On Sunday, we read the tender and miraculous story of a man’s need for a miracle from Jesus for his daughter. The story is found in Mark 5:35-43. In the story we saw Jesus give the man wonderful words to life by that we can apply to our own lives.
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Words of Faith-Don’t be afraid; just believe.(vs. 36)
Just believe? Believe for what? The daughter had passed on. What was there to believe? Jairus had gone to Jesus in faith and told him about his daughter being sick. He had experienced a relationship between faith and Jesus’ power when Jesus told the woman with the issue of blood that her personal faith in Him had made her well. Jesus was telling him basically, “You came to me in faith. You have witnessed the faith of the woman with the issue of blood which resulted in her healing AND peace. Just keep believing for yourself.” The language here is in the present imperative tense. “Stop fearing and keep on believing.” Okay. What was he supposed to believe?
I don’t know that it was so much about what he was to believe, but in whom he should keep believing. You see, our belief isn’t in a predictable outcome. Our belief is in a Person, Jesus Christ. Our belief in Jesus gives us fortitude to take each day step by step with the calm assurance that no matter what, Jesus will care for us, hold on to us, strengthen us, help us, and provide for us along the way. Will you choose to believe in Jesus and not give in to fear? -
Words of Hope-The child is not dead but asleep. (vs. 39)
Why would Jesus have just said she was asleep? That seemed very insensitive in the face of what appeared to be obvious reality. I believe Jesus used the word “asleep” to speak words of hope over them because if someone is asleep what is the assumption? That they will wake up, right? Listen, those who die in the Lord won’t die and cease to exist, but we will fall asleep in the Lord and rise again into a glorious existence in Heaven with Him forever. This is the promise of Scripture! That is our eternal hope! When this urgent situation had gone from hopeful to hopeless, Jesus interjected hope.
When God speaks something over our lives, we need to embrace it, believe it and allow it to give us hope over our circumstance no matter how bleak or final the situation appears. If you are a Christian, you have every reason to live in hope. God isn’t called the God of all hope for nothing! May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 -
Words of Power--“Talitha koum!” “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).
Sometimes when we think about the power of God we think of lightning bolts and thunder claps, earthquakes and things like the huge, thick veil being torn in the temple when Jesus announced from the cross, “It is finished!” Certainly, there can be demonstrations of God’s power with loud and demonstrative signs and wonders. In this passage, however, we see a different kind of power expressed.
Jesus didn’t walk into the room of the girl and yell. He didn’t start shouting, “I demand you in my name to come to life.” The text says He took her by the hand. He would have gotten close and bent down to touch her. I love that we have the Aramaic words Jesus used. Notice what the words of power included: “Talitha” means “little girl” but it means something more. This is a term of endearment. This is a special word that a parent would use with their child. Perhaps the most faithful translation of the word would be, “Honey.” Honey. That doesn’t sound powerful, does it? It sounds tender. It sounds compassionate. It sounds sensitive.
The second word, “koum” means “get up.” “Honey, get up.” “Honey, it’s time to get up.” What does that sound like? It sounds like a parent getting their child up for school. “Honey, it is time now to get up.”
And the little girl got up. Jesus made sure she had something to eat. She had been resurrected, but she needed strength to go on in her physical body. She responded to His words not only to come to life, but to regain her strength.
Here is the truth: Many people would gain a new kind of life if they would follow the words of Jesus and live in obedience to His instruction. So many people want a miracle for a moment, but Jesus wants to infuse life and power into our lives for the course of our lives. He wants to take us by the hand, like He did this little girl, and lift us from a place of spiritual death into a new kind of life in Him.
As we obey the words of Christ, we are healed and we are sustained and nourished to continue in this life as long as God has determined we should be here. What wonderful words to live by!
Are you afraid of what you are facing? Do you feel a sense of urgency over your condition? Have you come to Jesus in faith believing He will help you? Then keep believing. Believe His words in faith and not fear. Have you heard the words, “There is nothing else we can do?” in some situation, whether in your physical condition or elsewhere? You have every reason to hope if Jesus walks with you. Do you need a new start because of something you have been through? Do you hear Jesus say to you this morning, “Honey, get up.” It’s time to get up. It’s time to walk on. Let Him take you by the hand and talk to you. If you listen, you will hear words of faith, words of hope and words of power spoken over your life. And I promise you, they will be wonderful words to live by.
