While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher any more?” Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” ). Mark 5:35-41 (NIV)
WOW!!! There’s a few lines packed with stuff!!! “Don’t be afraid; just believe…Why all this commotion and wailing? The child in not bead but asleep…Talitha koum!” For us, believing Christ is a challenge; for Him, raising the dead is a matter of words simply spoken. WOW!! What a contrast!!
I don’t know about you, but believing and trusting Christ is still a daily struggle for me. I get out of bed every morning and take a handful of pills just to keep the ticker going. I ride my bike, swim and walk the dog just to keep the cardio vascular health in as good a shape as possible. Yet I know, this side of Heaven, it is a loosing battle. Someday my family and friends will be saying their farewells to my body as I will have have finally given up riding, swimming and biking, at least on this side of Heaven. I’m just lying there, dead as a door nail. Or am I? Jesus will whisper my name and I will respond just like the little girl. As a matter of fact, those of us who have professed Christ as Lord and Savior have that Life living in us even as we read these words. We have been given a “lively hope” as the Apostle Paul calls it. No indeed, this life is never over. “Don’t be afraid. Just believe.”
In Service to God and Country,
Chaplain Pete
