Jesus Ministered to Their Needs
August 27, 2016
Do you have needs right now? Sure you do; we all do. Our family serendipitously encountered a bird caught in what appeared to be a thin fish-line enmeshing its foot and entangling it in a bush where feral cats could have easily made a meal of it. Its struggle was its greatest argument to corral help from us. Freeing it was an exercise in triage, negotiation, and teamwork. We delicately approached it and it submitted to our advances. It was with glee that it left it's nestled cocoon of our daughter's hand and flew off into the olive tree towards the sunset.
God is wanting to do that for each of us. Every challenge that you face has been triaged by Him. (1 Cor 10:13) Jairus was with Jesus when his daughter died. He came to Jesus and instructed Him as to how to heal his daughter. Jesus did not chide him with a theological treaty on healing. Rather, He allowed a woman with an issue of blood to demonstrate His power. As Pastor Henry Wright once said: "Jairus wanted healing for his daughter when Jesus had a resurrection in mind".
Many times our needs intensify even in the presence of Jesus; they go from bad to worst. Don't give up. Join your weakness to His strength. It takes nothing less than resurrection power for Jesus to deliver us from any trial or situation; believing in His Word.
Here is what Elder Waggoner says: "The raising of the son of the widow of Nain, and of the daughter of Jairus, are instances of the lifegiving power of the Word of Christ. To the first, Jesus said, "Young man, I say unto thee, Arise." (Luke 7:15) To the other, He said, "Maid, Arise." (Luke 8:54) In both instances life was instantaneous. The signs were done that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that, believing we might have life through His name. (John 20:31) They were done that we might see how easily Jesus can raise us from the deadness of sin to the life of righteousness."
"But some will say that theirs is no ordinary case. They are worse than others, and while they can believe that Jesus might save others who are not so sinful, they think that He cannot save them. They forget that sin is death, whether it be great or small, and that to raise one dead person is just the same as to raise another. In every case it is by the giving of His own life. It is no more difficult for the Lord to give His life to a very wicked person than it is to give it to one who has not sinned so greatly. But He has given us proof of this as well. "We have seen how easily Jesus raised the ruler's daughter and the son of the widow of Nain. They had been dead but a short time. The ruler's daughter died while Jesus was on the way to heal her and could have been dead but a few moments when He arrived. The breath had but just left the body. But now look at the case of Lazarus. He had been dead for days, and had begun to decay. Yet it took no more words from the Lord to bring him from the tomb than it did to raise the others. Jesus said, "Lazarus, come forth," and instantly Lazarus came forth alive. So there is no opportunity for one to say that God cannot save any sinner." "He is able to save to the uttermost them that come unto God by Him, because He ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25) His life is everlasting and without limit. It is a light, which is not diminished by shining. He can give life to the whole world, and still have as much left as at the first."
"The knowledge and the actual appropriation of this is the hope of the resurrection. In that day those who have been dead for thousands of years will hear the voice of the Son of God, and will come forth. But the power that will bring them forth is the very same power that now saves men from the corruption of sin. Thus His Divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and Godliness." Present Truth UK December 29, 1892, p. 402-3
Sometimes resurrections are pleaded for and they don't come. Still don't give up. This week we remember our brother Will Pergerson with somber respect. One year ago the unwanted and unwelcome news arrived by text-message that he had died. What a year it has been with the calm assurance that Jesus is still with us--experiencing what we are feeling. It will be the same power that is saving us from our sin that will resurrect our dear brother and the redeemed of the Ages. Submit to His advances; allow him to untangle you from the web of your seemingly threatening circumstances by relying on His Word and his tender watch-care.
"Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole." Luke 8:50
~Richard Kearns
