3. JAIRUS JESUS TO HEAL HIS Mark 5:21-24 (Matthew 9:18-26; Luke 8:41-56) 21 And when Jesus had crossed over again in the boat unto the other side, a great multitude was gathered unto him , and he was by the sea.--Matthew (Matthew 9:1) says he "crossed over, and came into his own city." Luke (Luke 8:40) says: "As Jesus returned, the multitude welcomed him;for they were all waiting for him." When his boat first started from the eastern shore, where he was not wanted, the people on the western shore could see it, and as soon as they saw which way it was headed, they could assemble at the spot where it was to land, and wait for him. He landed, then, at Capernaum in the midst of a waiting multitude; and this was the great multitude (verse 24) that followed him when he started for the house of Jairus. 22 And there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name;--"One of the rulers" shows there was a plurality of rulers of the synagogue, just as there is a plurality of elders in the church. He was one of the elders (Luke 4:3), or presiding officers, who ruled over the affairs of the synagogue. and seeing him, he falleth at his feet,--In the posture of reverence and earnest entreaty. Matthew (Matthew 9:18) says he "worshipped him." He bowed himself before Jesus with his face to the ground, an act of respect and reverence. Dropping upon the knees, and bringing the forehead to the ground, was the Oriental method of reverence and worship. 23 and beseecheth him much, saying, My little daughter is at the point of death:--She was his only (laughter, and was about twelve years of age. (Luke 8:42.) He loved his child and spoke of her tenderly. In the last extremity, Matthew says: "Is even now dead." Luke (Luke 8:49) says: "While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Teacher." Verse 35 states the same. There is no discrepancy. She was "at the point of death" when Jairus left home, and died while he was beseeching Jesus for help, and some one followed and told him of the sad fact. Matthew condenses all into the one statement: "Is even now dead." Frequently one historian does not relate all the facts, while others relate facts which he omits; hut all are true. Matthew relates the main one, "Is even now dead," while Mark and Luke go more into detail and relate the condition of the child when Jairus left home and how the fact of her death was made known to him. I pray thee, that thou come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be made whole, and live.--His faith in Jesus to heal is expressed in his leaving his dying daughter to seek the aid of Jesus, and by his earnest entreaty. Yet he thought personal contact was necessary. This is seen in the fact that he wanted Jesus to lay his hand on the child. It was the elder of that synagogue who had previously come to Jesus in behalf of the centurion whose servant was sick, requesting that he should go and heal the servant, and saying, "He is worthy that thou shouldest do this for him; for he loveth our nation and himself built us our synagogue." (Luke 7:4-5.) As Jairus had been concerned in the cure of that servant, it is not surprising that when his own little daughter was at the point of death, he resorted to the same unfailing source of deliverance. 24 And he went with him; and a great multitude followed him, and they thronged him.--In kindness and mercy and immediately Jesus went with this ruler to his home. He was always ready to bless. He is now, although in a different way.