More from Cletus L. Hull III: http://pneumareview.com/author/cletuslhull/

Are you in a desperate circumstance and can’t see a way out? This devotional study from Kirk Hunt will encourage you and help you focus on Jesus.

The Story

²²And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet ²³and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” ²⁴So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him (Mark 5:22-24 NKJV).

Jairus put all of his religious doctrine into a scroll jar. He set his pride down on the kitchen shelf. Cloaked in humility and driven by distress, the pastor of the synagogue went to Jesus.

It’s amazing what a man will do for his sick child. He’ll put aside his political leanings. He’ll ignore denominational boundaries. He’ll even approach a backwoods carpenter-turned-preacher.

Jairus and his daughter’s need are real and urgent. Jesus agrees to come and heal the little girl. The crowd, looking for more spectacle and exhibitions of the miraculous, tags along.

Jairus, Jesus and the Disciples begin pushing through the crowded streets. Jairus must have ground his teeth at their slow progress. The crowd’s raw size and festival attitude formed one hindrance. Jesus’ willingness to minister on the way formed another. Still, he had to wait, while Jesus moved at His own speed.

³⁰And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” ³¹But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?'” (Mark 5:30-31 NKJV).

In the midst of the throng, a different soul, desperate for healing, touches Jesus. Her faith is so great that Jesus didn’t need to focus His attention on her. Healing power flows from Him to her at her believing contact.

Jesus stops the parade to address this unnamed woman’s enormous faith. Jairus stands by silent and stoned faced. I’m sure he meant the healed woman no ill, but his daughter remains sick and near death. This delay, even to teach belief and faith, stretches out the anguish of this man and father.

Even the Disciples are mystified at Jesus’ behavior. Perhaps they get the lesson later, but at that moment, they side with Jairus on the craziness of the situation. Still, Jesus stops and ministers.

More stalling. More delay. Disaster marches closer.

³⁵While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” (Mark 5:35 NKJV).

Time has run out. The opportunity for the miraculous has passed. The need, that existed so urgently a few moments before, has vanished like smoke.

Bob took a job in Cleveland with a paint company, and Liz found a job nearby. About six months after they were married, Liz told her husband that she was thinking about getting a piano for their apartment. Bob thought that was a great idea, he’d always wanted to learn to play the piano so they went downtown the next weekend to see what pianos cost.

They walked through the store, and soon a salesperson appeared to answer any questions. They continued to walk until they approached a grand piano when Liz asked if she could try the grand piano out. The salesman said by all means so Liz sat on the stool and opened the keyboard and ran her fingers up and down the keys.

She began to play, and her husband and the salesman were astonished. I recall Bob saying his jaw dropped and hit the floor. He had no idea that his wife could play the piano, let alone play with a master’s touch. A few months later, Liz was the lead pianist for the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra.

She soon enrolled at Harpur College in Binghamton NY to further study the piano, and after several years on the concert stage moved to Paris to study at Fontainebleau. Bob had unknowingly married one of the world’s most talented pianists. It turned out that Liz’s parents, who lived in an apartment above their luggage shop, had a stand up piano in their living room. Liz began to play that piano at a very early age, and developed into a world class musician during her school years. She resented what this had cost her growing up, and decided that she would not play while going to College.

I told you their story because none of us really knows the talent and artistry our mate possesses or might develop. The Bible tells us that we are to encourage each other as long as day follows day. If we do this with the right attitude and with joy, we will discover hidden talents and qualities in our husbands, wives and children.

Indeed you can be the one that opens the future and enables your spouse to become all that he or she can be. You can bless and help. You have a tongue that can build up or tear down. Let’s decide that we value our loved ones and from now on, we will become their number one fan. If we do that, God will move in his invisible Kingdom and bless you the giver and the one to whom you give will be so grateful.

Do you what talents God has given your spouse? You can be the one who brings those gifts out for all of the world to enjoy.

 H. Murray Hohns