All Weeping and Wailing - Luke 8:52

The beloved physician Luke wrote how, “there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house. For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him. And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng you and press you, and say you, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody has touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: your faith has made you whole; go in peace. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: your faith has made you whole; go in peace. While he yet spoke, there came one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Your daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden”, and in chapter eight and verse fifty-two of his book Luke shared how, “all wept, and bewailed her” where we read:

And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleeps.

The verse reads, “And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not;” Luke began with the words, “and all wept” or “and each, every, the whole and everyone lamented, mourned and sobbed aloud”, “and bewailed her” which means “beat upon their breasts for grief because of the death of Jairus' daughter”: “but he said” or “however, Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “weep not” which means “do not lament, mourn and sob”. Luke shared how everyone was “lamenting in grief” over the death of Jairus' daughter, however, Jesus instructed them not to do so.

The verse continues, “she is not dead, but sleeps.” Luke added Jesus' words, “she is not dead” which means “Jairus' daughter is not lifeless, without breath and inanimate”, “but sleeps” or “nevertheless, notwithstanding and moreover Jairus' daughter is fallen asleep or lien down to sleep”. Luke shared how Jesus told the people who “mourned” over Jairus' daughter that she was “sleeping” and not without life.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we see two different views and responses to what was happening with Jairus' daughter. The people “mourning” over her considered her “dead”, but Jesus understood she was “sleeping”. The perception of the people drove them to “lament and mourn in grief” over this circumstance, but Jesus told them they needed not to do so. God always has a plan, and He is always working it out. Jesus demonstrated His view of situations versus what people see, and His desire is for people to have a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus so they may see as He sees. Those who are wise will seek “God's view” of circumstances and allow Him to work in their lives according to His understanding and not their own.

Next time Luke shares how the people in the house, “laughed” at Jesus, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".