May 1: Jairus' Daughter: Arise and Live

Dr. Terry-Ann Robinson
Kings SDA Church

Theme: Trusting God to bring life to dead situations.

Scripture:  Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, "Talitha, cumi," which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, arise. Mark 5:41 NIV

Does it seem like sickness and death are the order of the day? Almost every day, we hear or know of someone who is diagnosed with some debilitating illness. And death, although inevitable, seems to have increased significantly. When it's not physical sickness, it's situations that we face that have us down and almost out. It doesn't matter who you are, how many degrees you have, your six-pack or no-pack, how beautiful you are, or how much money you may have. We all face problems.

Mark 5, starting from verse 21, tells us about Jairus. He was an official in the local synagogue. He was a "big wig" to those around him, highly respected, and possibly well-spoken. He may have been well dressed, someone who people looked up to. When his daughter was sick, his status in life did not matter. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and begged him earnestly to visit his daughter.

Do you have a marriage that's on life support? Do you have a child who seems to be addicted to everything bad? A job that's suffering from dwarfism? A course you can't seem to pass? Is your spiritual life malnourished? Is the cancer of sin spreading in your life? What is your health situation? Throw yourself at the Master's feet.

In verse 24 of Mark 5, Jesus starts his journey to Jairus' house, but by verse 25, we see him attending to the needs of others, and Jairus's situation seems to fall low on the priority list. Ten verses later, in verse 35, Jesus is redirected to Jairus' situation; this time, it's worse. Jairus' daughter is now dead. The people around started telling Jairus not to bother Jesus anymore - it was too late.

Maybe in your life, you have people who have pronounced the verdict on your sick situation. They tell you your marriage is already dead, your child will never come out to anything good, and you will never pass that exam, so you might as well just quit the course; you are spiritually dead.

Possibly, you have begun to embrace those views yourself and are about to give up. But hold on, my friend, the story is not over.

The pronouncement of death does not perturb Jesus, the life-giver. He could hear the cry of Jairus's heart. And He immediately provides comfort: "Do not be afraid," Jesus says. He stops the crowd right there. They can't come with him right now. He walked with his inner circle to Jairus' house, quieted the weepers, and ended the commotion. He took the child by the hand and said to her," Little Girl, I say to you, arise." Immediately, Jairus's daughter got up and walked.

Jesus is ready to take you by the hand. He is ready to step in and quiet the crowd. He is ready to comfort you. Just throw yourself at His feet. He is prepared to speak life into your dead situation.

Daughters of the King, Arise and Live!

Prayer

Lord, sometimes, when I look at situations in my life, all I see is death. But today, I am trusting you to speak life in my situation. I claim your promise to come through for me. So I place all at your feet today, knowing that you are the resurrection and the life. Amen.