The Answer is "No"
The man that Jesus had just healed had only one request, that Jesus allow the man to stay with Him. One simple request that seems, at the outset to be a very valid, good request. Why then wasn't it answered with a "yes"?
Perhaps Jesus said "no" because He knew there was a more important job that this man would have to do for Him. Perhaps, as Spurgeon suggested, Jesus knew that the motivation of the request was partly out of fear - that if he didn't stay close to Jesus he would be overtaken by demons again. Perhaps. . . we'll never know exactly why, but maybe therein lies the answer. We don't always know why The Lord answers prayers as He does, but we can know it's always for our best - even if we, in our tiny little human hearts, have no idea of the "why."
The Nearness of Faith
I absolutely love the story of the lady in this chapter who had so much faith that she didn't feel she needed to talk to The Lord to be healed. She didn't even feel she need to see His face. She just needed to be near enough to Him - near enough to touch.
Oh that I would desire to be 'near enough' to Him.
The Journey of Faith
I image that the trip from the time Jairus spoke to The Lord until the servants met them saying his daughter was dead must have seemed like an eternity! Every step would have made Jairus want to break into a run. Every stop would have increased his agony knowing that his little girl was sick and he had the answer, and 'the Answer' wasn't moving fast enough.
Knowing the end of the story, it kind of makes me smile. How often am I exactly like that? It just seems Jesus isn't moving fast enough for me. I need to get the answer I want right now! But just like Jairus in the story, when I rush it on my time, I lose out on some of the blessing. Had Jesus healed her right when Jairus asked, he would have missed the opportunity to see his little girl go from 'sleeping' to wide awake right before his eyes. He would have taken away from his little girl the privilege of hold the Master's hand. He would have lost a lot to save a little time.
Lord, as I see in this one chapter three lessons about prayer, please help me to know that it is all about you. The focus of my prayer, the reason for my prayer, the results of my prayer - it's all about you and your great power, and your amazing love, and your perfect timing.
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