Day 91: Religion vs. God

Luke 8:49-56 :

While he still spoke, one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house came, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t trouble the Teacher.”

But Jesus hearing it, answered him, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be healed.”

When he came to the house, he didn’t allow anyone to enter in, except Peter, John, James, the father of the child, and her mother. All were weeping and mourning her, but he said, “Don’t weep. She isn’t dead, but sleeping.”

They were ridiculing him, knowing that she was dead. But he put them all outside, and taking her by the hand, he called, saying, “Child, arise!” Her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately. He commanded that something be given to her to eat. Her parents were amazed, but he commanded them to tell no one what had been done.

When Jesus came to Jairus’ house, I understand that he came to hostile territory. Jairus was the ruler of the synagogue and most of his co-workers didn’t like or approve of Jesus at all. Recognizing this puts these events in perspective.

In order for Jairus to do what he did, he had to oppose his peers. He may have even risked the respect that he had in his position. We get the clear picture in the Bible that, quite frankly, Jairus didn’t care. He loved his daughter and he believed that Jesus could both heal sick and raise the dead if He wanted to.

Jesus had no trouble going into hostile territory. He rebuked the mourners and told them that she wouldn’t be dead long, but they ridiculed Him. That’s what people who are hostle to God do. They make fun of His word and disrespect His authority. That is what religion does when it isn’t based in the word of God found in the Bible. He told them to get out, all of them, leaving only his closest men and the girl’s parents.

Jesus raised her from the dead and then told them to not tell anyone. Jesus must have known that they would not be able to keep this secret. We read this in Matthew:

Matthew 9:25-26 :

But when the crowd was put out, he entered in, took her by the hand, and the girl arose. The report of this went out into all that land.

Jesus time to take Jerusalem had not yet come. He wasn’t intending to be famous at this time. Jesus had to die first, but who can keep a resurrection secret?