November 15 Faithful Waiting

Luke 8:43-48 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” 47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
 
SOMEONE is missing in this story. No one ever talks about him in this moment because the focus is on Jesus and the bleeding woman. But he’s here – right beside Jesus. And he might be getting very, very impatient.
   No, it’s not Peter. The “Let’s do it.” disciple would likely grab Jesus by the arm and urgently say, “Remember we’re on our way to Jairus’ sick daughter. There is no time to stop and heal someone else!” No, the missing one is Jairus, the synagogue ruler. Jairus has desperately approached Jesus to plead for his very sick daughter. Jesus went with him. Jairus likely was believing, “Jesus will take care of my daughter.”
   But suddenly it seems as if Jesus has forgotten who needs his urgent care. A woman in the pressing crowd touches Jesus. The Lord feels power surge from him, and Jesus stops to talk with her and praise her faith. Jairus must be getting very nervous. Perhaps it is a testimony to his faith the story doesn’t include Jairus compelling Jesus, “Let’s go.”
   Let’s learn this from Jairus: Be faithful to wait on Jesus. At that anxious moment, Jairus chose with patience and humility, to submit to Jesus’ timing. As a result, Jairus will ultimately see the most remarkable healing of all for his daughter.
   As written in Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Know that faith in God means we have patience and persistence to seek Jesus’ salvation and trust he will restore us and our loved ones as it is his time.
 
Prayer: “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in (your) word I put my hope.” (Psalm 130:5)