Day 116: Mark 5:35–43

He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). . . . At this they were utterly astounded (vv. 41–42).

I want to remind you of one of our objectives. You may otherwise be frustrated over my leapfrogging from place to place in Scripture. Although I wish we could go through every step the disciples took with Christ, one of the purposes of this journey is to draw riches from the life and letters of John. We’ve taken the first steps of his encounters with Jesus rather slowly because he was among those first chosen to follow Christ. For a time we will pick up the pace rather dramatically as we leapfrog from scene to scene. As we focus on the synoptic Gospels, our objective is to concentrate on the settings where John is named or known to be present.

Keep in mind that Jesus had many followers, but He chose twelve from the many to walk nearest to Him. Every moment the twelve spent with Jesus was significant, but over the next couple of days we’re going to look at two scenes with some common denominators that no doubt had a profound effect on John. Try your best to view each occurrence from his point of view. Keep in mind that John was probably the youngest of the apostles and younger brother to one. Think of him as flesh and blood, and imagine what each experience might have been like for him.

We find scene one in this passage from Mark, chapter 5. The synagogue ruler named Jairus had requested that Jesus heal his daughter, and they were on the way to his home. Men met them and told Jairus not to bother the Rabbi because the girl had already died. Jesus told Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe” (v. 36 hcsb).

I am fascinated by what Jesus did next. First, “He did not let anyone accompany Him except Peter, James, and John, James’ brother” (v. 37 hcsb). This reduced number proceeded to the home. The mourners had already gathered. In fact, they laughed when Jesus said the girl was not dead. So He drove the crowd out of the house. He took the three disciples and the girl’s parents into the room with Him. Jesus then raised the girl from the dead with a mere verbal command.

I can’t help wondering what went through the minds of the three men when they were allowed to follow Jesus to a place the others weren’t invited. I know what would have gone through my feminine mind. Women tend to be so relational. I hardly would have been able to enjoy the privilege without fretting over the others being left out. Then, of course, I would have worried about whether they would be mad at me when we got back. I would imagine for days that they were acting a little weird. In fact, knowing I would have fretted myself half to death, Jesus most likely wouldn’t have bothered letting me come. No telling how many things I’ve missed because I make a knot out of the simplest string.

Oh, but how I would have hated to miss the eyeful the three got that particular day. Raising the stone-cold dead is nothing less than divine. This scene was not business as usual no matter how many miracles the three had seen and even performed.

I have been with several people right around their times of death, and I was utterly amazed each time how quickly the body grew cold. In spiritual terms, the soul is what keeps a body warm. Physical death occurs when the soul (meaning the immaterial part of a person—soul and spirit) departs the body. At its exodus, the warmth of life departs as well. We can be comforted by the fresh realization that the spiritual life is in the soul, and the soul continues living. We talk about the finality of death, but it has relatively little finality to the believer.

I’m so glad Jesus didn’t listen to those who discouraged Jairus from “bothering” the teacher any more. Their reason was because the girl was dead. But the death of a loved one is no time to quit “bothering” Jesus. No, He’s not very likely to raise our loved one from the dead, but He can do countless other things to get us through our losses. Comfort is the most obvious need, but we have others.

I often talk to people who remain hamstrung by a death that has left many issues or answers unresolved. If I may be so bold, sometimes the missing person is not a loved one but an unforgiven or unforgiving one with whom we needed to make peace. Hopelessness often ensues. Depression can result. Sometimes we are convinced that all parties must be alive and kicking for us to gain peace in a situation.

Needless to say, the ideal time to make peace with others is while everyone’s still breathing. But if it’s too late, bother the Teacher! He doesn’t have our limitations or rationalizations. Has a death left you with unfinished business? Finish it with Jesus.