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Daily Devotions

Matthew

Matthew 
Day 
Day 131

Was It Too Late?

Text: Matthew 9 : 18 - 26

Finally, Jesus arrived at the home of Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue. The question on everyone’s mind was, “Had Jesus come too late?” Shouldn’t Jesus have literally run over to Jairus’ home on hearing the news about his daughter’s medical condition? Why did He pause to speak to one of the women in the swelling crowd? Was it too late to save the little girl?

“When Jesus came into the ruler’s house,
and saw the flute players and the noisy
crowd wailing…”
Matthew 9:23

As far as the mourners were concerned, Jesus had come too late! We catch a glimpse of some funerary rites practiced in those days.

“The flute players…”

In wealthier families, it was customary to hire musicians who would provide music for the funeral service. Bodies were washed and prepared for burial within the same day. No embalming was done.

“The noisy crowd wailing…”

In those days, there were people who were called “professional mourners”. These attended funeral services and on behalf of the family, wail and mourn the loss of a beloved family member.

There would also be well-wishers. These could be relatives, neighbours and friends. A man of Jairus’ standing, a ruler of the local synagogue, would certainly have many people coming to share in their hour of bereavement.

Jairus’ daughter was so young. Premature death would always by greeted by voluminous wailing! There was indeed much to weep over!

NEVER TOO LATE!

What a powerful lesson Jesus taught that day! He was still in absolute control of the situation! Storms did not faze Him! Demoniacs did not bother Him! Chronic illnesses did not confound Him! What about death? Wouldn’t death stop Jesus in His tracks? Let us take time to ponder this text.

“He said to them, ‘Make room, for the
girl is not dead, but sleeping.’ And they
ridiculed Him.”
Matthew 9:24

Who was right? Were these professional undertakers and mourners correct? They had seen dead people before! Their reputations would be put at risk if they could not tell the difference between the living and the dead! Of course, Jairus’ daughter was dead! How could Jesus say that she was only sleeping? He had not even seen her yet!

They must have looked at Jesus with scorn in their eyes! This Man may be a famous Teacher, but He only ministered to the living. How much did He know about the dead?

DISMISSING THE UNBELIEVING CROWD

First, the noisy unbelieving crowd had to be dismissed! Their presence would be nothing but a nuisance! There was work to be done. Jairus’ faith needed to be bolstered. The faith of His disciples had to be further strengthened too! By now, everyone had heard the exchange of words between Jesus and the mourners! Who was right?

“But when the crowd was put outside,
He went in and took her by the hand,
and the girl arose.”
Matthew 9:25

Jesus entered into Jairus’ house and there found his daughter, lying white and still. Was she dead? Yes! She had died! But what was death in the Presence of the Messiah Jesus? Death was only a sleep that one could wake up from! Jesus had come to wake her up!

Lovingly, He touched her hand. At that very moment, life returned to her! She arose from her sleep! How tears must have streamed down the eyes of her parents! But those were not tears of sorrow! They were tears of relief, of gratitude and of thanksgiving to this Man who stood before them all. He was ever the same, calm and composed! He was surely more than just a great Teacher! Who had ever heard of anyone raising a person from the dead?

THE SPREAD OF THIS NEWS

It was inevitable that news of this newest miracle would spread! The professional mourners must have slunk off quietly. Actually, they were not wrong in declaring that Jairus’ daughter had died. They dealt with the dead and of course they knew how to check if a person was truly dead!

What they did not reckon with was the Person of Jesus. They could not have imagined that anyone could wield such power!

“And the report of this went out into all that land.”
Matthew 9:26

If the leper drew crowds to hear and see Jesus, this news of raising the dead, would draw even more people to come and see Him! Of course, nobody was going to the tombs to bring dead bodies for Jesus to resurrect, but still this news of Jairus’ daughter being raised was not an every day occurrence! This was “headline” news!

Jesus did not need this kind of publicity! How He must have wished that people saw Him through eyes of faith instead!