Among all the enemies known to man, there are few, if any, hated or feared more than death.  Death is that great unknown element that every man must face, and most would rather not think about.  Death, however, seemed to pose no problem for the King.

Desperation

In Mark 5:21 – 24 we read the story about a desperate father who came to Jesus on behalf of his dying daughter.

And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” And he went with him.

And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.

It is easy to see that Jairus was completely convinced that Jesus could help his daughter who was at the point of death.  So, true to form, Jesus went with him, accompanied by a crowd.  Of course, as they are proceeding to the house, they had that situation with the woman who was healed of a haemorrhage by touching Jesus’ garment (25 – 34).  As Jesus interacted with the woman, a messenger arrived from Jairus’ home.

Bad News

While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. (35 – 37)

Jairus’s face must have fallen as the words tumbled from the lips of the messenger.  The icy fingers of despair must have gripped his heart. They were too late!

But the King would have none of it.  As though completely ignoring the sad news, He tells Jairus to hang onto his original faith.  He had initially believed that Jesus could help, and this turn of events made no difference in the outcome.  I’m sure Jairus must have been more than a little bewildered as they continued down the road.

Resurrection!

They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. (38 – 42)

The people at Jairus’s house must have thought Jesus had lost His mind when He said the girl wasn’t dead.  In just a few moments, however, the sighing of sorrow was turned to gasps of joy.  At the command of the King, Jairus’ daughter returned to life.  One can only imagine the resulting celebration.

A Taste of the Future

The future invaded the home of Jairus in that event.  What happened that day foreshadowed the coming day when death will be forever eradicated and cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14).   At the coming of the Lord Jesus, our death-doomed bodies will become like His glorious resurrected body (Philippians 3:20 – 21).  Jairus and his family saw the Kingdom come in the raising of their little girl from the dead.  They got a peek into what it will be like in that day when we are all living in the Reign.

M

“Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”