When my kids were young I had two wishes, 1. to finish a cup of coffee while it was still hot and, 2. to take an uninterrupted shower. Two simple wishes that I think every parent or caregiver of young kids understands. Is it a law that my phone will only ring when I it is on the other side of the room and I am sitting in my favorite comfy chair AND it is just a phone solicitation? Is there a bulletin that goes out saying, “She’s reading, start your conversation now!” Why are these little interruptions so darn interrupting?
After being asked to leave the swine herders, Jesus gets a warm welcome at his next stop, (Luke 8:40) where He is met by a man named Jairus, Unlike the Gerasene demoniac, Jairus was an important and highly respected man. He is also a desperate man, a loving father whose daughter is dying. He falls at Jesus feet, pleading for Jesus to come and heal his daughter. I understand Jairus desperation; God taught me how to pray as I prayed for my children, when they were sick, when they were struggling, when they rebelled. In those times, I prayed fervently and without ceasing, often without words but with groans and tears. Desperation will drive you to your knees at the feet of Jesus and there is no better place to be! Jairus came humbly but also confidently; he expected Jesus to answer, he expected Jesus to act. When we lay it all down before Jesus we can have that same confidence; that if what we ask is in His will, He will hear and answer, how glorious!
BUT…
…an interruption…
A woman pushes and shoves her way through the crush of people and touches the fringe of Jesus’ cloak. The briefest touch by a single finger and a quick withdrawal but Jesus notices – He always notices. I love that about Jesus! I am very goal oriented, I can be so focused on my agenda, my “to-do” list, that I miss the people around me, I miss an opportunity to give a kind or encouraging word. If I am not listening to God’s voice, I can see interruptions as annoyances and not as divine appointments.
Jesus not only notices her, He draws attention to her and she is forced to proclaim her shame. The hemorrhage would have made her “unclean” and unable to worship in the temple. During her 12 years of suffering, she endured much at the hands of physicians and spent all she had seeking a cure. And she shares the news of the immediate, miraculous healing she just experienced to the crowd – she must have been smiling as she told this good news.
In the meantime, Jairus is waiting. Jairus knows every second counts, his daughter, his only daughter, is dying – why is Jesus taking so long? So, another…
…interruption…
News comes, the worst news, Jairus’ daughter has died. “Don’t trouble the teacher”, (Luke 8:49) in other words, don’t bother Jesus, we don’t need Him any more. Jesus always knows what is best and His timing is perfect; He knows what we think, He knows how we feel so He tells Jairus not to be afraid, He will make his daughter well. Jesus goes to Jairus’ house. The mourners laugh; it can be easier to laugh than to accept Jesus words as true and I wonder how foolish they felt when Jairus’ daughter got up!
Jesus orders that someone get her something to eat. Jesus is both miraculous and practical. This reminds me that after an amazing encounter with Jesus, I need to get back to the everyday business of living life, a changed life, a new life, an ordinary, interrupted life made extraordinary by Jesus!