Patience

by Adesuwa Ehinome Iluobe

My heart pounded against my chest as I ran towards my destination. ‘Your daughter is dying’, I had just been told. I felt my cloak flying behind me as I ran, with my servants and subordinates from the synagogue racing after me.

Then I saw His head in the midst of the crowd standing beside the sea and I lunged forward, pushing my way through the people standing around him and fell at His feet with my hands clasped together.

“My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live” I begged.

Jesus looked at me, I saw His eyes soften as He held out a hand and pulled me up. “Let’s go.”

We marched towards my house, as He waved and mouthed hellos to the people around, they pressed in on us on every side. Then He halted. “Who touched my garment?”

“You see the crowd pressing around you and yet you say who touched me?” Some men who always followed Him said to Him.

Jesus paid them no mind and started to look around, gently moving around so as not to push people away from Him. He did this till a woman pushed forward.

“I am so sorry Master, it’s me” She wept as she spoke. “Look at me, I am healed! I touched the hem of your garment, I said to myself if I could just touch even His garments, I shall be made well! Look at me! I am well!” She cried. Jesus smiled as she spoke and patted her shoulders bidding her to be calm.

My servants signaled to me to ask Him to hurry, but I looked away. This Jesus healed the blind and the lame, there was something about Him and He has agreed to follow me to my house! The crowd became silent as she began to tell the story of the last twelve years. How her estate has become non-existent, as all of her wealth had been emptied in the purses of physicians all over the land.

In about thirty minutes she finished, her weeping had reduced to silent tears. Jesus touched her hair and said “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” The crowd gasped and began to talk at once and soon the noise became a din.

As we walked on, I saw my housekeeper from afar, shouting as he ran towards us. “She is dead!” He got to us and knelt down, “why trouble the Teacher any further? She is dead” he cried.

Something cut in my chest as I turned to looked at Jesus, who at the same time grasped my hand “do not fear, only believe”. He turned around and spoke to His men and soon only three of them followed us, while the rest attended to the crowd.

My house had become a tumult! People lined up the walls of the compound, they stood and sat in groups, crying together and singing dirges. As I walked in, cries rang out and my wife ran to me and collapsed in my arms.

“Why do you make a tumult and weep?” Jesus said aloud? “The child is not dead but sleeping.”

One by one the people who were once in tears started to laugh. “What a joker!” They sneered, “wake her up then if you say she is sleeping” loud laughter ran through the courtyard.

“Jairus, no one should follow us in, let them stay outside, while we go in” He beckoned on His men. I got my servants to help usher the people outside the house. Then I and my wife followed Him and His men inside to where my daughter lay. A sob escaped my mouth as I saw her lay there lifeless.

He went to her and taking her by hand He said gently “Talitha cumi”.

My wife and I clutched each other till we almost squeezed air out of us, as my daughter opened her eyes and sat up. She smiled at Jesus, stood up and walked to us.

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“Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭5:41–43‬ ‭ESV‬‬.