Matthew 9:18-19, 23-26 (NIV) While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
When Jesus entered the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. News of this spread through all that region.
Sickness and even death didn’t intimidate Jesus. They were merely what the call to action looked like. A just now deceased daughter and a father’s faith were enough reason for Jesus to stop what He was doing and go right away with the Synagogue ruler.
This ruler (Mark tells us that his name was Jairus – Mark 5:22) had great faith. He believed that Jesus’ mere presence could restore even the dead. But he seemed to be the only one at his house that had that kind of faith. Those who had come to mourn over the loss of the girl actually laughed in Jesus’ face when He indicated that this situation was only temporary; that this wasn’t a permanent state of death, but just temporary, as if she were sleeping. But they all knew that the girl was dead – they had checked carefully, and there were no signs of life in her at all.
It’s important to note that such lack of faith was not a block or a hindrance to Jesus’ ability to do a miracle. He moved the loud and jeering crowd outside, and with only the parents and His three closest disciples with Him, He took the girl by the hand. And with that simple action, the girl’s life returned to her, and He returned her to her parents, alive and well.
When the mocking friends and neighbors found out that the girl was alive, they were stunned. But only for a moment. Then they immediately started to spread the word to everyone they knew: Jesus had raised a little girl from the dead!
Father, we need to take a lesson here from Jesus. Too often we let ourselves get intimidated by the doubters around us, and pull back from what You have called us to do. Or we blame the lack of faith of those around us when we fail. But the attitudes of the onlookers here didn’t deter Jesus in the least. If You instructed Him to do something, Your word was enough to give Him the confidence to act boldly. When it came down to it, only HIS faith was necessary to make amazing miracles happen. Help me to have that same passionate faith about everything You call me to do and to say. Amen.