DEATH CONQUERED
Opening Prayer
Lord, there is no physical malady You can’t heal.
Read MARK 5:35–43
35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”
36 Overhearing[a] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him.
After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Footnotes:
a Mark 5:36 Or Ignoring
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Heb 11:6).
Jairus stands in sharp contrast to the woman with the hemorrhage (25–34). The woman is unnamed with no status. She is unclean and probably lonely. Jairus by contrast is a synagogue leader, someone with authority and prestige. However, both are desperate people with urgent needs. Jairus’ 12 year old daughter is close to death, and so he begs Jesus to come heal her. Yet the journey to Jairus’ home gets interrupted by the woman with the affliction – and Jairus receives news that his daughter has died. His messengers try to persuade him to bother Jesus no further.
Despite their remarks, Jesus tells Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe” (36). He then continues toward Jairus’ home. This journey must have been tough on Jairus. He has just witnessed Jesus heal a woman suffering from bleeding. But can Jesus raise his daughter from the dead? He can only cling to the words of assurance from Jesus. It serves as a reminder that Jesus remains in control and that death is not the ultimate end. Jairus’ faith is rewarded when Jesus raises his daughter to life and presents her alive to those in the house.
Having faith in Jesus is a personal, continuing commitment. Faith gets tested when we go through the darkest of nights or the valley of the shadow of death. Whatever tough times or difficult circumstances surround us, may we have the faith of Jairus and the woman healed of her hemorrhage: God will surely deliver us.
Apply
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me”(Ps 23:4).
Closing prayer
Lord, strengthen our faith in times of trouble so that we can emerge even stronger from it all.
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