Jarius Daughter
Notes
Transcript
Luke 8:40-56
Luke 8:40-56
Jarius’s Daughter
Jarius’s Daughter
We are going to continue in our study of encounters with Jesus. Today we are actually going to look at a story that has an encounter with Jesus squeezed into the middle of a different encounter with Jesus. Both are powerful reminders about Jesus and the work that he did.
Has anyone been around someone that has just seemed to suffered for a really long time? Probably a disease or sickness that just seems to never end and is very, very difficult. They probably have considered the question, how much longer can I take this? Is there any end to this?
Our story today actually has two people at the end of their rope, desperate for help but in different ways.
Turn with me to Luke 8.
Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house,
Jesus was gone, he comes back, and there is a giant crowd waiting for him. Tons of people just waiting to see this Jesus and see what he was going to do next.
Our next introduces us to a man named Jairus. What does it tell us about him?
He was the rule of the synagogue. He was of some importance, he would have been in power especially among the Jews. He would have arranged the service at the synagogue and would have been highly respected, very well known. This wasn’t just a random guy.
But before we move on what else do we know about our characters so far—or to put it another way, who were the most hostile to Jesus? The Jewish leaders. They hated Jesus for preaching a false gospel, for challenging their rituals and customs. We see in the book of Acts this wasn’t limited to Jesus they are the ones who are trying to kill the apostles.
So Jarius was of this group who hated Jesus, they wanted nothing to do with him. And yet he was desperate. He came running, falling down at the feet of Jesus.
This is how desperate he was—he fell at the feet of Jesus and implored, the proper word is begged. His only daughter is dying, please save her! I have heard of the great works you have done; please spare her life.
You will probably be in a situation like this or around someone who is at some point in your life. Please—my spouse, my child, my parent—Lord spare them, don’t let them die. It seems hopeless, but you beg for mercy.
So this is the setup for the story, this is our introduction and we are going to get side tracked and then come back to this.
Jesus agrees and follows him.
But, in verse 42
for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him.
People pressed around him. He was surrounded by people, he was a celebrity.
Have you ever seen a celebrity in person? Typically what happens? People rush them, they want autographs or pictures or just to catch a glimpse of them.
I used to volunteer at the Hall of Fame and one of my main jobs was the escort the hall of famers and politicians and important people from their private waiting areas to their seats while keeping as many people away from them as possible. As soon as the crowd sees its Tony Romo or a presidential candidate of Peyton Manning, they come rushing. They want to get close.
Lexy and I were on vacation this summer and we walked by Trump tower, and it was surrounded, everywhere, there was secret service. And people lined the streets, we stayed for a little bit—they just wanted to see Donald walk out the door and get into the car. People waited hours to see him for 10 seconds.
These are a taste of what is going on here. People are surrounding Jesus just to get close to him.
And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased.
This women had been bleeding for 12 years.
What does the passage tell us about her?
She had spent everything on physicians. She had tried everything, all of her money went towards finding a cure and it didn’t work. As a matter of fact, Mark tells us it only got worse. It’s fitting that Luke tells us she was unable to be healed—nothing worked because she was incurable. What do we know about Luke? He was a physician, so it meant something when the doctor says she can’t be fixed.
And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
And so picture with me there are two major storylines unfolding right here in just verses 43-48. First, this women who could not be healed—she had tried everything and yet she just wanted to touch the fringe of Jesus garment. Just get close and touch it, thats all I want.
At the same time, don’t forget whats going on here—Jesus is supposed to be going with Jarius to save his daughter. Jarius was desperate—he had pleaded just to get Jesus to consider coming, now this great healer had agreed and was on his way, and all of a sudden he stops. You can imagine how Jarius must of felt—no, no, no, come on, there is no time to stop!
Think of an ambulance with a loved one inside, in critical condition and every second matters, and the ambulance just stops and they get out and start talking to some random people. You would go insane—your blood would be boiling, there is no time for this!
And Jesus asks a question—what was that question?
Who touched me?
Leave it to Peter, no surprise he speaks up, and you can hear the frustration in his voice. Jesus—there are tons of people here, possibly hundreds or even thousands---how in the world are we supposed to know who touched you?
Jesus says, no, someone touched me, and power went out from me.
Jesus in is incarnation, the human person of Jesus Christ is been given this power from God the father at his baptism, and it leaves him drained at times. This perfect harmony of Jesus in human form that needs to recharge and rest meets Jesus in divine form filled with the power to heal and save.
This isn’t unique to this story, Philippians tells us that Jesus emptied himself; there was great cost to Jesus the man to do what he came to do.
This women comes forward—Jesus, It was me---she falls down on your face and says I touched you so I could be healed and I was.
Your faith has made you well—go in peace.
She was terrified, and yet Jesus comforted her, her faith had healed her---her faith in King Jesus and his power to save, God used that to save her.
Quickly I want to work on something together—consider with me the similarities between Jarius and this women
Jarius: well known, respected, high place in the temple, publically begging
Women: rejected my society, ignored, banned from the temple, she sought to be healed with no one knowing—just touch his garment and leave
She was unclean—old testament tells us she was prohibited from the temple because of being unclean, society would have outcast her)
Well in our story we get another interruption:
While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.”
Imagine Jarius—blood boiling, waiting for Jesus to get moving again, hoping to make it in time. While they are waiting someone comes and says, don’t worry, it’s too late. Don’t bother Jesus.
This father had just been told his daughter is dead. His only hope of healing has missed it’s chance. Imagine the pain, the hurt, the emotions that hit him.
But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.”
Believe—it will be okay. Do not be afraid, just trust in me. This is Jesus, it is not too late.
And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.
They get to the house. The select few go in with Jesus and the parents She's dead! No—she is just sleeping, don’t cry. They laughed at him—your clearly wrong, she is very dead!
I have been there at end of life. I have held someones hand as they take their last breathe. I was with them all night for hours and every time they gasp you wonder if it’s their last breath—but when it is, you know. They are not sleeping, they are gone.
They were not mistaken, Jesus must have been.
Jesus takes her hand—Child, awake, get up.
She got up at once, immediately, shes alive, and shes hungry. Total and complete healing, she isn’t foggy or weak or coming back—she is back in full strength
This story has so many similarities to another one in the gospels. Can anyone think of one?
Lazarus :
They sent for Jesus (Sisters, Jarius)
He was delayed
He said that they were asleep
He got there too late
He commanded them to get up, come out, arise!
Jesus in both of those stories showed his power over death. You think its too late, you think its final, but I am here to show you that I am the one who has power over death. I am the resurrection and the life. You think its over, you think its done, death has not one. This Jesus did and was going to conquer death.
So whats the takeaway from this story with Jesus, this encounter face to face with Jesus.
Jesus is never to busy to take time to act, to listen, to respond to people in need.
If your anything like me you hate interruptions, hate to be bothered while your in the middle of an important task.
There has never been a more important task then trying to save someone from dying. Trying to stop death from coming—Jesus was on his way to heal a young girl—12 years old—how many in here are 12? He was going to save her, and he stopped. She wasn’t just another person in the crowd, she was someone needing help, someone needing a healer.
Jesus could have came back. This women had been sick for 12 years, whats another couple more hours. He could have circled back and helped her later. But Jesus, in the moment, sensed someone in need and helped her. He know that he could still help the little girl, but this women needed his help.
He was not too busy or too overwhelmed to help this women.
God the Father sees it all and knows it; he is not too busy, not to large to help. Every person who has a relationship with Jesus has been touched by Christ Jesus. He cares enough to know the number of hairs on your head and knew you by name when you were in the womb; and if you belong to him he has reached and touched you and called you to himself.