This morning, we continue our series, “The Miracles of Jesus.”
Before we get into the miracle, let’s look at the foundational scripture I will share be sharing with you all year.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us. I pray you get refreshed and restored as we study each miracle.
(Read Mark 5:21-43)
Today we look at the story of Jairus and his daughter. Jesus raised this little girl from the dead. It’s such a powerful story, with so many moving parts, that I will not cover it all today. Let’s get into it.
After Jesus delivered the man in the land of Gad from the legion of demons, Jesus and His team got back into the boat and headed back to the other side of the lake. To say that Jesus was a busy man is an understatement. He had been ministering all day. He left the crowd to head over to Gad to deliver the demon-possessed man, and when He returned, the crowd was still there waiting for Him.
As soon as Jesus stepped off the boat and started walking towards the crowd, a man broke through the crowd and fell at Jesus’ feet. This was no ordinary man. This man held a position and prominence, and stature in the community. He was the local ruler of the synagogue. No doubt, people in the crowd knew him, and he knew many of them. I bring this up because this man was part of the local religious leaders. He had relationships with the local Priests, Pharisees, and Sadducees. He was friends with the people who hated Jesus. So, what was this man doing at the feet of Jesus?
The man’s name is Jairus, and we are introduced to him kneeling at the feet of Jesus. In the text, we see a man who had stripped himself of his position, reputation, and affiliations. He humbled himself before Jesus before He said anything. When he finally spoke, we all learn why he was there. His little daughter was dying, and he could do nothing about it. I am sure he had solicited the prayers of his friends — the Priests, Pharisees, and Sadducees — but none of those prayers worked. This man’s daughter was dying, so he went to the only person he believed could help; the miracle worker Jesus. And then right there, in front of the crowd, on his knees, with people watching and listening, this man spoke the language of faith. He said, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and lay your hands on her. Then she shall recover and she shall live.” Jairus was declaring, with his own lips, from his own heart, that Jesus was the answer to his situation. In response, Jesus went with Jairus, and the crowd followed.
So what does this mean for you today? A few things:
1. Sometimes, you must humble yourself to stand before God with a heart that is turned towards Him.
Being a ruler of the synagogue meant that Jairus was a respected religious leader and teacher in his community. The synagogue was a place of worship and study for the Jewish people, and the ruler was responsible for overseeing the religious services and activities there. Jairus held a position of authority and was well-known among the people in his community, making it even more significant that he came to Jesus for help.
It is well known that many of the religious rulers of Jesus’ day had a problem with Jesus. We don’t know if Jairus had a problem with Jesus before this day, but it is safe to assume that many of his friends did. The religious people of Jesus’ day were upset with Him because He was drawing crowds and was not following the “rules” they required of most people. Jesus was seen as a rule-breaker, which was more important to the religious leadership than He was going around performing miracles.
Jairus had a different perspective. His daughter was dying, so he had no time to focus on unimportant things compared to his daughter’s life. At that moment, when he saw Jesus get out of the boat, his title did not matter, his position within the community did not matter, and his association with people who hated Jesus did not matter. All he wanted was a breakthrough for his daughter. I told you earlier in this series that desperation is the breeding ground of miracles.
Jairus broke through the crowd and fell at Jesus’ feet. This shows the desperation and urgency he felt for his daughter’s well-being, as well as his willingness to put his faith in Jesus, even though it may have gone against the beliefs of some in his community and some of his closest friends.
— When you need a breakthrough, your title and position don’t matter.
— When you need a breakthrough, what people think doesn’t matter.
— When you need a breakthrough, going against the beliefs of those closest to you may not matter either.
— When you are facing something bigger than you, you have to go to God is not bigger than anything!
— Jairus swallowed his pride and bowed down before Jesus. Sometimes, no matter who you are, you can only find the answer to your problem at the feet of Jesus.
2. Being religious is not the same as having a relationship with God.
Religion can have limitations because it often focuses on rules, traditions, and rituals, rather than a personal relationship with Jesus. It can become more about following man-made customs and practices rather than seeking a connection with God.
On the other hand, having a true relationship with Jesus means having a personal connection with Him based on faith and trust in His love and grace. This type of relationship involves a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done for us, as well as a daily surrender to Him and His will for our lives.
Religion can provide structure and guidance, but it can also become a barrier to a true relationship with Jesus. A true relationship with Jesus is not about following rules, but about having a heart that is open to Him and desires to know Him more. This type of relationship brings freedom, joy, and fulfillment, as we experience the love and grace of Jesus in a deeper way.
— Jairus was religious, and so were all his friends. But when faced with a real challenge, it was evident to him that all his religious practices were powerless against the sickness attacking his daughter. So he went to the one man who seemed to have a relationship with God.
— I grew up in a very religious environment. I have a lot of family members who are still that way. Many of my family members criticized me heavily when I walked away from religious practices in search of an intimate relationship with God. Now, these very same people call me and ask for prayer when they are facing challenges because they say, “God listens to him.”
— If religious people were honest, they would recognize the limits of religious practices. God is looking for you to have a personal and intimate relationship with Him!
— Religion has its limits because it can become a set of rules and regulations, while a true relationship with Jesus is based on a personal connection and a deeper understanding of who He is. The more you understand WHO HE IS, the more you will discover WHO YOU ARE! As Jesus is, so are we in this world! (1 Jn 4:17).
3. Leaders are some of the hardest people to get to worship; leaders need to spend time on their knees.
Jairus broke through the crowd, and before he opened his mouth to ask anything of Jesus, he fell at Jesus’ feet.
— Jairus was a religious leader in the community. He had a title and a position of prominence. But he had to strip himself of all of that in order to humble himself before Jesus and ask for help.
— Humble and sincere worship creates an atmosphere for faith to be released, but sometimes, leaders are the worst worshippers.
— If leaders in the church are not careful, they can become callous to worship. They can become so accustomed to “doing” the work of the church that they fail to “participate” in true worship.
— I love to worship. Just yesterday, in church, during praise and worship, I was happy because I did not have any responsibilities during the service. I am preaching next Sunday, so it will be different. But yesterday, I had nothing to do during the service but enjoy it. I was on my knees, and before I knew it, I was on my face, stretched out on the floor, worshipping God. I love it! As a leader, you must participate in the experience you are leading the people into. Because if you don’t, you will run the risk of becoming like the Pharisees and Sadducees.
*** We all must worship and spend time at Jesus’ feet!
That’s enough for today.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me!
As I study the miracles of Jesus, my faith is increased!
I will experience Your supernatural power this year like never before.
To do so, I continually humble myself before You, and I spend time in Your presence.
I appreciate the influence You have given me on the earth. But when faced with something that exceeds human ability, I find the answers at Your feet, and I receive the power to address the challenges by Your Spirit.
You grace me to face and overcome what I could never overcome without You.
I spend time in Your presence, I give You true and pure worship, and I enter every day empowered to leave a mark in this world that will not easily be erased!
I have an intimate relationship with You, which is how I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
