Daily Devotions
Matthew
Criticism on the Side
Text: Matthew 9 : 18 - 26
Jesus was inundated with pressing work each day! There were the multitudes to reach. Then there were the disciples to teach. We must not forget to include the endless line of people who thronged Him pleading for healing grace.
Amidst all this work, Jesus was criticized by the scribes and Pharisees. Instead of being understanding and sympathetic to His cause, they were constantly looking for faults! Jesus had to stay very strong and focused, or His ministry could be adversely affected.
SKEPTICISM ON THE OTHER
There were many who were skeptical, to put it kindly. The multitudes were not totally convinced concerning Jesus’ Messiahship. There were so many lingering doubts that were never quite settled.
The disciples of John fared little better! They were limited in their knowledge and comprehension of the Scriptures concerning the Messiah. They were more caught up with trying to live as their teacher did, than to search for the Messiah!
AN EXCEPTIONAL RULER OF THE JEWS
Not all the scribes and Pharisees opposed Jesus. There were some thoughtful ones who sought Jesus out so that they could learn more about the teachings He propounded (Cf. John 3 – the case of Nicodemus). Not all the rulers of the synagogues rejected Jesus, as the synagogue in Nazareth did (Cf. Luke 4:15-29).
One of the rulers of the synagogue was in desperate need! His daughter was at the point of death when he decided that his daughter’s life was far more important than anything else in the world. Deep in his heart, he knew that the only hope lay in the controversial person called Jesus.
“While He spoke these thing to them, behold,
a ruler came and worshipped (prostration) Him,
saying, ‘My daughter has just died, but come
and lay Your hand on her and she will live. ‘ ”
Matthew 9:18
Matthew’s choice of language must be carefully studied and interpreted in the light of what the other synoptic Gospel writers had to say. Let us consider what Mark wrote.
“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.”
Mark 5:23
Matthew brought out a special perspective. There was an elaboration of what was recorded in Mark. At the point of his journey to look for Jesus, Jairus’ daughter was at the point of death. By the time he located Jesus, and by the time they returned to his home, his daughter might well be dead! This is how we may read Matthew’s words to Jesus.
“A ruler came and worshipped Him…”
A leper was observed to do that on one occasion (Cf. Matthew 8:1-4). Now it was Jairus’ turn to prostrate himself before Jesus! How do we understand Jairus?
1. A Man With Desperate needs
Jairus must have been really desperate to publicly prostrate himself before Jesus! He would probably have offended many of his fellow synagogue rulers when he paid obeisance of this nature to Jesus!
2. A Man of Humility
Jairus would not have been able to prostrate himself before an ordinary person. He would have to possess a fair amount of humility to beg Jesus for His help.
3. A Man of Some Faith
He must have possessed some faith in Jesus. He had to believe that the Teacher would be able to actually raise his daughter from the dead! In his mind his daughter was as good as dead.
A SWIFT RESPONSE
As usual, we see Jesus responding swiftly to the need at hand. We wonder at the way Jesus met each day’s challenges!
“So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did
His disciples.”
Matthew 9:19
AN UNEXPECTED INTERRUPTION
On the way to the home of Jairus, someone who had as desperate a need reached out to touch Jesus.
“And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood
for twelve years came from behind and touched
the hem of His garment. For she said to herself,
‘If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.’ ”
Matthew 9:21
What a contrast we have as we read Matthew 9. The Pharisees and the disciples of John were two groups of people who expressed skepticism. On the other hand, we have Jairus and this woman with a chronic medical problem exercising faith in Jesus!