Luke 8:49-50
While he was still speaking, someone came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.” When Jesus heard this, he replied, “Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be saved.”
It’s hard to imagine the level of heartbreak and disappointment Jairus felt when word came from his household. He had gotten the attention of Jesus, the healer, and Jesus was actually following him home. Perhaps there was hope.
But when the messengers meet them on the road to deliver that harsh message, all those hopes burn to cinders in a flash of crushing disappointment.
And perhaps anger. I wonder if Jairus was angry that they had tarried to deal with the woman who had been bleeding. Or perhaps he was angry at himself for waiting so long to go get Jesus. Or maybe angry that fate had so cheated him.
But whatever mix of emotions was coursing through him in that most awful of moments, Jesus responds with one short but powerful message: “Do not fear.”
It is the classic signal of good news throughout the Bible. Whenever anyone – prophet, priest, or angel – begins a speech with these words, only good things wil follow. And that’s what Jesus says now.
It’s not the only thing he says, though, as he follows up by saying, “Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be saved.” But lest we think this is a condition Jesus is setting for the healing of Jairus’ daughter, we should note that a word of promise and comfort is also always an invitation to believe.
Do not fear, Jesus says, and to respond to him requires faith that he is the master of this situation, that he is able to act in a way to relieve fear.
And so in that moment, whatever combination of awful feelings Jairus was experiencing, one more was added to the mix: hope, as fragile as it is powerful, that the story was not yet over.
Prayer: Dear God, in grace you invite us to courage, faith, and confidence. Grant us the ability to respond to your word in trust. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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