Today is Fathers' Day! The Bible has a record of a wonderful father called Jairus in Luke 8:41-42, 49-56, whose only daughter was sick. She was dying, and no doctors could help. Jairus was desperate! Surely Jesus could help. The moment he came before Jesus, he fell down at Jesus' feet. Can you imagine the father’s desperation?

The name Jairus means “the Lord gives out light,” or “the Lord enlightens.” What a powerful Greek name! Jairus was in-charge of the synagogue and this means he had power and authority. But Jairus came and fell down at Jesus' feet helplessly. Out in the open, Jairus threw himself literally before Jesus. He purposely, not accidentally, fell down at Jesus' feet. His posture was one of humility. He was found not behind Jesus, or even at the side of Jesus, but in front of Jesus, at His feet. You can almost hear Jairus’s cry to the Lord: “I am nothing, Lord! I plead you, Lord! I need you, Lord! Please help me. My only daughter is dying.” As a father who loved his one and only daughter, he had no choice. Can we feel Jairus’s emotion? He could have sent his servant to invite Jesus but he did not. He took it upon himself to beg Jesus on his knees.

Jairus believed in Christ, that was why he came to Him. His love for his daughter gave him the precious opportunity to put his faith to test. And indeed it was a spiritual lesson for Jairus because we see how Satan would come and try to stop him. But God is the One who allowed it, for His own purpose and glory; as well as for the spiritual good of His people. That is why we must always give thanks for everything (1 Thess 5:18), whether good or bad. We give thanks for we believe God has a good purpose why bad things happen to us. Jairus continued to put his faith and trust in the Lord. The bad news came: his only daughter had died. The invitation for the Lord to come to heal was as good as over now. There was no need for Him to come now since Jairus’s daughter was dead. But, could it be fake news? No, this news came right from Jairus’s own house. There was no mistake about it. The father had missed his daughter's last moment before she gave up her last breath. What a pity! He could not be there for his beloved daughter even her last moments. He could have blamed those people who slowed Jesus down. He could have blamed anyone and everyone, even Jesus, for the death of his daughter. Perhaps he was about to break down. But surely Jesus knew how to comfort this grieving father. Jesus said to Jairus in Luke 8:50, "... Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole." Jairus must have believed what Jesus said because he continued to lead the way and brought Jesus to his house. Had he not believed Jesus’ words, he would have said to Jesus: “Lord, it is over. I am going home. There is no need for You to come anymore.” But Jairus did not. He believed what Jesus said and he led Him to his house. And finally they reached Jairus’s home and it was a place of mourning. The Lord blessed Jairus’s faith by raising his daughter from the dead.

It was a miracle! A life has been raised from the dead. A dead person became alive again. This miracle is done for Jairus's sake. The Lord wanted him to believe and trust in Him, even if people said to “ trouble not the Master” (Luke 8:49). To continue to believe and trust even when people laughed at what Christ said, that “she is not dead, but sleepeth” (Luke 8:52). And Jairus had to know that his daughter, being raised from the dead, will die again. What Jesus did was to bring the girl back to life, but one day she will have to die again just like every one will die in time to come due to whatever reason: old age, sickness, accident, etc.

We see that Jairus’s love for his daughter provided him the opportunity to learn to have faith in the Lord. We love our children, so we want to give them the best. Jesus is the best that we can give to our children. Our desire for them must be that they will come to know Him as their Saviour and Lord. Our desire for them must not be the best education, the most money, the latest gadgets, the most exciting playground, etc. Our desire for our children must be Jesus; Jesus who loves them and can take far better care of them than we can. You say you love your child. Then, what is the best you can give them? Is it not Jesus? Will you not teach your children about Him, and show by your example how to live, obey and serve Him? May God help us. Blessed Fathers’ Day! Amen.