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January 1928
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
The woman “came and fell down be fore Him and told Him. all the truth” (v.': 33). Luke’s account tells us that she did more (Lk. 8:47). She openly acknowl edged Him before all the people. Open confession is the normal result of private contact. “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole,” said the Master; "go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” More lit erally it reads: “Go INTO peace,” a ref erence to her subsequent life, “and be SAFE from thy plague,” a guarantee that the disease should not return. His peace is perpetual; His cures are permanent. But what of Jairus and all his anxiety? Alas! There comes a servant to say: “Thy daughter is dead;.why trouble the Master any further?” (v. 35). Look carefully through the New Testament story and point out the .occasion when Jesus, was- too late (cf: Jn. 11 :21). Immediately He buoys up -the sinking faith .of Jairus. “Be not afraid” (the negative connection of faith); “only believe” (the positive connection):-(v. 36). It was .enough! Jairus had the word of the Son of God on his side. Ought that not. to be: enough for any of us?'' If only we could acquire the habit of taking Him at His word, we should daily be sur prised at the results. The .Savior goes to the ruler’s house and finds the neighbors making a great ado. Those who wail over their woes at the top of their voices, usually soon forget them. ToSJesus, the damsel was not dead-, but only asleep. He tells them so, and suddenly they forget their weeping and start laughing at Him (vs. 39-40), ( Jesus puts a comma where men put a period. Death to Him was but a pause. There was to be a resurrection, as sleep is followed by an awakening. Over the si lent grave of every sleeping child of God we may hear His word: “She is not dead, but sleepeth," and even this has reference but to the body, for the spirit departs at once to be with Him in conscious bliss until the resurrection day (Phil. 1 :23). What though we have to wait a little longer than did Jairus for his daughter? They cannot be lost to us. What we call life is a journey to death, and what we call death is a. passport to fuller life. The shortest life is long enough if it leads to that better life. The longest life is too short if it does not lead to heaven. If we rest upon His promise, home here, and heaven above, are joined. We are still all one family, separated temporarily, but soon to celebrate a glorious reunion. But someone is always laughing at the wrong time (v. 40). - A laugh of scorn doesn’t disprove a thing. If the word of Christ is on our side, it should be suf ficient. It will carry us through, though the whole World laughs. In the style of Him who said: “Let there be light,” Jesus takes the maiden by the hand and says : “I say unto thee, arise" (v. 41). The m o s t remarkable thing about these raisings from the dead, was the simple, unostentatious way in which they were effected. “The damsel arose and walked" (v. 42). A few minutes or a thousand years is all the same to the Son of God. “The hour is coming in which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth” (Jn. 5 :28-29). The safest thing a Christian can do is to die, for he has the resurrection of Christ Himself to
assure him. Those whom Jesus raised while here upon earth, all died again, leaving Him “the first-fruits" (1 Cor. 15: 20, 23) ; but those who shall be called fprth in the future, are to be clothed in immortality, which means an : imperish able body, 'There is a practical application of all this, for Jesus is the great Raiser of the spiritually dead (Eph. 2 :1). “Awake thou that steepest, and Christ shall give thee light.” As surely as He handed over this child to Jairus, He can instantly make any. sinner a part of the family of the re deemed. As tenderly as He ordered food given (v. 43), He will watch over the~first stages of one’s spiritual being (Phil. 1 :6), and provide the food that is necessary for growth (1 Pet. 2:2). As there was rejoicing in the house, of Jairus, so will there be “joy in the presence o f the angels over one sinner that repenteth,”\ and new happiness among those who love God. —o— P ith and P oint That which We, in our blindness, con sider our great misfortune, turns out a heaven-sent messenger, if we fly to Jesus with it. Confess your blessings .and get His benediction (v. 34). Jesus never prepared uor preached a funeral,':sermon (v. 3 5 ).\ The greatness of our fear shows the littleness of our faith ( v. 36). Let testing time be trusting time, and trial must give place to triumph. Put faith into the scales and it will out weigh a hundred reasons for fear. Miracle has no place where human care will suffice (v. 43). — o — S uggestive Q uestions What is revealed about Jesus in His permitting Jairus to worship at His feet? (V. 22; cf. Acts 10:25-26; Rev. 22:8-9). Was the faith of Jairus as perfect as that of the Roman centurion? (V. 26; cf. Mt. 8:8 ; Lk. 8-41.) How does Jairus’ faith compare with that of the woman? (V. 23; cf. v. 28.) What are the three recorded instances in which Jesus raised the dead? (V. 42; cf. Lk. 7:12; Jn. 11:1.) What is it that connects one with the power-house of God?a(|(V. 34; cf. Lk. 8: 46, 48.) What two ways of touching Jesus are suggested in v. 31 ? What is God’s one cure for fear? (V. 36; cf. Jn. 14:1; Isa. 26:3.) What other maiden was later raised from the dead, and by whom? (V. 41; cf. Acts 9 :36-40.) —o— G olden T ext I llustration Thy faith hath made thee whole (Mark 5:34). A poet and an artist once examined a painting representing the healing of .the two blind men of Jericho. The artist asked, “What seems to you the most re markable thing in this painting?” The poet said, “Everything is very clear—the groupings of the individuals, the expres sion upon the faces, etc.” The; artist found the most significant touch else where. He pointed to the steps of a house in a corner of the picture. “Do you see that discarded cane lying there?” “Yes,” said the poet, “but what does that sig nify?” “The blind man who has rushed to Jesus is so sure he will be healed,” said he, “that he has left his cane behind. He
will need it no more and rushes to the Lord as though he could already see.” Too often we hold on to canes and crutches of our own divising instead of looking only to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith! -v* yLL'SF Mt Ifc JJAVING returned to the west coast of the Sea of. Galilee, Jesus was greeted by a great multitude of people who doubt less were awaiting His return. Vs, 22, 23. “And there comeih one oj ) N the rulers of the syn- agogue, Jairus by ' name; a n d seeing "'IIMMB W i III' come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be made whole, and live." A ruler of the synagogue, which- doubtless was the one in Capernaum, built by a Roman centurion, came to Jesus. This man’s name was Jairus, which means “Jehovah enlightens.” God does enlighten the heart of the man who is thirsting for Him and asks for spiritual discernment (Psa. 119:18; Eph. 1:17, 18; Rev. 3:18). Com ing to Jesus, he fell down at His feet and poured out the burden which was crush ing his soul. Though Jesus is not here in person, one may come to Him with not only the great crushing burdens but with the minutest things in life, and in simple faith can unburden his heart to Him, be cause “He careth ‘for you." This ruler’s little daughter was at the point of death, physical death. There are many who not only are at the point of physical death but are dead in sins and in trespasses. It is to 'be wondered if she was in this class and if the ruler was interested in the spiritual welfare of the girl. Too many parents are interested in the physical and material welfare of their children but give no attention to the spiritual side of a child’s development. Jairus requested that He come and lay His hands on her, that she might be made whole and live. The laying on of hands in connection with prayer is a cus tom which appears in the Old Testament. It was not necessary that Christ lay His hands upon her, for He could have healed her just as He did the son of the noble man at Capernaum (Jn. 4:46-54). He did on different occasions lay His hands upon the sick, as is seen in Mk. 6 :5. Jesus can heal the infirmities not Only of the body but of the soul today as much and as efficiently as He did then. One who is sick physically is not made every whit whole unless, along with the restoration of physical health, comes the new life of God in Christ. Spiritual life is of far greater value than physical health. V. 24. "And he .went with him; and a great multitude followed him, and they thronged him.” Jesus gladly accepted the invitation and was thronged by a great multitude of people, many, of whom doubtless went through,:- curiosity, while others were sincere, seeking to know more of Jesus and His power. Vs. 25-27. “And a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suf fered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grezv worse, dœvotodnal ïœmmeot :. him> he falleth at his feet,, and beseecheth him much, saying; My little daughter is at the point of death : 1 pray thee, that thou
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