This narrative started when a synagogue ruler had come to Jesus, urgently begging Him to save his daughter's life (Luke 8:40-42).  Jesus and His disciples agreed to go with the man.  However, a dense crowd of people blocked the road and a woman who wanted healing (Luke 8:43-48), had delayed the journey back to Jairus' house.  They were on their way when the news came that his daughter had died. "Don't bother the Teacher anymore", they said.  It was too late, nothing could be done, and the child's life had gone.  

But Jesus knew differently.  He gently, but authoritatively, instructed Jairus not to be afraid but to trust Him (Isaiah 12:2).  Jesus confidently said that the girl would be healed.  And so they continued the walk to Jairus' house.  On arrival, the sound of wailing filled the air and the traditional wailing mourners added to the crowd around Jesus.  Jesus sharply commanded them to stop their noise.  "She is not dead but asleep", He said.

Instantly, the mood changed from grief to ridicule.  From being the respected wise teacher, Jesus was now considered to be foolish and ignorant.  The crowd knew better than Him.  They had the evidence of death, and He was only speaking words.  However, as we shall see, the words of Jesus would be much more powerful than a lifeless corpse (Luke 8:54-55).  The Saviour was not seeking crowd-approval; just their silence (Job 6:24), for their faithlessness could add nothing.  It was Jairus who had been challenged to believe - not even the disciples believed; only three of them were called into the house to act as witnesses – and to learn how to be leaders in the Early Church (Acts 4:8-12).

'Knowing better than God', is at the core of our sinful nature.  We can always find evidence to prove that we are right, even when we are wrong!  Because we cannot know the future, we usually predict the future based on our experience.  We do not allow the possibility that God can or will change the course of our present circumstances.  But we are called to better things.  He has the power to change anything that is outside of His will (Philippians 3:21).  So, He asks us to put our faith in Him, to believe His promises and to live in the confidence that He is in control of the future.  Many will discourage us from doing so, but it is only the Lord's voice we need to hear above the din of worldly hopelessness.