Jesus Meets Us Where We Are

"While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live." (Matthew 9: 18)

The chief ruler of the synagogue, Jairus, approached Jesus, believing that He could raise his daughter from the dead.

When Jesus came to Jairus' home, He announced that the daughter was not dead, but sleeping:

"He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn." (Matthew 9: 24)

Even though the hired mourners mocked Jesus, he put them out and raised the young girl from the dead.

Returning to the prayer of the chief ruler, we see that Jairus prayed the wrong prayer, in a sense. He believed that his daughter was already dead. He even said so.

Notice that Jesus did not shame or rebuke him for his lack of faith.

Moreover, Jairus asked Jesus to come to his home and lay hands on his daughter, when Jesus could have healed the daughter right then and there.

He had healed the centurion's servant in that manner:

"The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed." (Matthew 8: 8)

He also healed another person in the same manner:

"So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. 48Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. 49The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. 50Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way." (John 4: 46-50)

Despite the weak faith of the chief ruler (he believed that his daughter was dead, and he believed that Jesus had to be physically present to heal her), Jesus meet him where he was and answered his prayer.

Today, beloved, do not come to God trying to be strong, or trying to enhance your faith. Come to Jesus as you are (Matthew 11: 28), believing that He wants to help (1 Peter 5: 6-7), and Jesus will more than meet your need, for He grants us beyond what we can ask or think (Ephesians 3: 20).