Laughing at Jesus (Luke 8:40-56)

Luke 8:40-56   40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him.  41 Just then there came a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. He fell at Jesus' feet and begged him to come to his house,  42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying. As he went, the crowds pressed in on him.  ...  49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the leader's house to say, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer."  50 When Jesus heard this, he replied, "Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be saved."  51 When he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him, except Peter, John, and James, and the child's father and mother.  52 They were all weeping and wailing for her; but he said, "Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping."  53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.  54 But he took her by the hand and called out, "Child, get up!"  55 Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then he directed them to give her something to eat.  56 Her parents were astounded; but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.

Many times, when Jesus heals, he complements the person's faith.  And the father, Jarius, obviously had faith or he wouldn't have come to Jesus in the first place.  But when Jesus gets to the house, the child is dead.  So what does everyone do?  They take time out of their weeping and mourning to laugh at Jesus!  To mock him!  Imagine!!

Why doesn't Jesus just walk away?  Why does he decide to heal the daughter of these faithless, rude people?

Because he loves them despite the way they treat him!

If you think you have to be perfect for Jesus to love you, think again.  He loves you already and he won't stop.  What is your response to his love?


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The other gospels weigh in...

Mark 5:21-43   21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea.  22 Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet  23 and begged him repeatedly, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live."  24 So he went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him...   35 While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader's house to say, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?"  36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe."  37 He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.  38 When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly.  39 When he had entered, he said to them, "Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping."  40 And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was.  41 He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha cum," which means, "Little girl, get up!"  42 And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement.  43 He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. 


Matthew 9:18-26  18 While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue 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 got up and followed him, with his disciples...  23 When Jesus came to the leader'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 got up.  26 And the report of this spread throughout that district.