Most of the time it’s hard to read the Bible and remember that what I am reading actually happened. It’s hard to make it real, or personal. But a few weeks ago I was reading and it felt like I was there and if I wasn’t quiet enough I would interrupt what was going on.
In Luke chapter 8 a man named Jarius approaches Jesus. Jarius was the synagogue ruler, which meant he was a pretty big deal, and he was desperate. The Bible says that he ran up and fell in front of Jesus and begged Jesus to come and heal his twelve-year old daughter who was dying.
If I were Zach Morris I would say time out and freeze stuff right now. Put yourself in Jarius’ shoes. You’ve heard so much about this Jesus, and about all of the miracles that he has supposedly performed. Could it be true? Will my daughter be healed?
So Jesus agrees to go to Jarius’ house and on his way this huge crowd comes around Jesus and in the commotion a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years sneaks up and touches Jesus’ cloak and she’s healed.
Time out. Again imagine being Jarius. Things are looking pretty good here. The miracles are real! This guy is legit. There’s a really good chance that she’s going to be ok… right?
In the next instance, someone comes up to Jarius…she’s dead. Talk about a punch to the gut. I can imagine everything moving in slow motion for Jarius; his insides drop, and all of the sounds muffle together as if he has seashells for ears.
Suddenly something pulls everything back together and clarity returns. Jarius feels a hand on his shoulder and he is turned around to meet the fiercest gaze he has ever seen. Jesus says to him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” The way Jesus says it doesn’t give Jarius an option, he believes, as if it was his idea in the first place.
This is the God we serve. A God who speaks hope into hopeless situations. These are the times when He seems to require the most from us, and yet at the same time offer more than ever to us.
What a great God.
“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:11
