Menu

10:30 WORSHIP ~ Join us for worship each Sunday morning at 10:30am

Jairus Daughter Raised and the Woman Healed Mt. 9:18 - 26

May 24, 2015 Speaker: Jim Galli Series: The Gospel of Matthew

Topic: Sunday AM Passage: Matthew 9:18–9:26

Click here for a .pdf file with original formatting.  Easier to read.

18While He was saying these things to them, a synagogue official came and bowed down before Him, and said, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live.” 19Jesus got up and began to follow him, and so did His disciples.

20And a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak; 21for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch His garment, I will get well.” 22But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” At once the woman was made well.

23When Jesus came into the official’s house, and saw the flute-players and the crowd in noisy disorder, 24He said, “Leave; for the girl has not died, but is asleep.” And they began laughing at Him. 25But when the crowd had been sent out, He entered and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. 26This news spread throughout all that land.

This dual story is told by all 3 of the synoptic gospel writers. Mark's version is by far the lengthiest, and Matthew's version is downright clipped it seems.

We'll stick with Matthew and perhaps someday we'll re-visit this in either Luke or Mark's account. We'll borrow from both Mark and Luke as we look at this.

I think what Matthew wants us to see is not so much the color and emotion of the people involved as their remarkable faith.

Seperate incidences from people of polar opposite social rankings. Yet all of them become equals before Jesus.

This world makes so much of social strata. Who you are. How you rank. Winners and losers. Haves and have nots. VIP's and painfully ordinary folks that aren't important.

One of the things we'll see in this passage is that none of that matters to Jesus. He's an equal access Saviour. He doesn't care if you're a corporate vice president or a guy with dregs living in a cardboard box with your shopping cart parked beside it. Nor will it matter in eternity what your social ranking was here.

The soverignty of God is unfolding a great drama for us here. God is in charge of the timing - the people involved are helpless and it's not unlike a similar drama later on with Lazarus and Martha and Mary.

In that one, we're let in on the timing of God. Jesus stays away, on purpose we're told, until Lazarus is 4 days in the tomb. And what does Martha say? Oh! If only you had been here. Jn. 11:21

That's what we have with Jairus, and his daughter.

Mark and Luke tell us his name. Jairus. He was the synagogue official. Some translations say leader. Not so different from what I'm engaged in doing as a pastor, however badly.

That's Jairus. He's a solid guy. Engaged in trying to help his fellow man. Everyone knows him. Many value him. He's a worthy guy. And obviously, a believer.

But as we've said, a drama is unfolding. His daughter, she's 12. That's a magic age for daughters. You can just see that first glimmer of the possibilities that life may hold for her. Practically a woman. Almost. But still a little girl. Still a child.

But something has gone wrong. Terribly wrong, and quickly. She's at death's door.

Where is Jesus? Where is Jesus? He's gone in boats to the other side of the sea. Oh no. If only He were here. If only . .

God is in charge of this drama - for His glory. A precious daughter, - the light of Jairus life - is hanging in the balance, about to pass out of this life and into the next, and Jesus is away.

We can imagine the agonizing hours, at her bedside. Please God, not this. Not this. Where is Jesus.

Death has entered the room now. The breaths are seperated and raspy. It won't be long. Anyone who has seen that - knows. Death enters the room and their's no holding him back. He waits for his victim. Those final raspy breaths. Panic. Not this! Please.

And someone says, No, Jesus is back on this side. He's by the sea. by the boats. Talking to some of John's disciples.

And Jairus bolts from the room. An impossible mission. It's 1/2 - 3/4 of a mile between him and Jesus. Death is in the room, waiting. Slow labored raspy breaths. She's barely alive.

We know this is the case because of how the spirit of God has given this account with His 3 authors.

Mark and Luke tell us she was at death's door. Luke gives us parents an extra sucker punch. He tells us she was his only child.

My eyes tear up imagining this. The horror of a hospital room. A 10 year old hanging in the balance. Memories so awful we don't visit them often. God was gracious to us, but we know something of Jairus nightmare.

18While He was saying these things to them, a synagogue official came and bowed down before Him, and said, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live.”

Vs. 18 in the NKJ. "just died" HCSB "near death" we need to look at the greek. Is the HCSB stretching too far trying to harmonize the other 2 accounts?

I did a word study and it's fascinating that all 3 authors use different words. Mark is perhaps the original or first teller. He says she is eschatos echai. Eschatos means the end. Echai means dangling. The greek is picturesque. She's hanging on by a thread.

Luke says she's apethn