My daughter has been ill, and my wife and I are afraid that she may die. I look across her bedside at my wife’s tearful face as she looks at me with eyes pleading for me to do something. How helpless we feel!

I’m the leader of our local synagogue and I have heard of Jesus of Nazareth and that He has healed many. I lift my head and turn to my wife. “I’m going to go and locate Jesus. I’ll ask Him to come and heal our daughter so that she may live.”

I rise quickly to my feet and hurry out the door. Which way to go? I see a crowd in the distance and determine that this would be the best place for me to start. As I hurry along the dust from the road creates a small cloud behind me. As I approach a crowd, I see someone in the center who is speaking.

How do I get through all these people to talk with Jesus? I know that my daughter’s life is slowly seeping out of her as the minutes are ticking by. I see a break in the crowd and move through it. I continue to weave in and out of the crowd and get closer and closer to Jesus.

Finally! I am at the edge of the crowd, and He is before me. I fall at His feet pleading with Him. “My little daughter is dying. Please come and lay Your hands on her, heal her so she can live.”

Jesus looks at me with compassion and indicates that He will go with me to our home. My hope is that we are not too late to save her.

As we begin walking, Jesus suddenly stops and begins looking around. Why, oh why is He not hurrying with me?

Jesus looks around and asks, “Who touched my robe?” His disciples said to Him, “Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’” But Jesus continues to look around to see who had done it.

A woman finally comes and falls at His feet to admit that she was the one. He tells her that her faith has made her well, to go in peace, and her suffering is over.

While Jesus is speaking to her, messengers arrive and tell me “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”

Just as the words hit me and grief begins to overwhelm me, Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”

As I have just witnessed how faith has healed one woman, my faith is strengthened, and I have hope that my daughter will be made well.

Jesus stops the crowd from going further with us and asks Peter, James, and John to accompany us to my home. As we approach my home, we see much commotion, weeping and wailing. We go inside and Jesus asks, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.”

The crowd has not witnessed what I have, and they begin laughing at Him. Jesus tells them all to leave and takes me, my wife, and His three disciples into the room where my daughter is lying. It nearly breaks my heart to see her lifeless body lying where I left her.

Jesus crosses the room and looks tenderly at her young face. He reaches down to take her hand into His and says, “Little girl, get up!” Her eyes open and a smile lights up her face. She immediately gets up and walks around the room! My wife and I look at each other in amazement as tears of joy roll down our faces. Our precious daughter is alive! We have witnessed a miracle!

Jesus tells us not to tell anyone what has happened and instructs us to give our daughter something to eat.

This day that started in sorrow has ended in abundant joy. My faith has been rewarded immeasurably.

Note:

The story of Jairus and his 12-year-old daughter is found in Mark 5:21-43 and Luke 8:40-56.

Prayer:  Father, Sometimes I stumble in my faith and wonder why it seems You have paused in Your answer to me. May my faith not waver as I continue my walk with You. Help me to continue to trust You and Your miraculous timing for Your way is best. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

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