Saturday, January 21, 2006
Waking the Dead
A ruler of the synagogue named Jairus came to Jesus begging for Him to intervene and save the life of his daughter. Jairus fell at Jesus' feet and in humility asked for a miracle. Given the controversy surrounding Jesus, this is something that had to be difficult for Jairus to do. What would the other religious leader think? But this man had to come to the point where he did not care. He was desperate. If something didn't happen, his little girl could die.
Jairus had come to the end of his resources. He must have felt helpless, and Jesus had compassion on him. This episode proved to be a great teachable moment for Simon. While on the road, people pressed around Jesus and one woman touched His garment. He felt virtue and power go out from Him. Jesus stopped to ask who touched Him. Simon dismissed the question by basically saying that the crowds were all around Him. Anybody could have done it. But Jesus was not talking about any normal touch. This was the touch of a person who believed. This touch was different because Jesus knew power had gone out of Him.
A women with a rare blood disease came forth and admitted to her act. She was healed. This disruption delayed them enough that Jairus' daughter died in the process. I am sure that Jairus must have felt heartbroken. The answer was so close. But it didn't come in time. He may have thought, 'if we had only hurried.'
Jesus immediately dismissed the news of the daughter's death. Bad news has never been a problem for Jesus. He trusted in the power of His Father. Jesus turned to Jairus and said, "Be not afraid, only believe." He hit on the major enemy of faith - fear. Jesus called Jairus to believe.
Only the girl's parents and a few key disciples were allowed in the house. Everyone else who had already gathered to mourn the girl was put out of the house. They were making such a loud noise with their sorrow that it made the situation difficult for Jesus. They laughed at Jesus when He said that the girl was not dead just sleeping. Jesus cleansed the house of disturbances and anything that could disturb His work.
Jesus went into the girl's room with her parents, Simon, James and John. Without much elaborate fanfare or any great pageantry, Jesus went about His task with complete confidence. He touched the girl by taking her hand. Then He spoke to her and told her to arise.
Immediately, the girl got up and walked around the room. According to Mark 5, the girl was twelve years old. Everyone in the room was astonished, except, of course, Jesus. He knew what would happen. He acted in faith when He went to heal the girl.
Jesus then forbids anyone to publicize the event or make a big deal about it. This miracle was done for God's purposes not to enhance the reputation of Jesus’ ministry. Then Jesus told them to give the girl something to eat.
Simon was there for this entire situation. He saw it from start to finish. He saw how Jesus brushed aside bad news, the laughter of the crowd and even the doubt of those closest to the miracle. Simon saw how Jesus calmly dealt with the situation and did it in a very non-religious way. The miracle occurred to honor God and His purposes.
Simon saw that Jesus stopped to reward a woman for her faith along the way. While each step for Jesus was deliberate, He never got in hurry. What is time to God? Each of these moments became valuable teaching lessons to Simon. He discovered how God has called His people to wake the dead. This miracle happened as a foreshadowing of Jesus' power over death. It helped Simon see that all things are truly possible with God for those who believe. Death is not greater than the power of God.
The people believed that there was hope for recovery as long as the girl remained alive. But once she died, they felt all hope was gone. They saw death as the end of the line. Jesus did not look at the situation the same way. He knew that He had the power over the grave. Simon witnessed the power of God even when it came to death.
God specializes in bringing dead things back to life. Jesus called Simon to do likewise. We are all called to wake the dead by bringing the life of Jesus to a dying world. Sometimes this requires raising the physical body of a dead person. But most of the time, God wants us to bring His life to those who are spiritually dead.
Jairus had come to the end of his resources. He must have felt helpless, and Jesus had compassion on him. This episode proved to be a great teachable moment for Simon. While on the road, people pressed around Jesus and one woman touched His garment. He felt virtue and power go out from Him. Jesus stopped to ask who touched Him. Simon dismissed the question by basically saying that the crowds were all around Him. Anybody could have done it. But Jesus was not talking about any normal touch. This was the touch of a person who believed. This touch was different because Jesus knew power had gone out of Him.
A women with a rare blood disease came forth and admitted to her act. She was healed. This disruption delayed them enough that Jairus' daughter died in the process. I am sure that Jairus must have felt heartbroken. The answer was so close. But it didn't come in time. He may have thought, 'if we had only hurried.'
Jesus immediately dismissed the news of the daughter's death. Bad news has never been a problem for Jesus. He trusted in the power of His Father. Jesus turned to Jairus and said, "Be not afraid, only believe." He hit on the major enemy of faith - fear. Jesus called Jairus to believe.
Only the girl's parents and a few key disciples were allowed in the house. Everyone else who had already gathered to mourn the girl was put out of the house. They were making such a loud noise with their sorrow that it made the situation difficult for Jesus. They laughed at Jesus when He said that the girl was not dead just sleeping. Jesus cleansed the house of disturbances and anything that could disturb His work.
Jesus went into the girl's room with her parents, Simon, James and John. Without much elaborate fanfare or any great pageantry, Jesus went about His task with complete confidence. He touched the girl by taking her hand. Then He spoke to her and told her to arise.
Immediately, the girl got up and walked around the room. According to Mark 5, the girl was twelve years old. Everyone in the room was astonished, except, of course, Jesus. He knew what would happen. He acted in faith when He went to heal the girl.
Jesus then forbids anyone to publicize the event or make a big deal about it. This miracle was done for God's purposes not to enhance the reputation of Jesus’ ministry. Then Jesus told them to give the girl something to eat.
Simon was there for this entire situation. He saw it from start to finish. He saw how Jesus brushed aside bad news, the laughter of the crowd and even the doubt of those closest to the miracle. Simon saw how Jesus calmly dealt with the situation and did it in a very non-religious way. The miracle occurred to honor God and His purposes.
Simon saw that Jesus stopped to reward a woman for her faith along the way. While each step for Jesus was deliberate, He never got in hurry. What is time to God? Each of these moments became valuable teaching lessons to Simon. He discovered how God has called His people to wake the dead. This miracle happened as a foreshadowing of Jesus' power over death. It helped Simon see that all things are truly possible with God for those who believe. Death is not greater than the power of God.
The people believed that there was hope for recovery as long as the girl remained alive. But once she died, they felt all hope was gone. They saw death as the end of the line. Jesus did not look at the situation the same way. He knew that He had the power over the grave. Simon witnessed the power of God even when it came to death.
God specializes in bringing dead things back to life. Jesus called Simon to do likewise. We are all called to wake the dead by bringing the life of Jesus to a dying world. Sometimes this requires raising the physical body of a dead person. But most of the time, God wants us to bring His life to those who are spiritually dead.
