JAIRUS

In Luke 8:51-56, we have the lovely story of Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, whose only-begotten daughter, about twelve years of age, lay dying. Jairus besought the Lord to come to his house to hear her, but there was a delay on the way, and before He reached the home, a messenger came to say the little girl was dead. And they all wept and bewailed her; but He said, “weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.” But they laughed at Him, knowing she was dead. And He put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called saying, “Maid, Arise!” (Mark recalls the very words the Savior used “Talitha Cumi!” Perhaps they mean literally: “Little Darling, I say unto thee, Arise!”) And her spirit came again, and she arose straightaway: and He commanded to give her meat. And her parents were astonished: but He charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

Again we see the loving thoughtful sympathy of our Lord; and again let us remember He is the same today. Perhaps you have lost a little one. That “little darling” is not lost: He will give it back again: not in just the way He gave Jairus back his little darling: but in a better way. You remember when Job lost all his children, and all his goods; he got back double as many of the possessions: but only the same number of children: for the Lord was going to give him back the other children. They were not lost; but only gone on a little before their father. And what comfort to remember the Lord sees our children today as “little darlings.” Perhaps others do not; but the Lord does. And He has purchased them with His own blood and loves them so dearly that He would have each darling child in His Home, with Himself, forever.