Luke 8: 40-56

Luke 8: 40-56

Jesus apparently wasn't offended to be the last resort. With both Jarius and the woman it was only when all else failed that they turned to Jesus. Perhaps they had only just heard of Him or they thought the situation would be worked out by means that did not require Divine intervention. For whatever reason, Jesus was the option of the last resort.

Jesus was not offended by their late coming. We see no word of rebuke or indication of exasperation. We do not see Jesus responding with anything that even vaguely looks like a, “What took you so long?” response. They both came to Jesus with a profound faith fueled by desperation that He could save them. That faith was what Jesus wanted from them; it is what He wants from us. Naturally, we can save ourselves much grief and trouble and suffering if we come to Him sooner rather than later. But Jesus appears to be unbothered by the issue of time.

These two people shared nothing in common accept that their situation was hopeless apart from Jesus. Jarius was the ultimate insider having all the advantages a Jewish man could have. The woman was the ultimate outsider. Church tradition identifies her as a gentile. But the desperation of their hopelessness led them to the common Faith and Hope that Jesus alone can save.

The Lord will allow us to experience whatever is needed to come to that same conclusion. The struggles and trouble and grief of today may have more than meets the eye. They may be guides turning us to the one who can rescue us from greater misery. Can we look at each moment with the question, “How could this turn me to the Lord?”

“Lord, help me in my struggles to come to You. AMEN”