A father whose twelve year old daughter was dying pushed through the crowd to get to the Healer. He pleaded with Him to come to his house.
The crowd must have seemed to follow him very slowly. Then the Healer stopped and asked, "Who touched Me?" But the whole crowd was pushing up against Him!
The Healer had realised that a sick woman somewhere in the crowd had just been healed of a disease she had had for twelve years. She had believed that even to touch His cloak would be enough - and it had been!
1*.
She stepped forward and told of the wonderful miracle that had happened.
Meanwhile someone told the father, "Your daughter is dead. Don't bother the Teacher any more."
2*.
The stunned father must have felt that a part of himself had died. His daughter could no longer bring joy and delight to him - she was dead!
We are about to find out how you might have felt if you had been that father? You see, there is a very similar message for you right now! A part of you, a real part, is dead! This is not some kind of a joke! God has sent a clear message saying that as far as He is concerned mankind is dead in transgressions and sins.
3*.
That means, because of our sin, God says we are unable to do or say anything to please Him!
4*.
It is silly to do what most people do; they chose to ignore or reject God's message and go on as if they are not dead to God by trying to please and impress Him by their good works!
5*.
If you realise you are dead to God because of your sin then listen on, because there is good news!
Just then the Healer said to the father, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed."
6*.
Having seen how the woman in the crowd had been miraculously healed, the father's faith was now strengthened. He was ready and willing to believe that this Healer could restore his daughter, even though she was dead?
Have YOU faith today to believe that although you are dead in your sins before God yet this very same Healer, Jesus Christ, is able and willing to restore you to new life. Jesus calls it being "born again".
7*.
The real reason Jesus, the Son of God, came into this world was so that He could give new life - spiritual life - Eternal Life- to those who would trust in His love and power to save.
8*.
When Jesus arrived at the house of this man called Jairus, He said to the mourners, "Stop wailing, she is not dead but asleep." They laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead. But He took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up… Her parents were astonished.."
9*.
Now she could give joy and delight to her father.
Are you dead or alive to God? You cannot give joy and delight to God the Father until YOU have new life by trusting in Jesus to forgive and save you. Only then will you be able to live to please God.
Read about the life-giving Saviour in Luke chapter 8, verses 40-56.
Bye for now,
John Nixon, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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Footnotes. Bible quotations from N.I.V.
