Series: Flowers in the Desert
Mark 5:36 ESV
Mark 5:35 ESV
Mark 5:37-43 ESV
Mark 5:21-24 ESV
Luke 19:10 ESV
Matthew 19:26 (All Things Possible)
Have you ever been caught in a situation where you were told not to tell something but it was “so big” that you thought you would explode if you didn’t tell someone?
In Mark 5:36 a secret thing happened, “But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”
What did Jesus overhear?
Well…Mark 5:35 tells us, “While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”
Then in Mark 5:37-43 we are told what happened with Jesus next. “And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.”
So…how, I mean HOW do you raise someone from the dead and keep it a secret?
And…do any of you remember a time when something awesome (I mean really really awesome happened and you were told not to tell?)
Do you remember feeling like you were going to explode if you didn’t tell someone?
So you ended up telling your best friend and you told her not to tell…
But your friend was about to explode so she told one person and she told them not to tell…
And that person felt like they were going to explode if they didn’t tell someone…
So they ended up telling just one person and she told them not to tell…
But he felt like he was going to explode if he didn’t tell…and so on and so on.
I am NOT a mathematician but if 3 original people were told, how many people would be eventually told?
In the case of the girl Jesus raised from the dead, we are not told what happened, but I have to wonder, what really happened. why did Jesus tell them not to tell?
But, in order to get the full context we need to back up to read Mark 5:21-24. “And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.”
We notice that Jesus was compassionate and He went with Jarius. The flower in the dry dry desert was Jesus’ compassion.
We need to note that only three disciples were with Jesus when the girl was raised from the dead.
We need to remember that as God, Jesus knew the timing regarding what was to come.
Also, Jesus knew what public reaction would be if the miracle had been made public.
A great crowd was already following Jesus. Now, it’s just speculation but it seems like having even more people (throngs) come to Jesus asking him to raise their loved one from the dead could have been problematic.
Jesus came for a purpose. It’s been my experience that everything God does has a purpose. We do not always understand the purpose at the time, but in time it can make sense. However, there have been difficult times when I didn’t understand why something happened. Coming to a point of acceptance is an important step in spiritual development. The truth is, there are some things we will not understand until we are fully with God.
In this case, scripture does help us to be mindful of Jesus’ overall purpose. In Luke 19:10 we are told, “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
That was Jesus’ primary purpose.
It makes sense really. If Jesus’ primary purpose would have been primarily to heal, it would have only been temporary. When we go to God, we will all be healed, so seeking to be with God is the ultimate healing.
In the case of Jairus’ daughter we do not know specifically why Jesus brought her back from the dead.
I lost track a long time ago how many times I tried to understand everything God does.
Accepting that God is God and we are NOT is also an important element in spiritual development.
Today we accept the truth that Jesus is God, and Jesus had a purpose for Jarius’ daughter.
The story of Jarius’s daughter is a beautiful story and when we read it we are reminded that Jesus is compassion and love.
Reflecting on Jesus’ response gives rise to the hope of believing that all things are possible with God (Matthew 19:26).
Spiritual Practice: Pray
What is your flower in the dry dry desert? Lay “the impossible” at the feet of Jesus.
In God, Deborah
Comments