Mark 5:21-24, 35-43
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 ….
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. 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. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
I am a father of four daughters. I love each dearly. I see pictures of their childhood and treasure those times. I don't see them daily any more, but the desire for their wellbeing is no less.
The welfare of your children or dearest loved is no small thing either, is it? If the issue is one of life and death, parents would move heaven and earth, if they could, just to spare their child.
The Bible tells of a man named Jairus, a father whose young daughter was deathly ill. Helpless, he came to Jesus. Everything else was irrelevant. Here was a prominent man, a ruler of the synagogue whom we could suspect was normally very distinguished and not one to be down on all fours begging. But his dignity was immaterial.
In faith, he beseeched Jesus to touch his child so she might live. There is no room for pride when death threatens. All hope and credit rests in Jesus.
A great crowd also surrounded Jesus. But this too was no consideration to Jairus. Did the ruler of the synagogue not realize he was expecting a great deal to ask Jesus to come to his house, treat his daughter, and respond to his insistence when many others also were hurting? In the crowd were other folks in need. Didn't they count? Yes, he was asking a great deal. But that's why he came to Jesus!
In fact, right in the middle of this chapter the Bible suspends the story of Jairus and tells of a woman with a chronic hemorrhage who slipped through the crowd to touch Jesus and was healed. Everything about Jairus' little girl is postponed while Jesus inquires after this woman, finds her, and speaks comfortingly to her.
A few, it seems, were mindful of not asking too much of Jesus. In fact, when the report came that the little girl had died, some suggested Jesus not be troubled any further. Those who came with this report were not so much concerned for Jesus’ time and trouble as much as they now believed Jesus would be irrelevant in the face of death. If the child has died, then what's the point of bringing in Jesus? What's the point of counting on Jesus when his delay in ministering to someone else made him too late for little Talitha? What's the point of pleading for help if, in the long run, God is "a day late and a dollar short"?
One can only imagine Jairus' feelings as a father to have loved his daughter so much that he would leave her side just when she was so critically ill, prostrate himself before Jesus, plead for help, persist in spite of other people's needs, have his hopes raised only to face the holdup of a woman whose problem traced back twelve years. After twelve years, couldn't that wait a little bit longer when today minutes, even seconds, count?
All this only to be told the little girl had died.
What a severe test of faith this was. Jairus believed in Jesus though his faith was taxed. It would be strained further. A gauntlet of yowling mourners waited at the house, an uproar probably increased because it was a youngster who had died. How this must have shook Jairus especially when the bawling turned to derisive laughter when Jesus announced the child was only sleeping.
The Lord's Word cut past all the experts, all outward indications, all "reasonable" human conclusions, all experience, all scientific deductions, and all collective judgment. All such things are subordinate to the Word of Christ to which faith clings when all other intrusions, conclusions, and derision interfere.
Nothing but faith belongs in the death chamber. Jesus does not allow the doubter, the cynic, the agnostic, the pessimist, or the naysayer into the child's presence. He takes only those who hope in Him. Speculation or misgivings about the power of Christ are out of place. Contempt is incompatible with hope. Science cannot raise the dead.
But Jesus can - and does.
He calls death sleep, and it is so.
He calls you who have sinned, saved, and it is so.
He calls you who mourn, the comforted, and it is so.
He calls you who hunger for righteousness, the satisfied, and it is so.
He calls you who are insulted, persecuted, or falsely accused for his sake, the blessed, and it is so.
He calls to the little girl, "Talitha cumi," and immediately she rises because only Christ can make it so.
He takes those who believe in him, who know that Christ is the Lord of life, tested though they may be, right to where faith sees its validation - in the resurrection!
Jairus received even more than what he asked. He asked that his daughter be made well, yet Jesus did more than take away an illness. He conquered the death in her. Jesus raised her from death to life.
This is the Christ you and I know and trust. He gives us more than we could ask. He exceeds all our hopes. He pays double for all our sins. He answers before we ask and surpasses the best we can imagine.
Therefore when others recommend Jesus not be bothered; when others howl that death defeats us all; when others brazenly laugh that Jesus is "above his pay grade," you and I remember the empty tomb. You and I enter where the Christian bereaved have gathered and sing:
"Now all the vault of heaven resounds,
in praise of love that still abounds:
Christ has triumphed! He is living!
Now still He comes to give us life
And by His presence stills all strife.
Christ has triumphed. He is living.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
(LSB 465)
