The Interruption ~ Kendra Grimaldi
Luke 8:40-56
The Interruption.
I’m sure as a wife, mother, teacher, or grandmother you have been interrupted once (1000x) in your life. These interruptions are not usually welcomed. We stress to our children and students to stay focused. When an interruption comes it is hard to focus again.
Luke 8:40 starts with the people being focused on Jesus, they are “gladly receiving” and “they were all waiting for Him.”
Jairus a ruler of the synagogue, is also a very focused person. He has one thing in his heart; his only daughter is dying. He has done all in his power to help this precious child. His life has been impacted. He fell at Jesus feet and besought Him to come to his house. V. 41 Besought meaning: “call to one’s side, summon, which may be done in a way of exhortation”…Thayer Lexicon
Jairus knew he had a problem, knew Who could help, he came the correct way (humbly, bowing). He wanted, no, needed a miracle. We like Jairus must put our pride aside when we ask Christ for help or for a miracle. Put feet to our prayers; Jairus went to Jesus. Don’t ignore the help you get from your friends, Pastors, or medical staff. But don’t put that “help” first, ask Christ first.
THE INTERUPTION: V. 42 this interruption comes in a throng. Picture this: a well-dressed man, on his knees, beseeching Jesus. Jairus is being trampled! No one seems to care that this man is here. We deal with interruptions all the time; voices, insects, noises, or the weather, but I have never been interrupted by a throng.
The woman with an issue of blood sought Jesus V. 43. She put her faith and feet to her prayers. But she doesn’t want her problem or her healing to be made public or be a bother to Christ. V. 44, she came behind Him and touched the border of His garment. This “interruption” was in the form of a woman; she was healed immediately!
Ladies, we need to be a bother sometimes; you don’t have to go through your heart’s aches alone. The word request is found 9 times in the book of Esther. God knew Esther’s situation, but it had to be made public. God can read your mind and heart, but your friends and loved ones can’t. Ladies we are filled with “good intentions” not voicing our needs, prayer request, or heartache. Don’t think you are “bothering” others. You don’t have to voice the details of your needs. Just a small “touch”, like the woman with the issue of blood.
Gal. 6:2 “Bear ye one another’s burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
Jairus could see what was going on. Were his thoughts… “Hey you jumped the line.” “Wow, Jesus truly can-do miracles.” Or… “Jesus, will you have time for me? I don’t want to bother you.” Too many times, an interruption comes into our lives, we lose our focus, we doubt, we complain, or we forget to keep pressing on.
Peter, in V. 45 is bothered that Jesus has questioned “Who touched me?” Peter probably threw his hands up… “Master the multitude…the press.” Peter was not focused on the miracle or Jairus, he was just being Peter, how many times have you thrown up your hands during an interruption, and become more selfish, unfocused?
We must not hide when our lives have changed. Jesus knew His virtue had gone out of Him. V. 46 Christ died, was buried and rose again publicly, for you. It is not too much to ask to make your decision public? Let others know your needs, prayer requests, and answers to prayers. The woman comes forward and declares before all the people how she was healed immediately. V. 47. Christ saw her faith and sends her with comfort telling her that her faith had made her whole.
This must have been a painful situation for Jairus, being thronged, watching her get healed, listening to Peter, then to top it off hearing of his daughter’s death “don’t bother the Master.” V. 49
BUT Jesus hears the news of Jairus’s daughter’s death, He immediately takes care of the situation. “Fear not, believe only” v. 50. Jesus acts! Goes to Jairus’s house. Christ chooses who will come with him V.51. Jesus announces the GREAT news; “she is not dead…but sleepeth. V. 52.
Another interruption the “nay sayers” they laugh, they “knew” she was dead. V.53. Don’t let others steal your faith, Jairus didn’t, even the woman with the issue of blood didn’t. They kept focus, kept asking, kept Christ in view. Jesus puts the unbelieving out. He knows! He is boss, He will not fail! He says two words “Maid arise” v. 54. Then takes care of the maid, “give her meat.”
Jairus was going through a season. We all have seasons…heartaches, loss of a
loved ones, or sickness. Seasons have no time limit. The woman with the
issues of blood had her season for twelve years’. V.43. Jairus had to be
thronged. Remember that God KNOWS your season. Yours will be different
than anybody else’s.
Interruptions come. Jairus must have been put out, thinking a million things. Pushed around, watching a miracle, hearing bad news. We have all felt pushed around, maybe even felt abandoned. Don’t lose faith, look for the miracles, they might be small ones…Jairus could still see Jesus…He didn’t get hurt. There is a miracle coming your way. Christ’s miracles, DO NOT get interrupted! He wants to do a miracle in your life. When your miracle comes, or your life has been changed, make it public, don’t hide v. 47. Christ wants others to know. Give Him glory!
BUT WHEN V.50…great words!!! Jesus hears…knows…! Tells Jairus, “Fear not, believe only.” V.50 Jesus shows up, performs another miracle, and restores the family.
Ladies, are you a Jairus or the woman with the issue of blood? Looking or waiting for a miracle? Have you been thronged? Knowing if you just touch the border of His garment, will you be changed? Have you changed? Have thanked Him publicly?
Will you be like both people in our Bible study and have faith for Salvation, faith for healing, faith even though you might have to wait while being thronged? Faith in God to answer your prayers. Faith during an interruption? Keep focused, Jairus and the woman did.
Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind in stayed on thee: because he trusted in thee.”