What Jesus Did : Luke 8:40-42 - Waiting for Jesus
by Phil Ware
Waiting for Jesus - Luke 8:40-42
When Jesus went back to Galilee, the people welcomed him. Everyone was waiting for him. A man named Jairus came to Jesus. Jairus was a leader of the synagogue. Jairus had only one daughter. She was twelve years old, and she was dying. So Jairus bowed down at the feet of Jesus and begged him to come to his house. While Jesus was going {to Jairus' house}, the people came all around him. (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
If the folks on the other side of the lake were afraid of Jesus (the final reaction of the pig herders in the previous story), on the Capernaum side they were waiting for him. The crowds longed to be with Jesus because they expected him to work miracles for them. One man, an important man in the community, was particularly anxious for Jesus' return. His only daughter was very ill and he wanted Jesus to come heal her. However, Jesus was mobbed by the crowds. On the other side of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus had faced demonic opposition and misunderstanding that led to rejection. On this side, he faced the problems of popularity and acceptance that were based upon misunderstanding. In many ways, these stories are opposites. Even the final command in each story is an opposite. However, these stories represent the wide ranging styles of attack that Satan will use to try to ruin the work of God. Jesus, however, ensures that God's work is done no matter the circumstance.
Today's Prayer
Give me faith, O God, that you will work in all of my life's situations for your glory and my good. I believe you can help me overcome any obstacle, problem, or temptation that Satan throws my way. Please show your victory in my life. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
When Jesus went back to Galilee, the people welcomed him. Everyone was waiting for him. A man named Jairus came to Jesus. Jairus was a leader of the synagogue. Jairus had only one daughter. She was twelve years old, and she was dying. So Jairus bowed down at the feet of Jesus and begged him to come to his house. While Jesus was going {to Jairus' house}, the people came all around him. A woman was there who had been bleeding for twelve years. She had spent all her money on doctors, but no doctor was able to heal her. The woman came behind Jesus and touched the bottom of his coat. At that moment, her bleeding stopped. Then Jesus said, "Who touched me?" All the people said they had not touched Jesus. Peter said, "Master, the people are all around you and are pushing against you." But Jesus said, "Someone touched me! I felt power go out from me." When the woman saw that she could not hide, she came forward, shaking. She bowed down before Jesus. While all the people listened, she told why she touched Jesus. Then she said that she was healed immediately when she touched him. Jesus said to her, "My daughter, you are made well because you believed. Go in peace." While Jesus was still speaking, a person came from the house of the synagogue leader (Jairus) and said, "Your daughter has died! Don't bother the teacher (Jesus) now." Jesus heard this. He said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid! Just believe and your daughter will be well." Jesus went to the house. Jesus let only Peter, John, James, and the girl's father and mother go inside with him. Jesus did not let any other person go inside. All the people were crying and feeling sad because the girl was dead. But Jesus said, "Don't cry. She is not dead; she is only sleeping." The people laughed at Jesus, because they knew that the girl was dead. But Jesus held her hand and called to her, "Little girl, stand up!" Her spirit came back into her and she stood up immediately. Jesus said, "Give her something to eat." The girl's parentswere amazed. Jesus told them not to tell any person about what happened.-- Luke 8:40-56 (ERV)
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