Mark 5:35-43 – From Fear To Faith
Imagine how impatient Jairus, the synagogue ruler who comes to Jesus because his daughter is dying, must have felt at Jesus’ slow progress through the crowd. Every minute is precious to Jairus because time for his daughter is running out. Then, Jesus stops and questions the crowd and talks to the woman He has healed, and we can almost see Jairus afraid to ask Jesus to hurry but also full of fear that they are going to be too late.
Then men from his house come and find Jairus and tell him the news he has been dreading to hear – his daughter has died and his task of getting Jesus to come is now pointless. But Jesus suddenly turns to Jairus and tells him to turn from his fear to faith, leaves the crowd behind, takes Peter, James, and John, and goes on with Jairus to his home.
The house is full of those who are weeping over the death of this 12 year old girl. Knowing that He is going to raise her from the dead, Jesus describes her as only sleeping. Those who have gathered laugh in unbelief, but Jesus takes the parents and the disciples into the little girl’s room. Jesus then shows that He has power, not just over sickness, but also over death, as He raises the little girl to life. Possibly because His own resurrection, yet to come, is to be the great example of God’s power over death, He tells them to say nothing, and He continues to care for the girl by telling them to feed her.
Questions
- Why might Jairus have been so impatient?
- What did Jesus tell Jairus to do?
Prayer Points
- Give thanks that God has power over death.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.