January 14
“(Jesus) took the child by the hand, and said to her, ‘Talitha, cumi,’ which is translated, ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise,’” Mark 5:41.
The evangelist Mark relates the story of the raising of the daughter of Jairus at greater length than the other evangelists. Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee and came back to the territory where He had been the day before, and many people followed Him.
Jairus, a ruler in the local synagogue, came looking for Him. When He saw Jesus, he fell down at His feet and begged Him to come to his house and lay His hand on his daughter, who was critically ill and at the point of death. Jesus went with him, and a large crowd followed along. In that large crowd was a woman who also needed healing, and she said within herself that if she could just touch His clothing, she would be healed. Immediately, she was healed, not by the touch itself, but by the power of Jesus, and He said to her, “Your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction,” Mark 5:34.
While Jesus was still speaking, some acquaintances of Jairus came and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” Mark 5:35. Jesus heard what they said, and He told Jairus, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” Then He continued on His way to Jairus’ house, but He did not allow the whole multitude to follow Him into the house, with the exception of His three disciples, Peter, James, and John. Those were the three disciples who were granted special privileges on special occasions during the days of Jesus’ ministry.
At Jairus’ house, a group of mourners had gathered who were weeping and making a big commotion. Jesus asked, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping,” Mark 5:39. The group ridiculed and mocked Him! Jesus dismissed all the mockers and doubters from the house, and He entered the child’s room together with the parents and the three disciples. “He took the child by the hand, and said to her, ‘Talitha, cumi,’ which is translated, ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise.’” Immediately, the twelve year old girl arose and walked, and He told them to give her something to eat! Everyone was amazed!
Jesus demonstrated to the multitude that He is the Lord of life and death! What an amazing Savior we have! He is the almighty Son of God, and He demonstrated it with another miracle.
Some of you who are reading this account might recently have laid a loved one in a grave. You might still have a heavy heart. However, in this account there is comfort for you. Be assured that there is a life after death, and the dead who fall asleep in Jesus will be raised back to life when Jesus comes again at the end of the world.
For the strengthening of your faith, in spirit go to the open, empty tomb on that first Easter morning. Jesus, who suffered and died on Calvary’s cross to take away the sins of all people, rose triumphantly from the grave and conquered death and the devil for us. He says, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die,” John 11:25-26 – that is, eternally. Believers in Jesus will be raised from the dead and be taken into the halls of heaven!
“I know that my Redeemer lives;
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever-living Head.
He lives and grants me daily breath;
He lives, and I shall conquer death;
He lives my mansion to prepare;
He lives to bring me safely there.” Amen.