EXPLORE THE TEXT
We can trust that Jesus has the power to transform lives.
23 When Jesus came to the leader’s house,
he saw the flute players and a crowd lamenting loudly.
24 “Leave,” he said, “because the girl is not dead but asleep.”
And they laughed at him.
25 After the crowd had been put outside,
he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.
26 Then news of this spread throughout that whole area.
“Healing the woman with a bleeding condition”
occurred within the verses that describe “Raising Jairus’s daughter from the dead.”
Again we see an interruption that wasn’t an interruption for Jesus.
share thoughts on the musicians and mourners at Jairus’s house.
Explain the commotion and Jesus’s response:
“Arriving at the house, Jesus discovered the flute players and a crowd lamenting loudly.
These were professional mourners.
Their presence indicated that enough time had passed since the daughter had died to summon them. .The words “put outside” [v. 25] implies more than simply inviting them to step outside.
The terminology points to a forceful eviction of the mourners from the house.
The presence of mourners was a time-honored tradition.
So in the crowd’s mind, Jesus rejected tradition once again by demanding they leave the house.”
Jesus demonstrated mercy through both His words and His touch.
He always makes time for His people when they are in need.
He helped the woman with the bleeding condition, and He helped Jairus’s family.
He will help us, as well.
Review these points from Apply the Text on page 86 of the Personal Study Guide.
Direct attention back to Pack Item 5 (Poster: Key Verse: Matthew 9:12). Note that while Jesus remains the Great Physician, He often uses His people as His hands and feet for ministry. Encourage adults to meditate on this memory verse during the week and to look for opportunities to live out the Apply the Text points listed above.
Encourage the group to examine the first set of questions on page 86 of the PSG. As a group, list groups of people who may be in need. Challenge the group to consider ways they can help meet those needs for God’s glory. Remind them that they are called to follow Jesus’s example of mercy.
Read Matthew 9:18-19 aloud, along with the questions from the “Praying Scripture” prompt. Urge the group to continue using these verses in their prayer time this week and to bring their needs to Jesus with boldness and humility. Close the session in prayer.
Text or email the group during the week to remind them of Jesus’s mercy toward them and their call to show mercy toward others. Encourage them to read and reflect on the second set of questions from page 86 of the PSG. Challenge them to ask God to help them reflect His character through mercy and compassion as He
leads them.Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God. (See Ephesians 2:1-10; Colossians 1:21-22.)
Use a concordance and/or Bible dictionary to learn more about a feature of Israel’s religious life.
Use a concordance to find references to fasting in the Bible. Read the article about fasting in a Bible dictionary. What are the different forms of fasting in the Bible? What biblical purposes of fasting did you discover? Consider how fasting can benefit you spiritually. How can you incorporate the discipline of fasting into your life?