Mark 5 v 21 - 24

Jairus's daughter was on the threshold of womanhood as, in Jewish society, a girl became a woman when she was twelve years and one day. It was touch and go whether she would survive at all and for Jairus her death would mean the end, not only for her but for him too. He was a well-respected man, a ruler of the local synagogue- responsible for the good management of the building and of services, the very place which Jesus had been banned from speaking in by the Jewish religious leaders, but he was desperate enough to throw himself at the feet of Jesus in worship, but also in desperate need too. In terms of things which might go wrong in his life this was the nightmare above all of them. Remember: no doctors as we know them, no hospitals, no antibiotics. Because of his horror, he put aside: 1. His prejudices, a big enough person to recognise that his feelings about Jesus and His unorthodox approach had to go out of the window. This was the only one who could bring healing! He knew where to go! 2. His dignity was forgotten. A reminder of the Old Testament character Naaman, who had to wash in the smelly river Jordan seven times to be cured of his leprosy- 2 Kings 5. 3. His pride was forgotten. In front of the large crowd waiting for Jesus to come back over the lake, this man threw himself on the floor before Jesus. The very first step to life as a Christian is to acknowledge that we cannot be anything other than indebted to God. 4. He came to Jesus, because no one else would. This man of status would have had servants, a wife, friends of importance, but nearing the hour of his child's death. all remained for him to do was to come, to expose his utter need to Jesus and to leave it all to Him. He would remember forever afterwards that Jesus is a Saviour!