“While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.”” Luke 8:49 ESV
Reflection: what do you consider impossible in your life?
If you stop and think about it, each of us are blocked by what we consider to be “impossible”, whatever that is. Each of us have things that we have decided is impossible for us. For some, what we have decided could be something simple for them to solve or do. Throughout history, however, we see human explorers and innovators that challenge the impossible. To conquer what some say is impossible. There is something in each of us that drive us forward in life, to go further, to reach higher, to not give up.
The story of Jairus and his daughter is a story of the impossible. Let’s read “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. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him.” Luke 8:41-42 ESV. He pleaded with the Lord to heal her, as he had probably witnessed him do many times before.
But, on the way there, Jesus got “distracted” by another one who also needed him. So by the time they got to Jairus house, his daughter was dead. So they came out to tell the father, and also Jesus, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” Luke 8:49b ESV. Now, if we are thinking of what’s impossible, this would certainly qualify, right? She was dead.
The response from Jesus must have almost felt insulting as he said to the father “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” Luke 8:50 ESV. How would the father respond to such language? On the one hand, his own people saying she is dead, and then Jesus saying have faith and she will be well?? At that moment, Jairus had a choice. He could have rejected Jesus, and ran home to mourn with his family. Many probably would have.
But he accepted what Jesus said,
despite the ridicule of everyone as they were mocking them. And if you have read the rest of the story, you know that Jesus raises this girl from the dead, “But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.”” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once.” Luke 8:54-55a ESV
The impossible.
And it is a wonderful story not only of the power of God, but it also gives us a parallel of death to life for each is us. How believing in Jesus, in his atonement and redemptive power, that through him can we be raised to new life. Only through him. Because the truth is, that this is one thing that truly is impossible for us to do by ourselves, although many try. And we can get confused here, applying the same rules of what is possible or impossible for man, to what is possible for God.
“But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”” Matthew 19:26 ESV
Each of us, in a way, are like Jairus. Do we have faith, that God can truly do the impossible for us? Because Jesus tells each of us too – “Do not fear; only believe, and you will be well.” It is an act of faith. He wants to raise us to new life in himself, leaving our old life behind. “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4 ESV.
New life is possible for God.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV