Bible Studies for Life: November 9
When Well-Meaning People Interrupt Your Plans • Luke 8:40-50, 54-56
By Melody Mercer
How do you react when the best laid plans get interrupted? Does the whole day fall apart? Can you regain composure to pick up and try it again? I have learned to stop and think about what God is doing or trying to show me when I have interruptions. Now don’t get me wrong, I might huff and puff at the beginning, but after a minute I tell myself to calm down because this might be for a reason.
I have recently made a new friend because we’ve experienced some similar “life situations.” We will get together for coffee or lunch and talk. Sometimes I think that the time isn’t very convenient for me, but I have to stop and reprimand myself. The Lord placed me in her life so I can be a comfort to her. She needs someone to talk to that understands what she’s going through. The Lord put us together. It wasn’t an accident. Never think that you go through trials for nothing. You might be the very person who can help someone else. I have to remind myself of that. My friend is worth my time, and it is a God ordained appointment.
Jairus had his plan in mind when he was begging Jesus to come to his house. Jesus had returned to Galilee and had likely met Jairus before. He had spoken in most of the synagogues in Galilee, and Jairus was a leader in the local synagogue. He was probably the chief elder who conducted the services (CSB Study Bible). Jairus’s only daughter was dying, and he knew that Jesus could heal her.
“While he was going, the crowds were nearly crushing him” (v. 42b CSB).
Two things here: Jesus had agreed to go to the house and this was a HUGE crowd! I have only gotten claustrophobic once in a big crowd, and it was attending a women’s conference. It was one of those where you just move with the crowd, and you can’t really steer where you are going. It was pretty frightening. How did Jesus even manage in crowds like this? It’s no wonder that the woman with the issue of blood could only get to the end of his robe. I love how we get personal perspectives from authors of certain books of the Bible. Dr. Luke makes sure to tell us that this woman had spent all the money she had on doctors, and still, no one could tell her what was wrong or heal her. She probably knew that Jesus was her only hope.
As I have said before, it’s easy to read these Biblical accounts and say, “Oh, that’s nice,” but when you stop and really think about what’s going on, or put yourself in the narrative, it takes on a new meaning. Jairus had gotten Jesus to agree to come to his house and heal his daughter, who is literally dying. Everything is going smoothly until….
“’Who touched me?’ Jesus asked” (v. 45 CSB). Now we have the interruption. Jairus is most likely thinking, “No, no, no, we can’t stop. We’ve got to go. Time is of the essence.” However, Jesus felt the power leave him, and understandably wanted to know who it was. No one knew, and finally Peter attributes it to the “pressing in” of the crowd. Courageously, the woman comes forward trembling and scared to death. She admitted that she had touched him and why, and that she was instantly healed.
“’Daughter,’ he said to her, ‘your faith has saved you. Go in peace’” (v. 48 CSB).
And then the words came that Jairus dreaded. Someone came from his house to tell him that his daughter had died. There was no need of bothering Jesus anymore. Because of this interruption, the unthinkable happened. If only Jairus could’ve known that the woman interrupting the narrative was to show that a delay during a critical hour of the girl’s illness couldn’t keep Jesus from healing her (CSB Study Bible). Also, the same kind of faith that had brought about the healing of the bleeding woman would bring the dead girl back to life (CSB Study Bible).
“When Jesus heard it, he answered him, ‘Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be saved’” (v. 50 CSB).
Jesus continued on to the house, and indeed brought the little girl back to life.
Mercer is a member of First Church, Jackson.