Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Trinity, November 10, 2024
Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Trinity, November 10, 2024
The gospel of Mark is more expansive on this ruler who came and knelt before Jesus. From there we learn that this ruler is a ruler of the synagogue, that the ruler’s name is Jairus, and that this is a “little” daughter. Jairus pays Jesus great respect by kneeling before him. This action represents the behavior of an inferior to a superior. Jairus, ruler of the synagogue, pays homage to this itinerant preacher. In addition, the ruler, who would have been of the elite class, forsook the normal class privilege of engaging professional healers and sought out this traditional wonder-working rabbi named Jesus.
While the exact age of the daughter is not given, knowledge of the general situation regarding personal health and longevity sheds some light on the situation. Children dying in those days of antiquity would have been a common occurrence. Sixty per cent of children born alive would not live until their thirtieth birthday and those that did suffered from rotten teeth, the effects of protein deficiencies, internal parasites, and bad eyesight. Few lived to be forty. No wonder the aged were accorded such high status in the community.
Also notice that the ruler does not expect a mere healing from Jesus. The ruler grants to Jesus the power of life and death. Jesus’ touch will raise the dead. The ruler is confident of this. You might say it is his confession of faith. In a turn of phrase that brings to mind Jesus’ call of his disciples (Mt. 4:20), Matthew tells us that “Jesus rose and followed him…” (vs. 19). Arriving at the ruler’s home, Jesus’ entourage finds that the crowd of mourners has gathered, and their mourning begun. When Jesus goes to dismiss them because they are inappropriate, these gathered mourners laugh at him. After all, they are the professionals here. They know dead when they see it. Nonetheless, the scoffing crowd is expelled from the house. Jesus’ takes the daughter’s hand. And she miraculously arises from the bed.
You, my brothers and sisters in Christ, are exposed by these healings… exposed in your lack of faith… exposed in your reliance upon rationalism… exposed in your claims to status and privilege. This exposure reveals that you have nothing of your own to bring. Only Jesus matters… his faith… his work… his word.
Table Talk: Discuss being exposed in all these ways and being turned, then, to Jesus only.
Pray: Father, Grant me trust in Jesus only. Amen
Matthew 9:18–26
18 While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live. 19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. 20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, If I only touch his garment, I will be made well. 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well. And instantly the woman was made well. 23 And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 he said, Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping. And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went through all that district.