560. MAT 9:18. RECOVERY OF JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER
Mat_9:18. Recovery of Jairus’ Daughter
"While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead; but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples."’97Mat_9:18.
Death is no respecter of persons. He marks as his victims, the rich and the poor, the learned and the illiterate, the young and the old. Our attention is now directed to the case of a young person of twelve years of age, who had been grievously afflicted, until at length, her sufferings terminated in death. Her father was a distinguished man among the Jews, a ruler of the synagogue, whose name was Jairus. This bereavement was the more distressing, as she was his only child. Doubtless, he had resorted to all the means within his power, but they were ineffectual, and at length he comes with intense anxiety, and makes his case known to Jesus. Let us take a survey,
I. Of the manner of his address to Christ.
And,
II. The circumstances connected with the miracle Jesus wrought.
I. The manner of his address to Christ.
Observe,
1. He paid him reverential homage. "Behold there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him," Mat_9:18. Here was a visible exhibition of his high and sacred regard for the Saviour, and a striking manifestation of his own humility. In all our approaches to Christ, how lowly we should be before him How reverentially we should bow before him. This is ever essential’97ever beautiful, and most interesting as evinced by the ruler on this occasion.
2. He stated the nature of his grief. "My daughter is even now dead." He had left her probably in the agonies of dying, and he concluded that by this, the spirit had departed. His was a relative sorrow: and how vulnerable we are in all the relationships of life. How distressing this affliction’97the loss of an only child. None left to whom the parental affection could be transferred. Removed, too, just as she was rising into womanhood. Notice,
3. He expressed extraordinary faith in the Saviour. "But come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live." His faith had brought him to seek the gracious interposition of Christ. And now, though the case was absolutely hopeless’97humanly speaking’97he avers his belief that Christ could restore her, and that by laying his hand on her. This was a noble manifestation of faith in the power of the Saviour. It admitted Christ to be indeed the Messiah, and Son of the living God. It put the highest honor on his attributes and mission. We do not wonder, therefore, that Christ bestowed high honor on such faith. Notice,
II. The circumstances connected with the miracle Christ wrought.
1. Christ immediately arose and went with him. Mat_9:19. Here was faith acting immediately on the love and power of Christ. He therefore delays not, but at once accompanies the distressed father to his house.
2. He silences the mourners. When he came to the ruler’s house, and "saw the minstrels and the people making a great noise, he said unto them, Give place," &c., Mat_9:23 and Mat_9:24. The minstrels were persons employed to play soft and melancholy music, on the decease of persons, and were accompanied in their plaintive strains by others, who gave themselves up to loud and violent expressions of sorrow and lamentation. He demands the cessation of the music and the mourning, and puts them forth from the room where the corpse was.
3. He declares it to be but a temporary suspension of life. He said to them, "The maid is not dead, but sleepeth," Mat_9:24. He did not mean that death had not really taken place’97but that her decease should be no more than a temporary sleep. Death is often spoken of as sleep, and sleep is a very striking emblem of it. Those who heard this declaration, "laughed him to scorn," Mat_9:24. They were certain that she was actually dead, and doubtless despised all attempts for her resuscitation.
4. He raises her by the hand, and behold she lives! But when the people were put forth, he went in with his three disciples, Peter, James, and John, "and took her by the hand, and the maid arose," Mat_9:25. Mark adds, that Christ, when he took her by the hand, said,’97Talitha cumi: that is, "Damsel, I say unto thee, arise!" And thus, by his almighty word, the damsel arose, and Jesus commanded that something should be given her to eat. Mar_5:41-43.
What a display of divine power and glory was this! No wonder that it is recorded, "And the fame thereof went abroad into all that land," Mat_9:26.
Learn,
1. The mutability of all earthly enjoyments. Riches, honors, pleasures, friends, are all mutable. How important, then, to avoid creature idolatry. They who have wives, or husbands, or children, should be as though they had none.
2. The all-sufficiency of Christ. For every trouble, and in every time of need.
3. The power of faith.
"Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees,
And looks to that alone;
Laughs at impossibilities,
And cries, It shall be done!"
Autor: JABEZ BURNS