Jesus demonstrated friendship in a variety of ways with many kinds of people, including Jairus, a religious and synagogue leader saturated in legalism.
Jairus the Respected Synagogue Leader
Through Jesus, Jairus learned much more about his beliefs and what it means to value relationships over religion.
Though he is a lesser-known New Testament figure, we do know a little about Jairus. He was a respected synagogue leader, likely conducting services and other activities. It is also likely that Jesus and Jairus had already met before their encounter.
"One of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at His feet and kept begging Him 'My little daughter is at death's door. Come and lay Your hands on her so she can get well and live'" (Mark 5:22-23).
Recognizing the Messiah
In biblical history, God gave the Jewish people a unique identity, holding them to a high standard of holiness and instructing them to observe the laws and traditions He had ordained in detail.
The Law revealed where people fell short, but many additions to the Law had made it cumbersome. Religious leaders, like Jairus, had assumed not only spiritual but political authority over people's lives. Much of their concern was for their own status in society, finding their value in the enforcement of the burdensome rules.
They did not recognize the Messiah—the giver of the New Covenant—who was living in their midst.
"While He was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader's house and said, 'Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher anymore?' But when Jesus overheard what was said, He told the synagogue leader, 'Don't be afraid. Only believe.' They came to the leader's house, and He saw a commotion—people weeping and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, 'Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.' They started laughing at Him, but He put them all outside. He took the child's father, mother, and those who were with Him, and entered the place where the child was. Then He took the child by the hand and said to her, 'Talitha koum!' (Which is translated, 'Little girl, I say to you, get up!'). Immediately the girl got up and began to walk"
Mark 5:35-36,38-42
Recognizing a Need for the Messiah
We are most likely to recognize our need for Jesus when everything else has failed us.
For Jarius, time was of the essence; his child's life was at stake. He was beyond desperate, totally unable to help. Weaving through the crushing crowd, the once-dignified leader fell before Jesus, begging for help. He was not ashamed to call on Jesus publicly, for he was convinced that only Jesus could help his daughter. We can only assume that Jairus's relationship with Jesus changed that day. Where he had been a disloyal friend, he saw Jesus' faithful friendship.
He saw the heart of his personal Savior.
Jesus was a loyal friend to Jairus, even when His faithfulness wasn't reciprocated.