Desperate Faith - Jairus

A man named Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come home with him. His only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying.

Luke 8:41-42

When the young daughter of Princess Alice of Hesse fell ill with diphtheria in 1878, doctors told Princess Alice not to come close to her daughter lest she endanger her own health. One evening as the child struggled to breathe, Alice forgot her doctors’ orders and took her child into her arms in a desperate attempt to keep her from choking to death. A short time later, Alice also fell ill, and she died within days.

Desperation has a way of making people forget about themselves and take unusual risks.

Jairus, a synagogue leader in Capernaum, knew the risks when he fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to heal his deathly ill daughter. Jairus knew that his Jewish countrymen wouldn’t take kindly to his approaching Jesus in that way. By falling at his feet, Jairus acknowledged that Jesus was everything he said he was—and everything the Jewish religious establishment said he was not.

Jairus needed more than faith to come to Jesus; he also needed courage.

He had probably watched in agony as his daughter fell ill and then descended toward death. As a synagogue leader, he had access to the very best care available in those days, but none of that would keep his daughter alive.

Jairus had one final hope: Jesus!

Jairus had heard of Jesus’ miracles, and he knew that Jesus could heal his daughter.

Jairus’s need was so profound and his situation so desperate that he risked everything to take a huge step of faith. He cried out to Jesus for help, and the Savior who never turns down a humble man gave him exactly what he needed.

Where do you turn when you’re in desperate need? Turn to Jesus with all your faith and passion. Don’t worry if others think that your crying out to him seems like a desperate last resort. Sometimes it is! Turn to Jesus, who gives you what you need when you have the faith to humbly ask him for it.