MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO ONE
Luke 8:41-56
I have preached a number of times from the story of Jairus and his daughter, but often with the miracle that Jesus performed as my topic. Jairus’ story, along with the case of the woman with the issue of blood, is good preaching material if you want to brag on what Jesus can do in a family’s life.
However, tonight I want to look at the story again with Jairus himself in mind. As I contemplated him I was very impressed with three specific attitudes that Jairus (a man) manifested. These attitudes made a difference to one.
I. His Concern For The Child
The scriptures tell us that Jairus was the ruler of the synagogue. This implies that he was a very important person and surely quite busy. He would be the administrator or overseer of the local synagogue where he lived. He managed the business affairs and was responsible for conducting the services, and would have been one of the most respected men in the community.
However, it is not the synagogue that he is concerned about. He has forgotten all about his duties as a ruler and has nothing but the health of his daughter in mind. He is an important and busy man who is not too important and too busy to be a dad. His daughter is sick and nothing is more important to him just now than getting help for his only child. That impresses me!
I pray God will give us men who will carry a burden for children. We need some men who are genuinely concern for children. Men who are not to busy to show a genuine interest in young people. I understand a woman being concerned over a child, but here is a man with genuine concern and interest.
He prayed to the Lord about the child.
A. It was a humble prayer - "he fail at his feet."
This man Jairus was a "big man." He was a man of wealth and prestige, but he also recognized the need was greater than he was.
B. It was a heartfelt prayer - “besought him greatly"
Jairus meant business. He was convinced that his daughter was going to die apart from a miracle.
Just as needy are those children who are lost without Christ. The greatest need humanity has is not the healing of their sickness; it is the healing of their soul.
II. His Confidence In The Christ!
Jairus got news that Jesus was passing through his town, and he was determined that he would not let Him pass without a healing touch for his daughter. The fame of Jesus had spread and Jairus knew the stories of all the miracles people were claiming He had done. Jairus seemed to believe that all he needed to do was get Jesus to his house and his daughter would be helped. He had complete trust that Christ was all she needed.
Now you must remember that Jairus was a ruler of the synagogue. This would mean he was one of the chief religious men of that region, and we know that the religious elders of that day had no use for Jesus. As a religious ruler, Jairus would have considered Jesus a heretic and blasphemer.
But someone had convinced him that Jesus could heal this child, and he was willing to abandon his religious prejudices, endure the scorn of his colleagues, and humble himself before the Lord to get Christ to his daughter.
O, for men and women that too have confidence that if they can get a child to God, everything will be alright. Children face pressures we know nothing about, and they need a close relationship with their Savior just as you and I do.
Are you totally confident that Christ is the answer? Does it show in your actions?
See Mark 2:1-4. There is no sacrifice too great. They are willing to change their personal schedule to meet the need of this man. They were convince Christ was the answer.
A drill officer was putting his men through some exercises. "Lie on your backs," he barked. "Raise your legs. Now move them as riding a bicycle."
However, there was one man who held his legs motionless, "What the big ideal?" asked the drill officer.
"I am coasting downhill," answered the man.
From the looks of many in the church today, the members are just coasting downhill. Many in the church are coasting because they are not firmly convinced of the need, the cure, and the shortness of the hour.
III. His Commitment to The Cure!
If you read through the story too fast you will miss the fact that Jairus faced some great obstacles. It would have been easy to get discouraged and even have quit, but he would not stop till this child was made whole.
The first obstacle Jairus ran into was a woman. Jairus had reached Jesus and was leading him to his home when Jesus was stopped by a woman touching him. Now Jairus surely would not resent Jesus healing this woman, but time was critical. This woman will make it another day - her disease is not life threatening. But Jairus’ daughter is sick unto death.
When Jairus is forced to wait while Jesus deals with this woman, a servant from his house comes with the terrible news that his daughter has just passed away. While a woman bothers Jesus, his daughter dies (49). They felt Jesus might heal the sick, but raise the dead was out of the question.
Now it seems it is no use for Jesus to come to his house. It is too late for His help now! His prayers seems to go unanswered. Oftentimes when our prayers go unanswered, God has something better in store for us. Remember Jesus could have healed the child without going to her house at all as He did under other circumstances. However, He chose another way; all His ways are perfect. It is never too late for Jesus. He answers in His wisdom, and He answers when the time is ripe.
Now, Jarius could have said, “It is no use; Jesus don’t waste your time.” However, it is not recorded that he did.
When Jesus gets there laughter comes from those in the house when He declares the child is only sleeping. And though they would not laugh at Jairus in his grief, Jarius will now bear the reproach of having Jesus in his home. Jairus would see a great miracle in his home that day but not without facing some great obstacles. He had to face the delay of Christ and the doubts of the crowd.
Jesus takes puts everyone out of the room where the child lays with the exception of Peter, James, John, and the parents. Unbelief shall not see Him exerting His power and love. O, how often has our unbelief kept us from seeing Jesus exert His power on our behalf. Faith only sees the power of God.
The power of the Lord amazing me. No case is too hard or difficult for Him.
It was His Word that brought life. Even so today. We must preach His word for there to be life.
Notice verse 55. Even those who are brought to life need to be cared for and need to be feed.
Conclusion
A little boy was on the beach when the tide washed thousands and thousands of little shell fish upon the dry sand. He began picking up the shell fish and throwing them back into the water as fast as he could. A grown man walked up and said, “Son there are too many fish for you to throw back. You will not be able to make a difference.” The little boy paused for a moment, and then picked up another shell fish and threw it back into the water and said, “I made a difference to that one.”
I want to be a man (an individual) that makes a difference and it will only happened if I am concerned for the soul, confident of the Saviour, and committed to the solution.
