“21 Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea. 22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet…” – Mark 5: 21-22

Ordinarily, a man like this would have never initiated a conversation with Christ. This man was a ruler, unlike the beggars and lepers who were apt to approach Him. This man was a ruler of the Jewish synagogue, unlike a Zacchaeus who was a ruler in the Roman tax collecting hierarchy. This man was identified, unlike the certain rich man who eventually walked away from Jesus. This man came to Him publicly in broad daylight unlike, Nicodemus who came to Jesus by night. Ordinarily, this conversation would have never happened except for the fact that this was not a conversation. This was a petition.

This man, Jairus, did not come to Jesus in his capacity as a ruler of the synagogue. He came as a father petitioning the help of the Lord. It is interesting to note how unlikely people are drawn or driven to Christ. Consider these factors which may have moved this man towards Jesus.

Pain. Jairus had a daughter who was in pain and, therefore, so was he. Perhaps, in compliance with HIPAA, the scriptures do not release the child’s precise diagnosis. However, we have here all that we need to know. She was sick and in pain. Remember, that the Jews had passed a law that anyone who acknowledged or made contact with Jesus would be put out of the synagogue. Still, this ruler of the synagogue’s child and his family were in so much pain that they overcame peer pressure and pride to come to Jesus.

Powerlessness. Jairus was not simply a member of the congregation. He was a ruler of it. As such, he must have been used to having and wielding power. People would move at his command. Servants would jump at his request. Yet, in the face of his daughter’s sickness, he was powerless. That powerlessness drove him to Jesus. Here again, almost as a last resort (instead of as the first option) people tend to run to Jesus when they have done all that they can do.

Promise. Somehow, Jairus heard about Jesus. Whether out of frustration or desperation, he gathered enough courage to violate the cultural and religious norms to come to Jesus. That is because Jesus represented a hope that his daughter might be healed. It is often not faith which brings us to Christ. Rather, it is hope. The hope that what He has promised He can do and will do, even for us.