The Other Daughter

Growing Daily

A parent with a critically ill child has little patience for interruptions.

That’s the tension behind a remarkable moment in Mark 5. Jairus had fallen at the feet of Jesus, begging Him to come quickly because his young daughter was dying. Every second mattered.

Jesus started toward his house, but suddenly stopped...

A woman in the crowd had touched His robe, believing she could be healed from an illness that had plagued her for many years. Jesus turned, and trembling with fear, she “gave him the whole story” (Mark 5:33 MSG).

This was probably not a brief exchange. Imagine Jairus standing there through it all. His daughter was slipping away. The delay must have felt unbearable. But then Jesus said something amazing to the woman: “Daughter, your faith has made you well” (Mark 5:34).

It’s the only time recorded in Scripture where Jesus calls someone “daughter.” And it's hard not to see this as a teaching moment for Jairus and the others watching.

Jairus was focused on his daughter, but Jesus may have been reminding him that this suffering woman was someone’s daughter too — and more importantly, that she belonged to God. Others saw her as an outcast, cut off from her community and worship. Yet she mattered deeply to Him.

Sometimes we grow impatient when God seems to pause on the way to answering our prayers. But what feels like a delay to us may be part of His loving work in someone else's life.

Jesus stopped for two daughters that day. He was powerful enough to care for both.

- Ron Reid