"My daughter is at the point of death.
Please, come lay your hands on her
that she may get well and live."
The healing touch of Jesus had the power to restore life. In doing so, he was affirming the intention of God at creation, since "God did not make death". Even now, in the fallen word, into which death entered by the envy of the devil, God "does not rejoice in the destruction of the living". Jesus could not be indifferent to the plea of Jairus or the desire of the afflicted woman. He had "fashioned all things that they might have being" and was grieved to see that being breaking down and collapsing toward destruction and nonbeing. The intention of God was that women and men who were all created in his image be imperishable. In his visible mission in our world Jesus showed that this desire could still be realized in all who had faith. Only those who remained unrepentant members of the company of the devil, those who refused to receive the healing touch of Jesus, need suffer death.
He went off with him,
and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him.
Many touched Jesus in the crowd. No doubt some of these were curious about him and many may perhaps have considered him to be a prophet with healing power. But it is only recorded of one person that she touched him in such a way that healing power was unleashed and went forth from him. This was the afflicted woman who said, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured". This was the self talk of a mind already beginning to be renewed by faith in Jesus. And it was this faith that differentiated her touch of Jesus from that of the rest of the crowd. Such faith never remains a one sided desire but always tends toward relationship with Jesus himself.
He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you.
Go in peace and be cured of your affliction."
This daughter was saved by her faith. But one wonders how Jairus took this apparent interruption of his desire that Jesus come quickly to save his own daughter before it was too late. His initial request was stated with urgency, saying, "My daughter is at the point of death". Then, because of the event with the woman, they seemed to have failed to arrive in time. People from his household arrived to assure him that his daughter was beyond hope. It is not said how he responded. But most likely, he was tenuously suspended between faith and doubt. Faith, because of the healing he had just witnessed. Doubt, because of the apparent lesser concern Jesus seemed to show for his intention, and because of the words of the worldly minded assuring him that there was now no hope. This was the reason that Jesus himself encouraged Jairus to choose hope over despair, saying, "Do not be afraid; just have faith".
He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside
except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.
Jesus set an example as one who was not desirous of praise or adulation, limiting those who would witness the miracle, and, as best he could, those who would hear about it after the fact. He did not need followers who sought him only for the superficially spectacular. He desired contact with genuine faith, like that of the woman and of Jairus. In order to create an atmosphere of faith suitable to the work he was about to perform he put out all of the professionals weeping and wailing and raising a commotion. He kept only a few who were capable of hearing that the child was only "asleep" without responding with ridicule. For most people it would have been ridiculous to conflate death and sleep. But for Jesus death was no more permanent than sleep.
The crowd also is cast out before the damsel is raised; for if a crowd of worldly thoughts be not first cast out from the hidden parts of the heart, the soul, which lies dead within, cannot rise.- Saint Bede the Venerable
We are at least among the crowds who press against Jesus. But are we among those who touch him with faith, whose need takes shape in belief that cries out to him for response? Are we limited by our own self talk, or do we rather speak in a way that affirms that all things are possible for God? Do we allow our thoughts to be cluttered with words pointing toward despair or do we listen to Jesus speaking words of hope and life? However much it may seem to be too late for Jesus to solve the problems of our lives, these problems are little more to Jesus than sleep from which it is easy for him to wake us up.
The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around.
At that they were utterly astounded
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