What I am about to share with you is absolutely amazing and should be encouraging.
In Mark 5:22-24, we read that a synagogue ruler, by the name of Jairus, came to Jesus and begged him to come to his house and heal his daughter. She was critically ill and at the point of death.
As they were going, a lady with a blood disease, who had the problem for twelve years, deliberately touched Him, hoping to be healed – and she was. Jesus stopped to address the situation and bring completion to the woman’s faith. (Mark 5:25-34)
Of course, the situation meant a delay in Jesus going with Jairus. While He was still speaking, a person came from Jairus’s house with this news … “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” The interesting thing here is that while Jesus was dealing with one situation, He overheard the conversation between Jairus and the man who brought the sad news. Listen to this — “As soon as Jesus heard (overheard) the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” Even though the news was not directed to Him, He overheard it and involved Himself in it. Jesus has the ability to take the bad news and turn it into glad news.
I don’t want you to miss what I think is so powerful:
· Jesus hears things that we say to others or that others say to us even when He is not a part of the conversation.
· He hears what others say about us or what we say about others.
Now, let’s consider a little more closely the situation of Jairus and his daughter who was very ill. He has just received word that she has died.
In Mark 5:36, we read “As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken…”
Let’s focus for a moment on ‘that word.’
1. It was a sad word. “Your daughter is dead.” Talk about an arrow piercing your heart. I don’t know what the one delivering the news was thinking, but it was a harsh word. It was a discouraging word. I wonder if Jairus thought “If only Jesus had not been detained.” But that made no difference now. JESUS OVERHEARD THAT WORD.
2. It was a word of misdirection. “Why trouble the Teacher any further?” Do you think for a moment that Jesus would no longer be interested in helping Jairus? That would never be the case. Jesus was a man of sorrows and He was acquainted with grief. The circumstances had changed but Jesus had not. He is the same … yesterday, today, and forever. No matter how deep our discouragement, HE CARES.
3. I think it was a hurtful word. “Your daughter is dead.” (Ouch!) Personally, I think Satan was behind that word. I think the way it was delivered was insensitive. It was without compassion. I think ‘that word’ was intended to cause Jairus to lose interest in Jesus. But, JESUS OVERHEARD ‘THAT WORD.’ He always overhears such messages.
4. Folks, hear the Good News. Jesus overheard that sad, insensitive, discouraging word, that was so hurtful and HE OVERRULED THAT WORD!
a) First of all, He said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid, only believe.”
b) He went on to Jairus’s home where the weeping and wailing were overwhelming. He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping. They ridiculed Him, so He put them out of the house. (Just a thought … when the Prince of life is present, death is like sleep.)
c) Next, Jesus took the parents, and those who were with Him and they went in where the little girl was laying. Jesus took her by the hand and said “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” We read “Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age.” The result – “And they were overcome with amazement.”
Some of you may be dealing with sad, insensitive, hurtful, discouraging words right now — but Jesus knows all about those words. He cares for you. He can transform your life with His love, His life, and His light. “Only believe!”
In Him, Pastor Leonard
