Jairus’s daughter in the Bible is a story many of us may be familiar with, it’s a small chapter in Mark and yet a powerful story filled with hope for us in our everyday lives. That God can still step in and work a miracle when we think all has been lost.
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The Story Of Jairus’s Daughter In The Bible
The story of Jairus’s daughter in the Bible is a fairly well-known story, and yet this short story holds so much hope and wisdom for us even today. Sadly scripture doesn’t pass along this 12-year-old girl’s name or much about her at all, we don’t know what caused her illness that would take her life. We don’t know what happened to her after Jesus healed her, but despite that, the story of Jairus’s daughter gives us a wonderful look at God’s love, and how much He cares for us. Let’s take a look at the Bible verses about Jairus’s daughter and get to know her story a little better.
Jairus’s Daughter Bible Verse
The story of Jairus’s daughter in the Bible can be found in Mark chapter 5, the beginning of the chapter opens with Jesus ministering to the possed man living among the tombs. We then find the stage set with a new set of characters. A man named Jairus who was one of the Synagogue leaders comes to seek Jesus out and beg for Him to come with him to heal Jarius’s daughter:
When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him. Mark 5:21-24 NIV
While on the way to Jarius’s house to heal his daughter Jesus stops to heal the woman with the issue of blood that reached out from the crowd and touched His hem. You can read more about her story here. But in that time Jairus’s daughter in the Bible dies.
While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat. Mark 5:35-43
The Raising Of Jairus’s Daughter In The Bible
As we read Mark 5, we can’t help but see a period. An end, no alternatives. No second chances, no do-over. No stops, no restarts, no going back. Jairus’s daughter in the Bible is dead. No question mark, it was final. The last breath had been exhaled. Life had abandoned an earthly dwelling for heaven’s gates. Those that knew Jairus’s daughter had gathered in mourning. To all, her story had ended, they didn’t know she’d forever live in the pages of our Bibles, or that her story would impact people centuries later. All they knew is that this young girl was gone. Nothing they did could bring her back.
What We Can Learn From Jairus’s Daughter Encounter With Jesus
Sometimes God lets things in our life die -maybe it’s a relationship or situation- He allows them to dry up, to wither so that when He steps into that place and brings it back to life we know it could only be Him. It’s easy to forget the lesson of the woman with the issue of bleeding in the midst of this dead place, we forget that He sees, and He cares even in the midst of this wasteland as we whisper like Lazarus’s sisters “If you had only been here…”.
We forget so quickly when pain invades our lives and it feels like the bottom has fallen out once again, that He isn’t just the God that calms storms. He isn’t just the God that searches out the unwanted. He isn’t just the God that goes in search of the one lost lamb- He’s the God that steps through the fabric of eternity to save you. That laid down His life to bridge the gap that you and I could never bridge. He’s the God who spoke time into existence and holds you firmly in His grasp. He’s the God with a plan for your life– even when you can’t see past the pain you are going through. Death is but a word to our God. Nothing can separate us from Him.
He turned the sun back as a sign for Hezekiah, He met the woman in the street that just had to touch Him right where she was. He sought out the man living amongst the tombs when everyone else had given up on Him. And yet we are surprised when He calls out this little girl and tells her to stand. We are surprised when a still heart begins to beat with new life, when lungs fill with air once more and when a child’s eye flutter open- but how could they not, when the creator stepped into the room? The one who knew Jairus’s daughter since before the beginning of time, who had loved her and formed her in her mother’s womb.
We are so quick to fit our God into a box and demand that he conform to our rule of engagment- but our God is so much bigger. With a word, He created the vastness of space and the depths of the ocean. This story reminds us of many things, namely:
- It’s never too late for God to step in. It can look like it’s too late for everyone else, but He is always right on time.
- God has power over life and death.
- God cares for us and the things that weigh on her heart.
- God can restore what has been lost, what has been broken, what has died in us.
- God is never too busy to care about us. He is God and meets each and every one of us where we are -in the street desperate for healing, in our bed too weary to even rise like Jairus’s daughter in the Bible, and lost among the tombs where everyone else has given upon us.
Jesus Heals Jairus’s Daughter In The Bible
Are there dead places in your life? Dead relationships that you are clinging to, but powerless to fix? Are you stuck in a dead situation, with no options left? God knows. He’s coming for you. He sees the pain, the brokenness- and He’s coming to meet you right where you are- just like Jairus’s daughter in the Bible.
God spoke the concept of time into existence, He’s not confined to the little spot between the last letter of “The End” and a period He holds the whole book. He hasn’t forgotten you. You are not lost to Him, even as Jarius’s daughter in the Bible wasn’t. She may have been lost to this world, but to Him? Not a chance.
The Importance Of The Story Of Jairus’s Daughter In The Bible
No wasteland is too big, no storm too furious, no darkness too great, no period too solid for Him to break through and find you right where you are. You were on the devil’s hit list before you were even born, but no one says where your story ends but the Master Author himself, not the devil, not your friends, not your family- not even you. He holds the pen. God knows where to break through, where to meet you. And like a lifeguard, He reaches down and pulls you from the water. This is the importance of the Jairus’s daughter in the Bible story- it reminds us that we are firmly grasped in our heavenly father’s hand, that He always has a plan, and He will never abandon you.
Sometimes we have to walk through the dead places, to be reminded that He can step into them also and use every situation. No matter how dark, how hopeless, how final it looks, He can use it. He makes a way, where there was no way. He is faithful, even when we can’t immediately see His presence in the situation. He’s there. And just like with Jarius’s daughter in the Bible He will never be too late.
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Rosevine Cottage Girls,
Greetings.
The lessons I’ve learn from this post touches not only my mind, but also my heart. I feel the love and emotions that is within this writings.
Thank you very much for the efforts and prayers that you did to make this things possible for us to read and learn the important lessons and share it to others.
God bless you as always.
Thank you so much Milo! Your words have encouraged our hearts. God bless you!
Very powerful scriptures and lessons, i am touched
Thank you for the kind words Sammy. God bless you.
Thank you so much for your teaching and reflection on the story of Jairus’ daughter. I too have a precious daughter who, because of the choices she has made has led her into a life of darkness. I will never give up on praying for her – that Jesus will meet her in that place of death and darkness and touch her and restore her to the life He has planned for her. I know when that time comes all the glory will be His as from my perspective and it has been years, it is an irretrievable situation. But God. All praise, honour and glory to Jesus, Our Lord and Saviour. Thank you again for helping me to trust in Jesus; to keep my eyes on Him.
You’re welcome Maryanne! I am so sorry to hear about that. I believe a mother’s prayers are powerful. Father, we lift up Maryanne’s daughter to you. We ask you to draw her to your heart and help her to see her incredible need for a savior. Help her to recognize her sin and your amazing love for her. Help her to find you at every turn and submit her will to you. Hold her mother close Lord and encourage her heart. Help her not to give up praying and believing in you. In Jesus name, Amen.
In fact, it is very inspiring and powerful to read this. god is not too busy to take of us.
Thank you Willie. Thank you for taking time to write us. It means so much.
Hello Willie, thank you so much for your encouraging words. God is surely never too busy.