Daily Bible Reading 23rd July 2026 // Luke 8:40-56
40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41 And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house, 42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.
As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. 43 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. 44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. 45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
49 While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler's house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” 50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” 51 And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. 52 And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” 53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” 55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given to her to eat. 56 And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.
What must Jairus have been thinking all the time this was going on? He would hardly have been human if he had not felt impatience, even resentment, at this interruption which delayed Christ when his daughter was at the point of death. But this is not how Jesus looked at it. He said: 'Be not afraid; only believe'. And therefore, we must assume that this delay was a necessary experience for Jairus, needful for him, to test faith and strengthen it. There is something important here. It teaches us: 'Do not fret when others' needs seem to be met, while the answer to yours is delayed. Only believe. Think rather, for your encouragement, that if He can help the other He can help you too, and meet your needs.' Jairus' faith was tested to the uttermost. It was one thing to believe Jesus could do something, while she was dying, but quite another to believe He could do it when she was dead. It was surely the darkest hour in Jairus' life - and over against it, Christ gave him a simple word: 'Be not afraid, only believe'. And Jairus was sustained by the bare word of Christ. An old Scottish divine used to speak of the need to 'trust in the bare word of a promising God'. This is how it was with Jairus, and this is how it often must be with us also, in spiritual life.