Luke 8:40-56
I can only imagine what it is like to be welcomed
home, as the super star, and I’ve witnessed what that is all about when the San
Antonio Spurs won the NBA championship.
The headlines read like this on June 15, 2014, “Spurs' fans flock downtown in celebration” and that was for a bunch of guys who
played a game. It makes me wonder what
would folks do if the person coming to town had healed your daughter, your
cousin, your dad, or mother, or a neighbor who was blind from birth. Now that has got to draw a larger crowd than
some very tall guys dribbling a round ball up and down a court, throwing it at the
rim and hoping it falls through, it would seem so anyway.
Jesus has been told He is not
welcome in Gerasenes after He allowed the demons to enter the herd of pigs and
set a man free from the control of Satan, but the people of Gerasenes cannot
see a miracle, they can only see the loss of income. So Jesus gets back into the boat and returns
to Galilee, and it is somewhat of a celebration that Dr. Luke reports in verse
40, “Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed
him, for they were all waiting for him.”
This crowd is much like the blind man who was told by the
religious leader that Jesus was a sinner, and this was his reply: “He answered,
“Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was
blind, now I see.” (John
9:25) They were looking and waiting for
the one who had the power to change life, and a man named Jairus, who was a
ruler of the synagogue, came up and fell
at Jesus feet, for his only daughter was dying and she was only 12 years old.
Now
Jesus went with Jairus but on the way with the crowd all pressing in on Jesus a
mighty act of faith took place. Jesus
stopped and asked, “Who was it that touched me?” If your Jairus, that is not
good, something is wrong the Master has stopped and my little girl is in great
need. If you are one of the disciples you’re
wondering but not saying, sure someone touched you this crowd is about to get
out of control. Leave it to Peter to say
what the others are thinking: “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.” (Luke 8:45-46 ESV)
The one who had touched
Jesus is referred to as a woman with a discharge of blood, for 12 years she had
spent all her money on doctors and Jesus was her only hope. So Luke tells us she owned up and came
trembling, and falling down before him and shared with all the people how the
moment she touched Jesus she was healed.
And Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your
faith has made you well; go in peace.” Wow, no one is dribbling a ball, no
politician, no play actor can do what Jesus has done, or will do for you if you
will only ask for that kind of faith.
I bet Jairus was pumped at
this point, maybe a little frustrated but excited for his daughter is
next. And while Jesus is still speaking,
someone from Jairus’ home town brings the news no dad wants to hear, your little
girl, the one you would gladly exchange places with is dead. And Jesus turns to Jairus and says: “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” We do not know this, but it
would seem all that is in Jairus mind is; did you not hear the report, it came from
someone I trust, my little girl is dead, and Jesus is saying; “only believe, and she will be well.”
When Jesus came to the house
the mourning and weeping had began, and these are the words of Jesus; “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.” (Luke 8:52-56 ESV) Faith is the Victory!
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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