This update on Maggie Lee Henson speaks for itself.
I can’t get Jairus out of my head these days. That crazy name has been bouncing around in there each of these last 15 days. It wasn’t too many weeks ago in the lectionary that I preached from the passage in Mark (Chapter 5:22-43) that gives us just a small yet magnificent glimpse into Jairus’ life. My focus was on the story within the story, about the woman who had a bleeding disorder and who reached out to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. All of this happened between the time that Jesus received the plea for Jesus to heal his daughter to the time that he actually arrived at the bedside of Jairus daughter to perform the healing. In light of what has happened in my life since preaching this text, perhaps I should have focused on the Jairus end of the story. Who knew I would have so much in common with a man named Jairus?
So, out of the inability to get Jairus out of my head, I return to Mark 5 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%205:22-43&version=72). What strikes me most is something that hit me while studying the text several weeks ago—Jairus’ daughter was 12 years old. I think I even remember noting in my sermon, even though it’s not in my manuscript, of how it struck me that our daughters were the same age. I’ve read and studied this passage countless times, but this time, in this 12th year of my daughter, it grabbed me in a new way and I could relate to him and imagine what he was going through. And, now, that identification is even greater. I now read this passage with a kind of association I would rather not have.
I am right there with Jairus now at the feet of Jesus, pleading earnestly with this Jesus whom I’ve seen and whom I’ve known to do great miracles. I am right there in my desperation and utter fear, realizing that there is nothing else that can work and no one else who can help. I’m right there, not worried about what others who consider it futile or even foolish to go to Jesus are thinking. I’m at the feet of Jesus and I’m pleading. I’m right there believing that there is power in the hands of Jesus and that their placement on my daughter will mean that “she will be healed and live.”
I also identify with what must have been great impatience on the part of Jairus when he saw Jesus taking time to stop and relate to someone else. I’m sure he was thinking, “Uh . . . Um., excuse me, Jesus, what are you doing? My daughter is dying and you don’t have time for anything else.” Jesus didn’t seem to be bothered by the urgency of the situation but was, rather, confident that he (and she) was right in God’s timing. Healing was on the way but had not fully arrived.
I, even at this very moment, feel tremendous urgency and the stress of timing. I fear the unknown while my daughter sleeps and find myself pulling on the other side of Jesus’ garment to get to moving; do something visible right now. Right now, Jesus! Jesus, don’t you know about ICP’s and CPP’s? Don’t you know what will happen if those numbers keep spiraling upward?
Jairus and my soul are reminding me to be patient; that healing is on its way.
Meanwhile, I’m inserting myself into this passage and will keep this Jairus prayer going until I see the results of “Talitha koum!” manifest in my daughter’s body.
Jesus, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.”
–John
The Prayer Link 