While he was still talking, someone from the leader’s house came up and told him, “Your daughter died. No need now to bother the Teacher.”
Jesus overheard and said, “Don’t be upset. Just trust me and everything will be all right.” Going into the house, he wouldn’t let anyone enter with him except Peter, John, James, and the child’s parents.
Everyone was crying and carrying on over her. Jesus said, “Don’t cry. She didn’t die; she’s sleeping.” They laughed at him. They knew she was dead.
Then Jesus, gripping her hand, called, “My dear child, get up.” She was up in an instant, up and breathing again! He told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were ecstatic, but Jesus warned them to keep quiet. “Don’t tell a soul what happened in this room.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
- “When pigs fly!”
- “That will never happen!”
- “Fat chance!”
- “I’ll believe it when I see it!”
- “No way!”
These are just a few of the phrases we utter about a myriad of situations and circumstances - skeptics and cynics that we are. I could almost hear this girl’s father, Jairus, speaking these things to Jesus and His disciples. His daughter was dead already. He and everyone else knew it. Yet after Jesus and the disciples went in to see her, she emerged alive, well...and hungry!
There are a lot of thoughts on why Jesus warned everyone not to speak of what had happened. People would probably not have believed them in the first place...and those who were convinced would probably assume that witchcraft or some sort of sorcery was involved - and come after Jesus and His followers. Jesus knew that this was not “His time” to be apprehended...that there was still work to be done...miracles to be performed...lessons to be taught. And while we are called to share the Good News of Jesus...we’ve never been commissioned to brag.
There are several lessons for us in this passage. The first seems pretty obvious – nothing is impossible with Jesus. Now I don’t mean to imply that He is going to bring our loved ones back to life when they pass from this earth. But He surely could if it fit into His plans. The bigger “take-away” from these verses seems to be that we are not to underestimate the power of Jesus to do anything and everything. We are to be less skeptical and cynical...and more positive and optimistic. We are to trust that God is in full control...and we are to walk in this confidence.
When we receive word that things are bad...when we hear about dire circumstances, a bad diagnosis, or some sort of trial or tragedy...we are not to wring our hands and throw a pity party. We are to seek Jesus...to “follow Him into the room” and watch and listen as He works...then emerge with the confidence that He is handling the situation. Remember the story of David in 2 Samuel 12:22-23, where he answers those who question why he emerged from his chambers after the death of his baby with Bathsheba. People are appalled that he is dressed and hungry – and actually sits down to eat a meal. “While the child was alive,” he tells them, “I fasted and wept, thinking God might have mercy on me and the child would live. But now that he’s dead, why fast? Can I bring him back now? I can go to him, but he can’t come to me.”
The lesson for us is that we have a job to do...we are to trust in God and believe in His wisdom and healing power – in all situations. We are to “follow Jesus into the room” and serve Him as He works in our lives and the lives of others. Then we are to step out into the world and live with confidence and assurance. We don’t need to brag...we shouldn’t need to be constantly announcing to those around us that we are Christians – and we certainly should never imply that God has given us special treatment or that we are better than anyone else. It is one thing to say, “God has done amazing things in my life”...but it is quite another to act as if you did anything special to merit these blessings – or that you are “all that and a bag of chips!”
What God has done for us, He will gladly do for any and all who trust in Him. Jesus died on the cross that we might all be raised from the death of our sins. The sad thing is that a lot of us still don’t fully believe this. We underestimate God’s healing power...His desire to rescue us...His incredible, unconditional and unending love for us. So like Jairus and his friends, we essentially say, “It’s too late” or “I have serious doubts.”
Hear this...it is never too late with God. As long as you draw breath, there is opportunity to be healed and restored through Jesus Christ. Will you trust Him do work in your life? Will you “emerge from the room”...alive, healed and hungry? Isn’t it time you did just that?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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