Healing Peter’s mother-in-law by John Bridges, 19th century.
Come and lay your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live. So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed him. … While he was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?
Mark 5:23-35.
Jairus told the Lord Jesus his trouble: “My little daughter lies at the point of death.” He made his request: “Come!” But he added his own suggestion: “Lay your hands on her.” His trust in the Lord is commendable, and his plea to come is in order; but it is presumptuous to give instructions as to how God should act.
Centuries earlier a man had exclaimed in his disappointment: “I said to myself, He will surely come out to me … and wave his hand over the place, and heal.” He, too had his own ideas. But only when he obeyed God’s prophet could he be healed of his leprosy (2 Kings 5). Jairus, too had to learn: we cannot dictate anything to God. He acts sovereignly and correctly.
The Lord Jesus went with Jairus. No-one is too famous or rich for Him, nor anyone too insignificant or poor. He wishes to help and save. On the way something else occurred: a woman touched Jesus and was healed (vv. 25-34). It was a time-consuming interruption. The girl lay dying, every minute counted, and the Lord Jesus was held up. Yet there was no sign of anger or impatience in Jairus. He waited, and then it was too late. His daughter had died meanwhile. There was no further hope. Is that how we see or experience things? God doesn’t act, or is too late, or even refuses. Do we give Him up, when His ways do not conform to our ideas?
Image: By John Bridges – Birmingham Museum of Art, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36633607