jesus overriding every argument, every hand raised to stop him, repeating "She's not dead, she's only asleep!"
People laugh. They know death when they see it. Why won't this crazy preacher admit he is beaten?
Only of course he isn't beaten. He confronts death with a shout and sends it scurrying into the darkness from whence it came. The girl gets up, Jesus gives her to her parents, telling them to get her something to eat. "Look after her, she's still weak."
And for the life of me I cannot understand why Jesus tried to keep it a secret. Doesn't he know there'a curious crowd out there? Does he think that if Jairus comes out and tells them all to go away, there's nothing to see, that they'll meekly obey? That's a mystery to me.
But as for the rest - it's beautiful. Jesus showing infinite pains, infinite care, and demonstrating the strength of his power, not in glorious deeds, but in simple, gentle lovingkindness.
No comments:
Post a Comment