Today, I want to digress a little from my usual thoughts.
Just today, I guess, maybe, I am not sure.
Well I want to share a new revelation that the Holy Spirit opened up to me while I was reading the book of Luke. Two particular stories captured my attention, and as I pondered them, I asked the Holy Spirit for deeper insight. Allow me to share what I’ve discovered about the power of a father’s love.
Before I could finish this article, something beautiful happened. I received a random call from my granddad, my grandpa. He simply called to tell me that he loves me and is praying for me, that I was in his thoughts and I am special and he is praying for me. I cried, tears of joy knowing that it was so timely, I glory in the Lord for such moments. That call gave me more clarity on what I was about to share. Credits to my Grandpa.
Now, the two stories that stood out are the story of Jairus and his daughter (Luke 8:40), and the man who had a son plagued by convulsions (Luke 9:37-43). Perhaps you didn’t expect I would draw a connection to a father’s love from these excerpts, after all, we have other profound examples of fatherly love in the Bible, like Abraham’s faith with Isaac or even the prodigal son’s father (Luke 15). Yes, there is numerous stories to show a fathers love.
But I believe these two examples were recorded for a specific reason. Remember, “All Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit” (2 Timothy 3:16).
These two stories, at their core, are about two fathers facing a common issue: the desperation for their children’s healing. Both Jairus and the unnamed man had only one child, and both of their children were ill to the point of death. Jairus’ 12-year-old daughter was on the brink of death, and the other man’s son was tormented by convulsions caused by a demon.
As I read, one question immediately came to mind: where were their wives? I mean we all know how affectionate mothers can be, especially in moments when their children are suffering. We get to know about Jairus’ wife later on when Jesus came to heal her, we don’t get much details about her, only that she was in the room when her daughter arose from the dead.
But in these two stories, it’s only the fathers who are mentioned. This piqued my interest. Why? And the answer that came to me is simple: it’s about the father’s love.
These two men, these fathers, loved their children so deeply that they were not ashamed to push through crowds and approach Jesus pleading for the healing of their kids. Jairus, in particular, was a synagogue leader, a man of status and respect in society. Yet, when his daughter’s life was at stake, his titles and reputation didn’t matter anymore. His love for his daughter surpassed any status he held.
Luke 8 tells us that after Jesus healed the man possessed by a legion of demons, “A crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him” (Luke 8:40). Jairus was one of those people in that expectant crowd. Despite being a religious leader, when it came to his daughter’s life, he didn’t care who was watching or what people might think. His love drove him to Jesus.
Similarly, the father of the convulsing boy brought his son directly to Jesus, despite the chaos and the crowds. He had only one concern: his child’s well-being.
These fathers had one thing in common a relentless love for their children, and a determination to do whatever it took to see them well. They weren’t waiting for their wives to lead the charge. These men took responsibility for their families, and their love for their children compelled them to seek out the only One who could make a difference.
And isn’t this the love that God demonstrated for us? In John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God, as our Father, sent His only Son to die for our sins driven by the same relentless love that these two fathers had for their children.
So, let’s reflect on this: how far are we willing to go out of love for those we care about? Fathers, mothers, caregivers alike may we be inspired by these stories to take action in love and seek God’s help in times of need, knowing that our Heavenly Father has already demonstrated His unfailing love for us through His Son.
Blessings.