Mark 5:35-43, Luke 8:49-56

When all hope is gone and our situations are helpless, who do we turn to?

Jesus, after healing the woman with the issue of blood, amazingly carries on with His journey to Jairus’ house to heal the ruler’s daughter. This again shows the heart and compassion of Jesus’ desire to see both physical and spiritual healing throughout His earthly ministry. Suddenly, they are stopped by some people who had just come from Jairus’ house. Jesus was too late. Jairus’ daughter was pronounced dead. Can you imagine the sorrow Jairus must have felt? The desperation he first showed when he fell at Jesus’ feet highlights just how much his daughter meant to him. So now, presumably judging from Jesus’ response to him, he was filled with fear and sorrow at the news of the death. However, Jesus words in verse 36, comforts the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid, only believe.” The Lukan version of this story adds the powerful words “She will be made well.”

Jairus needed to be reminded who he was walking with. He had just witnessed the miraculous healing of a woman with a 12 year old issue. Jesus was with him. He was (and is) the hope and strength that Jairus could turn to. Jesus’ affirmative and authoritative statement that she will be made well was the comfort Jairus needed. Yet although the text does not state this, upon reaching his house, he must have been even more discouraged at the sound of mourners wailing and crying. It was tradition to bury dead bodies relatively quickly due to the hot weather and lack of modern day storage facilities. Because of this, mourners were encouraged to come immediately after the death to show their respects. Often present, were people who were paid to stir up emotion and wail alongside the families. Yet Jesus was not impressed. He too must have been discouraged at the sight of their unbelief. Jesus then boldly claims the child is not dead but sleeping and proceeds in ushering them out of the room. Although the crowds laughed at Jesus, He was confident in His own healing power and took the girls father and mother into her room.

We often, when praying for healing, pray long, eloquent prayers and of course all in Jesus’ Name. Yet I am always astounded how when Jesus healed people, His very words held so much authority that even death submitted to His voice.

He then spoke these Aramaic words to Jairus’ daughter, “Talitha, Cumi” which means “Little girl, arise.” Of course, unsurprisingly, this little girl of 12 years old gets up and walks immediately. What joy must have filled that room? I can just imagine Jesus lifting her above his head, spinning around, laughing with the parents, and sharing this miracle with them. Again, sometimes we often think that Jesus healed people out of necessity because He was God and that’s what He had to do to prove it to people. But, this is not the picture I get when I read this story. I think it was Jesus’ joy to heal this young girl. His desire was to bring joy and hope to this family. Mark says in verse 42 that they were “overcome with  great amazement”.  Do you realise that Jesus wants the same for your life? His desire is to see you, His child, resurrected and filled with this same joy!! When hope is gone, when the tunnel seems dark and the path shut, look to Jesus. He is the hope for the hopeless and strength in our weakness. Let Him speak the words of life into your heart. “Talitha, Cumi.”