What we consider ultimate, Jesus recategorizes as intermediate. We confuse commas for periods. Jesus gives us new grammar for living. He provides a thesaurus when we reach for the dictionary. 

Through the crowds came a man on a mission. He was an upstanding man of respect in the community. He had a problem he could not solve, so he went to Jesus. His twelve-year-old daughter was dying. When he got to Jesus, he fell at his feet and pled with him to come home with him. 

“Jesus went with him,” (verse 42).

There may not be four more wonderful words for someone to choose as he or she tells your story. 

Jesus was surrounded by the crowds. The crowds delayed the fearful father. They slowed his approach to Jesus. They hindered Jesus’ journey to the father’s home and his dying child. 

Then someone touched Jesus. Or as Peter well noted, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you,” (verse 45). Both things were true. 

There are those who want to see and touch Jesus simply because of his reputation. There are also those who want to see and touch Jesus because they are desperate for what only he can do.

But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me,” (verse 46). 

This stopped Jesus in his tracks. This stopped the woman’s twelve-year experience of chronic bleeding. She was healed. 

The crowds enjoyed the miracle, no doubt. The dad could not bear the delay. 

“Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace,” (verse 48).

“Daughter” caught in the dad’s ears. The sound nearly stopped his own heart. Anxiety and grief welled within him and threatened to burst out in tears and loud commands. 

Jesus’ delays are not Jesus’ denials. 

Jesus was wrapping up the situation with the woman he called Daughter who had been bleeding as long as the little girl who was dying had been alive. As he was announcing her healing and giving her his peace, “While he was still speaking to her, a messenger arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. He told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now,” (verse 49). 

The delay caused by the crowds and the healing exhausted the time available to heal a dying daughter.

The report in verse 49 from this distance sounds like an accusation against Jesus. He who delivered a demonized man from naked insanity, he who calmed the storms on the sea, he who was welcomed and exalted by everyone, couldn’t bother to make a quick trip to save a little girl’s life. 

But Jesus is never early, never late. He is always on time. His where he needs to be. Remember the four words of hope and life above. 

“Jesus went with him.”

The Lord of Life and Death is not intimidated by stopped hearts and stilled lungs.

But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus,
“Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.”
(verse 50) 

Upon their arrival, “the house was filled with people weeping and wailing,” (verse 52). Ultimate loss leads to ultimate grief. The Resurrection and the Life (John 11) stepped in and commanded the people to “Stop the weeping!”

“She isn’t dead; she’s only sleeping.”
(verse 52)

Jesus used a semicolon where the mourners had placed a period. Grammar matters when we consider Jesus.

The crowd in the home did to Jesus what crowds do to everyone who truly lives for Jesus. They laughed at him. They knew the little girl was dead. There is a big difference between sleeping and death. It becomes obvious to anyone who examines the facts. 

Let us never confuse facts with truth when Jesus is in the room. 

Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, “My child, get up!”
And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood up!
Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.”
(verses 54, 55)

Could there be anything more beautiful than hearing the voice of your risen loved one? Could there be anything more wonderful than seeing your little one dine after death? Could there be anyone more amazing than Jesus?

What we consider ultimate, Jesus recategorizes as intermediate. We confuse commas for periods. Jesus gives us new grammar for living. He provides a thesaurus when we reach for the dictionary. 

Peruse Luke 8 again from top to bottom. Why would you go anywhere without acknowledging and depending on Jesus? Why would anyone ever tell your story without noting “Jesus went with him (or her)”?

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I will journey with Jesus today.

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Our Father, lead us on this great adventure. We want to know your will and your way. We want to see you rewrite every story with a happy ending. We want everyone to know your healing grace and perfect love. We want to see you turn weeping into laughter encased in joy. Amen.