(Matthew 9:18-26 and Luke 8:41-56)

Many who were in leadership among the Jews were against Jesus, but not all of them.  Those who were against him seemed to be angry mostly at the thought that Jesus might take their place as leaders.  But there were some leaders among the Jews that believed in Jesus.  

One of these leaders who believed in Jesus was a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue where many people went to worship God.  

One day as Jesus was teaching, Jairus came to Jesus; the Bible says he “worshipped” Jesus, falling down at Jesus’ feet.  Jairus had only one daughter, about 12 years old, and she was dying.  Jairus asked Jesus to come to his house.

Jesus got up and followed Jairus.  Jesus’ disciples followed also.

While on the way, someone came from Jairus’ house and told him, “Thy daughter is dead, trouble not the Master.”  We can only wonder what Jairus’ reaction was to this dreadful news.  

Jesus told Jairus, “Fear not:  believe only, and she shall be made whole.”

When Jesus got to Jairus’ house, there were people there gathered to mourn, crying and making the noise of a house in sadness.  Apparently, the girl had been dead long enough that she was already being prepared for burial.

Jesus wanted all the other visitors to leave and told them, “Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth.”  The people knew the girl had been dead for some time; they laughed at Jesus and made fun of him for saying she was asleep.  

The people were again asked to leave, probably by Jairus or his wife, and they left.  Then Jesus went in where the girl was lying, taking with him only the girl’s parents and three of the disciples: Peter, James, and John.  Jesus took her by the hand and said, “Maid, arise.”  Her spirit came to her again and she immediately got up!

People talked about this throughout the country, how Jesus brought back to life someone who was dead.

What do you think?

• Jairus had faith in Jesus; how did he show it?
• At first, Jairus had faith in Jesus that his daughter could be healed, but how may his feelings of faith changed when he heard his daughter was dead?
• Why did the people laugh at Jesus when he said the girl was asleep?
• If Jesus can bring back someone who has been dead, is there anything he cannot do?
• Do we sometimes believe Jesus’ power can help us a little and not believe he can help us a lot?  What does this story teach about that?

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