Reason #4: Jesus Turns Interruptions Into Opportunities

Have you ever been jostled in a crowd? Maybe you’ve been to a huge concert or a sports event filled with cheering fans. Sometimes, when there is a REALLY large crowd of people, it’s hard not to get squished, pushed around a bit, or trodden on.

Jesus experienced being pushed around in a crowd, but HE was the one that people were jostling to see!

In today’s Bible reading, how did Jairus show that he was desperate to get Jesus’ attention?

🚦 The interruption: On the way to saving the life of Jairus’ daughter, Jesus pauses. In the middle of a crushing crowd, Jesus knows someone touched him—not by accident, but on purpose. Someone touched the edge of his cloak hoping to be healed… and Jesus knows it! WOW!

But he doesn’t get grouchy at this interruption. Instead, Jesus waits for the person to come forward, and then praises the woman who reached out to him in faith.

🩺 What about Jairus’ daughter??? While Jesus pauses to talk to the healed woman, Jairus finds out that his daughter has died. It all seems too late. How tragic!

But Jesus encourages Jairus to keep on trusting him. Near the end of today’s Bible reading, what happens to Jairus’ daughter?

✅ Different but the same:

Let’s compare these two stories of healing.

• Jairus was an important leader in the community, but we don’t even know the name of the bleeding woman. Both of them were desperate for Jesus’ help.

• Jairus begged Jesus in front of everyone to come and heal his daughter, whereas the woman tried not to make herself known. Both of them were scared, but they reached out to Jesus in faith.

• Jairus had to wait, while the woman jumped the queue for Jesus’ attention. Both of them received the miracle healing they needed.

🛟 The opportunity: Jesus chose to turn this interruption into an opportunity to help more than one desperate person. He didn’t need to rush or worry about how much time it took, because Jesus had the power to even bring Jairus’ daughter BACK TO LIFE! Only Jesus could do that!

We should never think that reaching out to Jesus is a bother to him. We can invite him into our lives and into our difficult situations any time at all—it’s never too late to ask! Remember, Jesus upgraded what most people would call an interruption, and turned it into an opportunity to help someone.

✏️ Prayer and picture prompt:

Ask Jesus to help you have faith like the people in today’s Bible story, and on a piece of paper, draw your favorite part of today’s Bible story.