Laughing Jesus to Scorn - Luke 8:53

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 all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleeps”, and in chapter eight and verse fifty-three of his book Luke shared how the people in the house, “laughed” at Jesus where we read:

And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

The verse reads, “And they laughed him to scorn, ...” Luke began with the words, “and they laughed him” or “and the people who were mourning in grief over the death of Jairus' daughter derided and Jesus” “to scorn” which means “to contempt and disdain”. Luke shared how the people who were “mourning” Jairus' daughter's death began to “deride” Jesus to the point of “disdaining” Him.

The verse goes on to say, “... knowing that she was dead.” Luke continued with the words, “knowing” which means “perceiving, discerning and observing” “that she was dead” or “that Jairus' daughter was without life and inanimate”. Luke shared how the people who were lamenting Jairus' daughter's death “laughed” at Jesus because they “observed” that she was without life.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the people who were grieving over the death of Jairus' daughter knew she “died”, and they began to “deride” Jesus for His comment about her only “sleeping”. People often believe they know more than God, and they demonstrate their belief with the outbursts and egregious actions. God knows everything, and those who disagree with Him are wrong. Though these people thought they knew the girl's hope for life was gone, they underestimated the power of Jesus. God has a plan for every circumstance, and according to Paul the apostle, “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (See Romans 8:28), and those who are wise will submit their understanding or lack thereof about situations to Jesus Christ who knows it all.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus, “put them all out, and took” the girl “by the hand”, 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".