The Raising of Jairus’s Daughter, 1885 (oil on canvas) by Jacomb-Hood, George Percy (1857-1930); © Guildhall Art Gallery, City of London;
Looking Forward to Jesus
Mark 5:21-43
July 1, 2018 – Redeemer
Twelve years. That’s a long time to be ill. Twelve years of bleeding with no relief. Twelve years of treatments with no improvement. Twelve years of doctors, miracle drug ads in the back of the Jerusalem Gazette, of people telling her, “Well, my Aunt Mary tried this mango juice and it worked for her. My sister Elizabeth went to this doctor up in Samaria. Well he isn’t really a doctor.” It was also twelve years of being unclean according to the Law, twelve years where she could not be touched by anyone who loved her. Twelve years and she had nothing to look forward to.
Twelve years. A twelve year old girl is almost a teenager. Jairus’ little girl would soon be a young woman, then God-willing a bride and a mother. Twelve years of meals at the table. Twelve years of seeing her grow – walking, speaking, singing, praying. Twelve years of raising her in the fear and instruction of the Lord. St. Luke tells us this is Jairus’ only child. Twelve years old and they had nothing to look forward to.
That is life in this world. There is nothing to look forward to, not really, not if life goes on as usual for you, because like the woman and Jairus’ daughter all that is ahead of you is death. They knew, as you know (but don’t want to think about) death is our lot, our paycheck for the work of our sin, the end of our journey. No one escapes – not the twelve year old, not the two year old, not the two hundred year old if that was possible. Sinners die. If you haven’t sinned you have nothing to worry about.
Death is the starting point for Jesus. People may not want to talk about sin or their lifestyle, but everyone wants to avoid death. That’s why universal health care is such an attractive promise of our government. That’s why the biggest buildings and businesses are hospitals, clinics, and health care centers. That is why the hospital never has to show you the prices before you buy. If death is on the line who cares what it costs? God paid the price for your sin, the inestimable cost, the life of His only begotten son. Do you want to know what your sin costs? What is the price for the medicine of life? It is the blood of God shed on a cross outside Jerusalem. In Jesus, the Scripture reveals the only One who not only reverses death, but rises from the dead Himself after three days in the grave. Personally, I think Jesus is a much better option than mango juice or going to see a “doctor” who really isn’t a doctor in Samaria. Everyone dies and that is why everyone needs Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Jairus comes to Jesus first, as soon as Jesus got off the boat. Jesus had been doing all sorts of miracles – healing a man with a withered hand, calming a storm, casting a couple thousand demons out of one man. Is it any wonder the crowds were waiting on the shore? Since Jairus was a man of high station he got close to Jesus. But he does not act high and mighty for death has brought him low. He falls at the feet of Jesus and implores him, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” (Mark 5:23, ESV)
Imagine the relief when Jesus said to Jairus – “Let’s go” and then the frustration as that crowd pressed in on them. You see it was Black Friday and everyone wanted a deal from Jesus – for this Man is the doorbuster. He alone can break open your grave and deliver you. That is why He came into the world. Jairus has the great physician in tow and he’s stuck in traffic. His daughter is dying. Couldn’t these people get out of the way? Who needed Jesus more than his 12 year old daughter?
Perhaps the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. She too heard of Jesus (and remember faith comes by hearing). She had nothing to look forward to, until she heard about Jesus. But because she is unclean, and perhaps because she heard Jairus explaining why he needed Jesus to come, she decides to get her health by stealth. Touching Jesus would make Him unclean. Speaking to Jesus about her condition would be immodest for her and upsetting to all the people in earshot. With faith that a simple touch will heal her she touches Him, is immediately healed, and hopes to leave, but you can’t sneak anything past Jesus, because you can’t sneak anything past God.
“And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?”” (Mark 5:30, ESV) His disciples wondered how He could know someone touched him. It was a crowd, everybody was touching everybody. The woman came with fear and trembling. Now she would have to speak. Now everyone would know. But there was no rebuke, no shame, only the blessing that comes to faith. If you believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection for you, death and sickness come to an end. That’s why He came. “Daughter, your faith has made you well, go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
Finally, thought Jairus. Let’s get moving, but before they could move, the news he dreaded arrived. “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” Did Jairus play the “What if” game – what if we weren’t caught in traffic? What if that woman hadn’t touched Jesus?” Jairus came in faith to Jesus looking for life for his daughter. This is the highest worship of God, to look to Him alone for life. So Jesus acts as if nothing has changed – sickness, death, demons, evil, storms, sin this is why He has come. “Do not fear (Jairus), only believe.”
Jesus grabbed his favorite three witnesses (Peter, James, and John) because OT law requires everything to be confirmed by two or three witnesses and off they go to Jairus’ home. Since there was no Williams – Dingmann Funeral Home the funeral couldn’t even wait for dad to get home. The mourners were already there. Some of you have wailed and wept at the death of child. Only Jesus can quiet your cries and dry your tears. Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but sleeping? And they laughed at him. They laughed at him. You should memorize that Bible verse. Mark 5:40 And they laughed at him. That is how certain the world is that death is death and there’s nothing to do about it. They laugh at Jesus. They worship health and medicine and technology which certainly are God given gifts, but even they realize that all of man’s medicine has a 100% failure rate. Jesus has a 100% success rate – every funeral He attended (including His own) ended in life.
He raised Jairus’ daughter to life. Talitha cumi which means, “Little girls I say to you, arise.” And immediately the little girl got up. There were five witnesses to this resurrection and soon all of those who laughed at Jesus would also see. To show that this was a real resurrection of a real body Jesus made sure the girl ate something. Hallucinations or spirits do not eat.
Apart from faith, apart from Jesus you have nothing to look forward to. You might enjoy retirement, stay in your home, be in good health, or you might have to bury a child, suffer with an affliction for 12 years, watch your spouse die. Everyone dies – even the healed woman and this risen twelve year old girl. Jesus alone brings life by His death on the cross. There He died the death of sinners so we could live the life of Christ, alive and resurrected bodily. When Jairus and that woman heard that Jesus was coming they had something to look forward to – healing and life. That is why Jesus is preached here – so you can hear Him and look forward to life and the resurrection in His name. Amen.
Pr. Bruce Timm
June 30, 2018 anno Domini