The "Fear Not" of Distress

In Luke 8:40-56 we have the account of Jesus healing the woman with the issue of blood and the raising of Jairus' daughter. While the Lord was on his way to the house of Jairus, the woman had made her way through the crowd and touched the hem of his robe. When this happened, Jesus stopped. I can imagine what was going through Jairus' mind when this happened. He was probably thinking, "What are you doing? Why are you stopping? My only daughter is at home dying!! We don't have time for you to stop!" Jesus then asked those around Him, who it was that touched Him. The disciple thought that Jesus had lost his mind. With a crowd this size, He wants to know who touched Him.

Now we have the woman with the issue of blood that has been her constant companion for 12 years. She had spent everything she had, been to all the doctors, but to no avail. She heard about this man Jesus and thought if I could just see Him. If I could just touch the hem of his garment, I could be healed.

Jesus is still not moving until the guilty party comes forward. Jairus is waiting and wondering. The woman realizes she must come forward. She does and she give her testimony and while this is taking place they come and tell Jairus his daughter was dead. Jairus was the ruler of the synagogue. He was a man with position and power, but now he was facing a situation where neither his position nor his power could help him. He was helpless and hopeless apart from Jesus.

The Bible says that Jesus answered him, now it doesn't say that Jairus asked a question, but I'm sure the look on his face was question enough. It was a look of why did you stop? Don't you know my daughter might have lived if you hadn't stopped? Jesus answered this with "Fear not, believe only and she shall be made whole"

I'm sure Jairus was thinking, "How can he say that? They just told me my daughter was dead!"

There are several reasons Jesus could make that statement. Here are three.

1. The tender nature of His person.
He is the God of all comfort. There are only three recorded instances where Jesus raised some one from the dead. We have the widow's one only son, Martha and Mary's one only brother, and Jairus' one only daughter. Why do you think that is? I believe it is because we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. God knew that he would have to send His one only Son to give His life a ransom for all.

2. The timely nature of His proof
Have you ever read a passage of scripture many time and then all of a sudden you read it and you see something that you have never noticed before? In out text we have Jairus' daughter, who is twelve years old. We have the woman with the issue of blood for 12 years. God began the working for this exact moment in time 12 years before it happened. Why? Because Jairus was going to need to see the power of God at work. This woman testified to that power.
I love when people testify to the power of God. Sometimes when my faith gets weak a good testimony from a dear saint of God is just what I need to help me.

3. The transcending nature of His promise.
He fulfilled his promise with the woman and with Jairus' daughter. The writer of Hebrews tell us in chapter 12 that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. The Bible tells us His mercies are from everlasting to everlasting.

No matter what situations you face in life you can trust that God is in control. We can rest assured with the words of Jesus and Fear Not.