Lesson 80 - Junior

Memory Verse

"Be not afraid, only believe" (Mark 5:36).

Notes

Waiting for Jesus

The people on the other side of the sea were different from the Gadarenes who asked Jesus to leave! Many people gathered to meet Jesus as He came ashore from His boat trip across the Sea of Galilee. Perhaps some wanted to hear the parables He spoke; others, no doubt, were curious to see this Man who could perform such miracles.

There were others who were eager to met Jesus because they had heard that He could heal sick bodies. Sickness comes to all people -" the rich, the poor, the learned, the unlearned, the workers, and the idle. But we know that everyone, too, can go to Jesus for healing of both soul and body.

One man, whose name was Jairus, was a ruler of the synagogue. The church of the Jews is called a synagogue. Not many of the rulers believed Jesus and what He taught. This man, Jairus, believed Jesus, not only that He could heal his daughter but he had confidence that He would heal her. He was one of the multitude who gathered to see Jesus. He realised that he was standing in need of Jesus' help. The Lord does not help us unless we feel that we really need and want Him. Jesus will do nothing for us so long as we feel that we are doing fine in our own strength.

His Daughter Dying

Jairus' only daughter, just twelve years old, was dying. He must have been very sad, but hope came to his heart when he met Jesus. The first thing Jairus did was to fall "at his feet." That means he worshiped Jesus, then spoke his request. That is a good way to start our prayers " to praise and thank Him for what He has already done, before we ask more of Him. Jairus begged Jesus to lay His hands on his dying daughter that she would be healed. He did not say "if" or "maybe" but clearly stated, "She shall live." What great faith he had! And Jesus honoured it!

A Woman in Need

Jesus went with Jairus; but on the way to his home, where the sick child lay, something happened. Many people were about Jesus, but one "touched" Him. No doubt many people rubbed against Jesus but this was a "touch" of purpose, a "touch" of faith.

This woman's name is not given, but her faith is a beautiful example for us. She was a very sick woman. One would say that hers was a hard case. Her disease, which had lasted for twelve years, had caused her much suffering. She had gone to many doctors, and had spent all she had. Instead of getting better, she grew worse. When she heard of Jesus, she went to the right place for help.

Obstacles

It was no easy thing for her, being sick, to work her way through the crowd. Many times when we want to get closer to Jesus, we have to push things out of our way. We consecrate them to God so that nothing is between us and the Saviour. As she tried to push her way through to Jesus, perhaps some stepped aside to help her, while others refused to move, or even tried to discourage her. Today we are either a help or a hindrance to those about us. There is no neutral ground. Jesus said, "He that is not with me is against me" (Matthew 12:30).

Just a Touch

She thought that if she could just touch His clothes she would be healed -" and she was! She pushed through the crowd, and without Jesus even seeing her, she touched the hem of His gar-ment. Immediately she was healed! Not only was the pain gone but also the very disease. We read that she could feel in her body that the disease was gone.

Jesus knew about her without asking. We cannot get some-thing from Jesus without His knowing about it. He asked who had touched him, so that others would know it too, for she worshiped Him and gave her testimony. Jesus confirmed the work already done as He spoke peace to her troubled soul.

Jairus' Daughter Dead

Remember that Jesus was on His way to heal Jairus' daughter, but He is never too busy to help those in need. While Jesus tarried to talk to the woman, Jairus' servant came to tell him that the Master need not go, as the child was dead. They thought that Jesus could heal her but they did not know that He could raise her from the dead.

Raised from the Dead

This was not the first person whom Jesus had raised from the dead. In Luke 7:11-15 we read about a widow's son at Nain. This is an illustration of what happens to a person who is "dead in trespasses and sins." When that person meets Jesus, He raises him to "walk in newness of life." That is, when a sinner prays and makes contact with God, he is saved and lives a different life.

Even before Jesus healed the child, He encouraged Jairus with these words: "Be not afraid, only believe." Jesus did not allow the people to follow Him, as He knew that some were there to find fault and disbelieve. The parents of the girl and the three disciples " Peter, James and John -" were alone with Him as He took the dead girl by the hand saying, "Arise." She was not only given life, but she also was made well and strong.

The household had been mourning for the dead child, but in a few moments of time there was astonishment in their eyes as Jairus' daughter arose and walked. All this was at the word of Jesus, with whom nothing is impossible.

Questions

1. What do we mean when we say, "Lay hands on the sick"?

2. What do our ministers do when they pray for the sick?

3. What was it that Jesus said had made the woman whole?

4. How did she know that she was healed?

5. Why did Jesus ask who touched Him?

6. Who was Jairus?

7. Why did he go to Jesus?

8. How long did it take the girl to get well?