Raising Dead Things to Life -- Part 2
In the last blog, we looked at Jesus' amazing power to raise dead things, when He miraculous healed a woman who had lost 12 years of her life. But that is not all that is amazing in Mark 5! There is an even greater resurrection story in the same chapter.
When Jesus went back across to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him on the shore. A leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, came and fell down before him, pleading with him to heal his little daughter.
"She is about to die," he said in desperation. "Please come and place your hands on her; heal her so she can live." Jesus went with him, and the crowd thronged behind…[but]messengers arrived from Jairus's home with the message, "Your daughter is dead. There's no use troubling the Teacher now."
But Jesus ignored their comments and said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid. Just trust me." Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn't let anyone go with him except Peter and James and John. When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw the commotion and the weeping and wailing. He went inside and spoke to the people.
"Why all this weeping and commotion?" he asked. "The child isn't dead; she is only asleep." The crowd laughed at him, but he told them all to go outside. Then he took the girl's father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying. Holding her hand, he said to her, "Get up, little girl!" And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! Her parents were absolutely overwhelmed.
Where does Jairus go with his problem? Unlike so many of us, he knows right where to go--straight to Jesus.
Did he know all that Jesus was capable of doing? Probably not, but he was willing to find out! Others tried to dissuade him not to bother with Jesus. It was too late. “She’s dead,” they said. “What can Jesus do now?” Oh, how little they knew! They would soon find out the power Jesus has over dead things.
Before you get angry at their lack of faith, let me ask you something. How many dead things in your life have you stopped bothering Jesus with because you think they’re beyond hope?
You used to pray for your marriage, but it looks beyond repair now. Why bother Jesus anymore with it? You used to pray for your drug addiction, but you’re hopelessly hooked. You’ve failed so many times why would Jesus even care anymore? You used to pray for your relationship with your father, but he hasn’t talked to you in eight years. Why bother Jesus with it anymore? And the list continues and continues.
But what does Jesus tell Jairus when he gets the terrible news of his daughter’s death? He says simply. “Don’t be afraid. Just trust Me.”
Can you hear those words echoing in your heart? I hope you can.
“Just trust Me,” Jesus says. “Don’t give up. Don’t be afraid that this dead thing will stay dead. Believe.”
Jairus wanted badly to believe, and so he continued on. At the house, Jesus encountered more doubting. When He told the mourners that the girl was not dead, they cackle with laughter. Let’s face it, this may happen to us if we tell our friends, “I believe Jesus will raise this dead thing in my life.” Don’t let another’s lack of faith be your undoing. Jairus didn’t. He headed into his daughter’s bedroom with Jesus and witnessed a miracle.
So, let's get personal. What dead thing is in your life? What is it that appears hopeless and lost from your perspective? You could be thinking of one or hundred things right now. They all may seem beyond recovery for you. Don’t believe it. Christ is in the business of raising dead things.
Bring you dead things to Him right now and watch His resurrection power go to work!
