Keep Believing!

Jairus was a ruler in the synagogue. His daughter was sick and about to die. He came to Jesus because he was desperate. The Jews were kicking people out of the synagogue who had anything to do with Jesus. Excommunication meant that you could not buy or sell. You were “black-balled.” But when your baby girl is dying, you’ll do whatever you have to do, right?

Jesus said, “I’ll go with you.” As they were going, crowds were pressing in on them. Suddenly, Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”

The disciples become a little bit testy and say, “There’s more people here than Carter has liver pills and you ask, ‘Who touched You?’” (KRSV–Kenny’s Revised Slang Version).

Now a woman who had suffered with an issue of blood for 12 years had snuck up behind Jesus and touched the hem of His garment. She had said to herself, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” And she was right. The minute she touched His clothes, her bleeding stopped.

Jesus knew it in a heartbeat. He kept looking around for her until she came with fear and trembling and told Him the whole truth.  Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Now Jairus was standing there taking all this in. Who knows but that this episode of faith came at this time to help Jairus bear what he was about to hear. While still standing there, some men came up and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore?”

Can you imagine how Jairus’ heart sank? If not for what he had just seen Jesus do for this poor woman, he may not have made it. And you still don’t think God cares about every little thing in your life? If it concerns you, it concerns Jesus!

Jesus knew the pain in Jairus’ heart.He knows yours, too!  Not paying any attention to what the men said, Jesus told Jairus, “Don’t be afraid…keep believing.”

Well, you know the rest of the story. They made it to Jairus’ house to find the mourners wailing and weeping. When Jesus told them that the little girl was not dead but asleep, they laughed Him to scorn. He then went into the little girl’s room and said, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” And she got up. When you get a word from Jesus, there is nothing you can’t do…even rise from the dead! Just don’t be afraid… keep believing!

Jesus loves all His children no matter how different we are. He met the deep needs of both Jairus and the woman, and they were totally different. He was a rich man. She was poor woman. He was well thought of. No one gave her a second thought. He was about to lose something that had given him 12 years of happiness. She wanted to get rid of something that had caused her 12 years of suffering. The only thing that they had in common was their faith in Jesus. They both kept believing.

You may have received some bad news yourself… sickness… lost job… death of a loved one… a broken relationship. Remember Jairus and the woman. Remember that faith is believing that it is so, even though it is not so, so it can be so, because God said it is so.

Don’t be afraid, Beloved, just keep believing!

Blessings,

Kenny