St. Luke 8: 40 – 56

July 13, 2022

40 And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.

41 And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:

42 For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.

43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,

44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.

45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

49 While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.

50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

51 And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.

52 And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.

53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.

55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

56 And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

These are much-loved stories we never forget; they never fail to make us feel good and revisit within ourselves how we felt when we read them for the first time.

But every time I read that Jesus tells someone not to say anything about their healing, I just have to laugh. Evidently, Jesus forgets who He’s dealing with! Humans couldn’t keep a secret if they put it in a locked vault! And that’s just simple secrets – what are we going to do with a secret that reveals a child being resurrected? Bullhorns – on the highest house tops, that’s what we’re going to do. Ancient versions of Instagram or Twitter or whatever social media: ‘teleaman’ and ‘teleawoman’! Tell me the neighbors didn’t see the little girl playing out in the yard the next day; c’mon now, who’s going to keep THAT secret???

But maybe … just maybe, Jesus knew that the whole time and was having a little fun at our expense. This might be the case I’ve always wanted to see in the Bible – the one where someone writes, “Jesus laughed.”

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