By Rev. William E. Mueller
During the June 30 program on Worship Anew, the message weaves a story that is, I’ll admit, shamelessly adapted from Max Lucado’s book, “Six Hours One Friday.” In this book, he dedicates an entire chapter (“The Sparkle from Eternity”) to retelling the account of our text (Mark 5:21-43 ESV). He tells it as if it happened today, in our era. Instead of a synagogue ruler’s daughter that is ill and dies, it’s the daughter of a pastor. I first read this book when my now 22-year-old daughter was an infant. Perhaps, you can see why it gripped my attention. Here are some places in the text of Scripture for us to ponder:
“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.” (Mark 5:23) The Gospel writers don’t give us the background information about the daughter’s sickness or the inner wranglings that Jairus endured. Certainly, there was some level of angst going on within him. Whatever the details were, what we do know is that Jairus reached out to Jesus with the request to save his daughter’s life. He considered whatever he would lose as far less important than his daughter’s life and wellbeing.
“For she said, ‘If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.’” (Mark 5:28) It appears this woman was far different than Jairus and didn’t think she had the social standing to directly request Jesus’ help. She finds a way to sneak the healing in. While they were different from each other, this unnamed woman and Jairus have one thing in common: Jesus. They both hope He can stop death.
Next time you’re sitting in a church pew take a good look around you. Don’t look for what makes you different but look around at all the various people with whom you share Jesus Christ in common! Old and young, rich and poor, sophisticated and simple—all with Jesus in common.
“Why trouble the Teacher any further?” (Mark 5:35) Death has occurred, and there isn’t anything more that can be done. Right? That’s what the people were telling Jairus. Maybe Jairus was already thinking the same thing. But death doesn’t stop Jesus. Never. Ever. Death stops dead in its tracks when it comes to Jesus (see Luke 7:14; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22; maybe all of 1 Corinthians 15!). Jesus is the answer to death. He is death’s undoing. Why trouble the Teacher any further? My heavens! It was for this purpose that Jesus came! Praise God that Jesus doesn't stop and leave Jairus ... and that He doesn’t leave us!
“Talitha koum!” (Mark 5:41) This is the transliteration of what our Lord Jesus would have said in Aramaic.
“Koum” is the command form of a very familiar Old Testament verb. Old Testament writers use it more than 1,000 times. It means more than to just “stand there like a house by the side of the road” (to quote an old baseball hero). It means to be alive, active, and engaged. This unnamed daughter of Jairus hears the Word of Jesus and rises!
“He strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.” (Mark 5:43) Now was not the time for broad circulation about Jesus' power over death—there was still a cross for Him to endure ... and then to bring about His own resurrection. You do have to love the statement to give her something to eat. It speaks about the genuineness of this account. Jesus is thinking about every aspect of the needs Jairus’ daughter has. She is alive. She is well. She is hungry. Feed her!
This isn’t just a fancy story to prove Jesus’ divine, cosmic powers. It is an illustration of love. It is an illustration of faith. It is a window through which we see Jesus’ power to raise us from death. He has already raised us from the death of sin through our Baptism ... and, unless He returns first, He will also raise us from the dead, as well.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus