"And he said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.'" (Mark 5:34).
Jairus was desperate. His little girl, only twelve years old, lay sick at the point of death. He heard Jesus had arrived on his shore, so he pushed through the inevitable crowds and begged Jesus to come. His daughter needed Jesus' touch.
As Jesus went along, the crowds thronged. Among them was a woman. She'd been afflicted, for twelve full years, with a debilitating illness. She convinced herself, If I even touch Jesus' garment, I will be healed.
She was right. And, after touching Him, she was healed.
Jesus stopped the procession. Who touched me?
He asked, even though the crowds were pressing upon Him. Eventually, the woman confessed. She had been healed.
Then Jesus said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace."
All the while, Jairus stood as witness. I'm sure he didn't want to stand, but step. He wanted Jesus to travel, not teach. His daughter was at the point of death.
But Jesus' treatment of the woman was designed to build Jairus' faith. Though Jesus was likely younger than the woman, He called her "Daughter." And Jesus didn't go around calling people son or daughter.
Here, though, the title was useful. In Jairus' ears, it would've had special meaning, for his own daughter was in despair. Jesus was doing what it took to build Jairus' faith.
I know I've had plenty of moments I've wished God would hurry up. I want Him to move, to answer, to help, but He takes His time. Only later do I understand. He was building me up, shaping my faith for the moment to come, preparing me for the task at hand.
So often, we are in Jairus' shoes, in need of Christ's aid. But, as time passes, and as Jesus waits and works in other situations, He is masterfully shaping our hearts. He wills for us to be strong in faith.
Jairus' daughter was no longer sick but had died. The quality of Jairus' faith had to shoot to the moon. Jesus had healed many sick people, but, to that point, had raised no one. So Jesus built up Jairus' trust in Christ. When he heard Jesus say, "Daughter," he was to rest assured Christ would take care of his own.
Let's allow Jesus to build up our faith. It might take time. He might seem to delay. But He is at work, all the while, in His word, through our experiences. As we witness the stories of others, building up our faith. Let's give Him the time to do His perfect work.
