Matthew 9:18 While he was talking, an official came in, kneeled down in front of him and said, “My daughter has just died. But if you come and lay your hand on her, she will live.”
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23 When Yeshua arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute-players, and the crowd in an uproar, 24 he said, “Everybody out! The girl isn’t dead, she’s only sleeping!” And they jeered at him. 25 But after the people had been put outside, he entered and took hold of the girl’s hand, and she got up. 26 News of this spread through all that region.
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Mark 5:21 Yeshua crossed in the boat to the other side of the lake, and a great crowd gathered around him. 22 There came to him a synagogue official, Ya’ir by name, who fell at his feet 23 and pleaded desperately with him, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Please! Come and lay your hands on her, so that she will get well and live!”
24 He went with him; and a large crowd followed, pressing all around him.
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35 While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house came, saying, “Your daughter has died. Why bother the rabbi any longer?” 36 Ignoring what they had said, Yeshua told the synagogue official, “Don’t be afraid, just keep trusting.” 37 He let no one follow him except Kefa, Ya‘akov and Yochanan, Ya‘akov’s brother. 38 When they came to the synagogue official’s house, he found a great commotion, with people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 On entering, he said to them, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead, she’s just asleep!” 40 And they jeered at him. But he put them all outside, took the child’s father and mother and those with him, and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand, he said to her, “Talita, kumi!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 At once the girl got up and began walking around; she was twelve years old. Everybody was utterly amazed. 43 He gave them strict orders to say nothing about this to anyone, and told them to give her something to eat.
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Luke 8:40 When Yeshua got back, the crowd welcomed him; for they were all expecting him. 41 Then there came a man named Ya’ir who was president of the synagogue. Falling at Yeshua’s feet, he pleaded with him to come to his house; 42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old; and she was dying.
As he went, with the crowds on every side virtually choking him,
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49 While Yeshua was still speaking, a man came from the synagogue president’s house. “Your daughter has died,” he said. “Don’t bother the rabbi any more.” 50 But on hearing this, Yeshua answered him, “Don’t be afraid! Just go on trusting, and she will be made well.” 51 When he arrived at the house, he didn’t allow anyone to go in with him except Kefa, Yochanan, Ya‘akov and the child’s father and mother 52 All the people were wailing and mourning for her; but he said, “Don’t weep; she hasn’t died, she’s sleeping.” 53 They jeered at him, since they knew she had died. 54 But he took her by the hand, called out, “Little girl, get up!” 55 and her spirit returned. She stood up at once, and he directed that something be given her to eat. 56 Her parents were astounded, but he instructed them to tell no one what had happened.
The president of the synagogue? Wow! Things are really starting to get spicy.
He not only hunts Yeshua down, but he falls at His feet. The leader…of the synagogue. True desperation.
What will this do to his career?
We can hold tight to our principles and judgments as long as there is no immediate threat. As soon as something occurs that shows you that your “hard lines” are actually quite fuzzy, we are incredibly eager to humble ourselves hoping life comes -- or we double down on our position and death comes.
What causes these differences in response?
I suppose that’s the million dollar question. If your rules mean more to you than life itself, then I guess it makes sense to hold that line until the very end.
So what are these rules? Looking at others, we can see this clearly. It’s a bunch of ridiculous strongholds that really make no sense. But when we look at ourselves, it’s a ton of justifications. All those wounds that have been covered with protective layers called pride.
You’ve been hurt but there is no chance you’re going to let anyone know. It’s embarrassing to be weak. Weak people don’t have it figured out -- but you have it figured out, right?
The instant something comes up that causes you to face the holes in your healing, you dig in even stronger. No evidence at all will be enough to convince you that surrendering and submitting can bring you true freedom.
Now this guy was in a place of authority, and that authority was now being challenged, but he didn’t care. His daughter’s life meant more to him than his job. He was willing to risk everything even for a chance at his daughter’s healing.
But he was going to have to do something crazy.
Once “reality” had made itself clear, everyone declared her dead. “Don’t waste any more of His time,” the people told the father.
Yeshua followed-up immediately and had the nerve to tell the synagogue official:
“Don’t be afraid, just keep trusting.”
How do you do that? Especially, when the reports are as definitive as, “she’s dead”? You’re put in a tough spot when faced with having faith and hearing reports of the truth, huh? Do you see how troublesome it is when you are asked to believe something contrary to what people have seen with their own eyes? The pressure is terribly great.
But it seems like he trusted Yeshua over the bad report. As ridiculous and wrong it was to trust, he did it anyway. And his daughter lived.
What on earth would be going through this guy’s mind the next time he walked into that synagogue? How does he toe the party line while knowing what happened with this rogue Rabbi? This man’s real challenges are only beginning. But I don’t think he cares.
Who do you trust? People will present a pretty definitive case and tell you plainly how life works. And they have a mountain of evidence and history behind them. So they aren’t wrong -- but they may not be right either.
People have been dying for all of time -- even little kids. We are conditioned to just accept this truth as the end of the road because believing anything else is stupid. How many children died that very same day? Over the entire earth, probably quite a few. But this little girl opened her eyes and stood up. For all the ones that died, does that mean Yeshua is powerless? Of course not. But someone in the house that day needed to see what they saw.
Everyone had to be utterly shocked. Peter, John, and James probably a little less than the parents but it still had to amaze them to see it happen again. The young man in the coffin? Ok, that blew their mind. But I’d argue the second time is a little more surreal because you are kind of expecting it -- although it may not work again this time. And if it didn’t work, what does that do to these guys that are on the Richard Simmons slow progress train? There's an added stress due to a lack of complete faith and they are truly Sweatin’ to the Oldies in this situation. Then again, once the little girl stood up, maybe they weren’t really shocked as much as relieved. Their new belief structure is starting to solidify. Again, someone needed to see what they saw that day.
There was one Person, however, that was not shocked at all. He knew that she would stand. And instead of having everyone dance around and cry tears of joy, He gave them an immediate command:
“Hey folks, she’s got to be famished. Dying is hard work so hook this young lady up.
Go ahead and make me a sandwich while you’re in there, too.”
Well, not really, but you get the idea.
Now back to you. What would you have done in this situation? Better still, what will you do when faced with this situation in the future?
I think we can all agree that there’s no chance we’re going to trust that they come back to life, so what’s a good consolation prize?
You coming back to life.