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Have we forgotten where Jesus was going? We are studying Matthew Chapter 9. Jesus had been on his way to the home of Jairus whose twelve year old daughter was seriously ill. His journey had been interrupted by a woman in real need.

As Jesus is speaking with this dear needy woman who had been suffering so much for twelve years, news comes from Jairus' house. "Your daughter is dead. Your 12 year old girl has died. Don't bother the teacher any more. The teacher cannot do anything now, Jairus. It is too late. The delay has been too long. We are sorry. We are sorry that you were not able to be there at the end."

Jesus, are You too late? Could You not have spent time with this sick woman some other day? Your delay has meant that my wee girl is dead! That woman had been bleeding for 12 years. Another day would not have made all that much difference!"

It is all there. Sometimes Jesus allows things to go wrong, as we see them - terribly wrong! Most would not have permitted any delay, but Jesus did. He was in perfect control. Jesus had such power and authority, but also such humility, stopping to minister to this poor pained woman. Any other human being with all this power – it would have gone to their heads – all this power, and yet so humble.

We have this incident recorded in all three Gospels and all three include the intervention or interruption.

Verse 50 in Luke Chapter 8 - Jesus heard the news being brought to Jairus, and He intervenes, "Don't be afraid - just believe. Don't give up Jairus - have faith - and she will be healed. Did you not hear what I said to that dear woman? Have faith, Jairus.”

Jesus is so composed and poised. He is so in control, and Jesus is going to answer Jairus' prayer, even though it does appear that He has left matters too late.

Jesus comes to the home of Jairus, but He does not allow the crowd to go in - only the father and mother, and three disciples who were very close to Jesus – Peter, James, and John.

Some were already mourning, weeping and wailing, and Jesus said, “Stop wailing, she is not dead but asleep”.

They laughed at Him. They scorned Him, and they ridiculed Him. At such a critical moment they mocked Jesus, and this does not throw Jesus.

Matthew 9 verse 25 tells us why He put them all out. Jesus would not have faithless hysterical mockers around when He performed this miracle.

Consider the scene as Jesus Christ walked in that home. All kinds of emotions are flowing.

Jesus took the little girl's cool dead hand and said, "My child - get up - come on - arise - sit up." And, her spirit came again, and up she got, and Jesus told them to give her some food to eat. O, how He understood her need. And, mummy and daddy were astonished. They were amazed.

We do become surprised at times when Jesus answers our prayers.

What a wonderful picture we have of Jesus here, as He reveals such a wonderful understanding of children. What an amazing handling of such a challenging situation. Jesus knew how to handle every situation which confronted Him.

At this time He says, "Now don't tell anyone what has happened." What a strange command - would they be able to keep quiet about this wonderful miracle which Jesus had performed?

Everyone in the vicinity would surely know within the hour.

In a sense it is the opposite from what happens with that woman in need where Jesus has just healed her.

Where there are resurrections in Scripture, they all took place when people were in the prime of life. It is unlikely the writers would have recorded these incidents unless they had strong evidence to support them. These young witnesses could easily be traced. And – these interruptions are no unredeemable accidents, as Jesus is flexible enough to deal with the unexpected.

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

Moralism