The encounter between Jesus and Jairus is always fascinating. The fact that we learn his name, when so many of the people Jesus meets remain anonymous, suggests that he is someone known to the later Christian community. Jairus is likely an important figure to the early Church because he dared to meet Jesus in the way that he did – by taking risks.
Jairus is identified as a “synagogue official” and whether this is a circumlocution to suggest that he is a rabbi, or a member of a council of the synagogue, the fact remains that the leaders of the Jewish tradition had already turned their backs on Jesus. For Jairus to seek Jesus and ask Jesus to visit his ailing daughter would have brought serious consequences to him and his livelihood. He sought Jesus because he desired healing for his daughter and, having heard of Jesus’ miraculous works, believes that Jesus would effect a healing.
Jairus also risks the possibility of being turned away by Jesus. Jesus is in the midst of a large crowd who have come to hear him preach and to have him touch them. Jairus would also fear that Jesus would reject him because he is a synagogue official and this whole scenario could be perceived by Jesus as a rouse to trap him.
Jairus serves as a reminder that it is necessary to take risks in our relationship with the Lord. When Jairus makes the bold move to ask Jesus to come to his home, Jesus follows him to his home. While the crowd follows, they are no longer integral to the moment. This is the time for Jairus and his family to have their moment with Jesus.
Jairus is the first to call Jesus to the room of a dying person, in this case, Jairus’ 12 year-old daughter. While en route, Jairus learns his daughter has died. And it is the death of Jairus’ daughter that enables the very poignant dialogue to occur between him and Jesus.
One would have to expect that Jairus was struck with fear, sadness and disappointment as he heard the news. He had hoped that Jesus could heal his daughter, who knew she was dying. This would be a very normal and natural reaction. In the face of this devastating news Jesus turns to Jairus and says simply: “Do not be afraid; just have faith.”
In the midst of his encounter with Jesus and all that he has already sacrificed, Jairus needs to take yet one more step. He needs to trust that Jesus could now do what was unimaginable – to restore his daughter, not just to health, but to life.
It is always difficult to “just have faith” in the face of uncertainty, and even more so when that uncertainty is coupled with the seeming absurd. Yes, Jairus knew that Jesus had cured the sick, even those with apparently incurable illnesses, but no one raises the dead to life.
Faith demands risk, as Jairus has risked much already, to now place faith in Jesus is his only viable choice. Jesus does more than Jairus could have imagined. His daughter is raised from the dead and restored to the fullness of health.
In the midst of the struggles and challenges that come our way, Jairus becomes our patron – as we seek boldly to “just have faith” in the hope and promise of eternal life.
Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.