Fathers

Jairus trembled as he laid a tender hand on his daughter’s fevered cheek. He knew with certainty that if he did not act at once, his daughter would die.

Quickly, he turned and walked out of the room, out of the house, and down the street. Pushing through crowds, he frantically looked for Jesus.

Finding Him at last, Jairus threw himself to the ground and begged, heedless of the stares, the whispers, and the raised eyebrows. He did not care.

All he could see was the face of his daughter as she lay in agony on her bed. Jesus was the answer and the focus of all his hopes. Another father watched for Jesus as he held his son tight. The tormenting demon often threw his son to the ground in a seizure. He had found the disciples, and in desperation, he pleaded with them to help.

But on this day, only Jesus could save. Anxiously, the father waited, unaware of the miraculous events transpiring on a mountaintop, clinging desperately to a thread of hope. When this father spotted Jesus returning to His disciples, he boldly interrupted, begging for help! Decorum and propriety could not come between this father’s need and Jesus.

Not even his lack of faith. He would confess and beg for enough faith if only his son could live. What beautiful hearts these two fathers had—their children were uppermost in their minds. They were willing to risk all and spend all to see them whole again! And like those earthly dads, our heavenly Father looked upon us, His children, stricken with the ailments of sin and twisted by sorrow and grief. His heart ached. We were separated from Him by misunderstanding, our own choice, and a cruel enemy. So our heavenly Father sent His only Son into the world to show us His heart, to live and to die for us. The Father placed all His hope in Jesus too. Think of it! The Father bent over His only Son, broken and bleeding upon the cross.

In the act of giving up His only Son, He hoped to save the children He formed with His own hand. This is our Father. Dad. Abba. He is the One we can run to when we are needy or when we hurt. We can trust His heart like no other. After all, He was willing to spend everything and risk everything to bring us peace and healing through His Son.

What a wonderful Father!

Jodi Scarbrough