Jairus came to Jesus in broad daylight and fell at his feet and begged him to heal his daughter. He threw whatever modesty he may have had to the wind. When it comes to those we love, we'll do whatever it takes.
Jairus cried, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and lay your hands on her.” Can you hear the urgency in his voice? Though Jairus was a religious expert, he was powerless to help his own daughter, so he reaches out to this traveling preacher who had a reputation of healing and begs Jesus for a miracle.
Jairus' daughter is his pride and joy, the apple of his eye, his very soul. She falls into the deep sleep, and he is devastated. He is humble enough, wise enough, to seek help. Jesus comes and calls her back to life. Before long, Jairus' house is again full of her laughter.
Jesus’ came with the message that says not only is this life temporary, but that change is unavoidable, and more than that — change in this life is GOOD and NECESSARY and should be sought out as if we’re looking for buried treasure!
"The Lord needs him." That’s what I’d like for us to think about in the sermon this morning, the fact that the Lord needs the things you have – your time, talent, gifts and service – and the big question is whether or not you’re willing to let go and entrust them to him.
In just a matter of days Holy Week takes us from the mountain of festive palms to the mountain of Golgatha’s despair. And that is why we resist it so. I mean, do we really need the emotional roller coaster of Holy Week?
The crowds lining the route should be commended for their enthusiasm. They were not there just because they loved a good parade. They were there because they wanted to believe. They had hope. "Hope springs eternal in the human breast." "Where there's life, there's hope." And they had it.
After his triumphal entry that day, notice what happened. There was no party, no coronation banquet, no awards ceremony, no photo opportunities, no prize, no Oscar. At the end of the ride, Jesus and the disciples quietly walked away, went to Bethany and retired for the night.
Jesus rode into town that day as a different kind of King, a different kind of religious ruler, as a different kind of political leader. He rode into town as the Messiah who would die for His people and rise again. That guy Jesus!!
PASTOR TIM ZINGALE is ordained by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He served churches in a number of Iowa towns, but retired from active ministry due to Post Polio Syndrome which affected his mobility and his vocal chords. He loves preaching, and continues to write a sermon each week. Tim and his wife, Wanda, [...]