Luke viii. 50. When Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not : believe only, and she shall be made whole.
AFFLICTIONS may well be deprecated by us as painful to flesh and blood ; but they are often the means of humblinsr us before God. Multitudes came as suppliants to our Lord, who would never have regarded him if they had not felt the pressure of disease or trouble. The rich in general were the most backward to acknowledge him ; but they found
that in the hour of affliction none other could do them good. Hence occasionally we see the opulent presenting their supplications before him. Nor did he reject the suit of any, whether they were rich or poor. The answer he gave to the ruler of the syna- gogue is recorded in the text ; and it will naturally lead us to notice the ruler's faith :
I. How it was tried —
Jairus (such was his name) had much to try his faith —
[He had an only child (twelve years of age) in dying circumstances. Having heard much of our Lord's miracles, he applied to him on behalf of his daughter, and earnestly requested him to come and restore her to health. But while he was returning with Jesus to his house, his servant brought tidings that the child was dead. This was a dreadful shock to the parent's feelings, and might have utterly destroyed all his hopes.]
Thus it is that the faith of God's people is often
tried —
[They are enabled to make application to their God and Saviour. But the storm in the meantime gathers thick around them : their difficulties so increase, that their hopes seem almost blasted. They have cried for pardon, and find only an increasing sense of guilt. They have prayed for deliverance from corruption or temptation, and experienced the assaults of Satan more violent than ever. Thus they are almost ready to think that God has cast out their prayer, and shut up his ten- der mercies from them. It was in this manner that holy Job was tried. Yea, the experience of most, however diversified, is generally found to agree in this3.]
But this accumulated trouble was permitted for the further exercise of the ruler's faith.
II. How it operated —
He was enabled humbly and confidently to depend on Jesus —
[It was his faith that first led him to Jesus for help : nor, when his case seemed desperate, did he give up his hope. It is probable that our Lord might perceive some rising appre- hensions in his mind ; but he sustained him instantly with those encouraging words, " Fear not." Jairus expected now that his
a Ps. cvii. 5, 6, 12, 13, 18, 19, 26— 28.