His daughter was dead. Had Jesus only responded more quickly. Had Jesus set aside the woman and sensed the urgency that was there, maybe it would have ended differently. Why would Jesus heal this woman and allow his daughter to die? I have struggled with these same questions. I have experienced the disappointment that comes when Jesus’ timeline does not match my own.

 

“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, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. “(Luke 8:40-42).

Jairus had one last hope. If he could get to Jesus in time, maybe he would heal his daughter. He heard Jesus was in town. He had heard of all he could do. Rumor had it he had healed a leper, restored a man’s withered hand, and even brought a woman’s son back from the dead. It all sounded preposterous, but Jairus was desperate. His precious daughter, his only daugther, was sick. He knew hope was slim. Even though Jesus was surrounded by hordes of people, he knew if he could get to him, maybe he would help.

As Jairus found Jesus, I imagine there was a sense of relief and maybe even hopefulness that arose in him. I imagine the anxiety he had felt as he watched his little girl fade away may have lifted even the tiniest bit when he saw Jesus. I imagine the smallest amount of hope began to stir in his heart; maybe Jesus would help. Maybe Jesus was all that he had heard. Maybe Jesus would heal his little girl.

If I’m honest, I felt this hopefulness too. As I watched cancer take the life of my son, there was a hopefulness that remained in me; maybe Jesus would heal my son. I, like Jairus, have heard of all that he has done. I know he is able.

I prayed until Ezra’s very last breath that Jesus would heal him. I believed he was able and hoped he was willing. I, like Jairus, implored Jesus for help. I knew he was our last hope. I knew what the science said. I knew what the doctors spoke. But I also know Jesus. I know what he is able to do and prayed with expectant hope that he would move and heal my son.

Jairus moved through the crowd and reached Jesus. He implored him to come with him and Jesus was willing. They were moving towards his home, albeit slowly, because of all the people surrounding him. But then there was a delay. A woman touched Jesus and he stopped to talk to her. He poured out so much compassion on her. He healed her! I imagine Jairus saw Jesus heal the woman with the discharge of blood and it only stirred more hope in him; truly the stories he had heard were true. Truly this man could heal his daughter.

I felt this hopefulness too. Even as my son battled cancer, I saw others around him healed. I knew people who battled the same cancer, had the same bone marrow transplant and recovered. I knew of others who Jesus miraculously healed. I knew that Jesus could heal my son.

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