21 And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea. 22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. 24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. (Mark 5:21-24 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
BURKITT : | Mr 5v1-20 | Mr 5:21-24 | Mr 5:25-34 | Mr 5v35-43 | KJV Comm
Observe here, 1. The person who came to Christ on behalf of his sick daughter, described by his name Jairus; by his office, a ruler of the synagogue; by his gesture, he fell down at Jesus’s feet and worshipped him. This gesture of his was not only a sign of tender affection in him towards his daughter, but also an evidence of his faith in our blessed Saviour; yet his confining Christ’s power to his bodily presence, and to the touch of his hand, was a token of the weakness of his faith: Come, says he, and lay thine hand upon her, and she shall live. As if Christ could not have cured her without either coming to her or laying his hand upon her.
Note, All that come to Christ are not alike strong in faith. Yet our blessed Redeemer refuses none who come to him with a sincere faith, though in much weakness of faith.
Observe, 2. How readily our Saviour complies with Jairus’s request; Jesus went with him. Although his faith was but weak, yet our Saviour doth not reject him or deny his suit, but readily goes with him.
Learn hence, How ready we should be to go to Christ in all our distresses, afflictions, and necessities, who is so ready to hear and so forward to help us, if we seek him in sincerity, though our faith is feeble.
Observe, 3. The great humility of our blessed Saviour in suffering himself to be thronged by poor people: Much people followed him, and thronged him. O humble and lowly Saviour! How free was thy conversation from pride and haughtiness: how willing to converse with the meanest of the people for their advantage! Our Lord did not only suffer them to come near him but even to throng him. What an example is here for the greatest persons upon earth to imitate and follow, not to despise the persons, nor disdain the presence of the meanest and poorest of the people; but to look upon some with an eye of favour, upon others with an eye of pity, upon none with an eye of contempt.