Trust ME

Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, ‘My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.’ So Jesus went with them; 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 anymore? (Mark 5:22-24;35)

No one escapes the fall, not even a little child. I was once asked if my little boy dies, would he go to heaven? Before I answer the question, it needs to be understood that every person even the child as a living fetus in the womb is born in sin and a sinner. (Psalm 51:5, Romans 3:10; 5:12, Ephesians 2:3) Humanity does not just sin, but is born sinful, Part of the DNA of fallen humanity is sin. (Genesis 3) Paul records, “for all have sinned” (Romans 3:23a) not just a few or those over a certain age. People sin because they are, by nature, sinners. Even those who are, “In Christ,” battle sin until death, when the old nature will be eradicated. (Galatians 5, 1 Corinthians 15) Jairus has ran out of options and comes to plead with Jesus to spare his little girl. I remember when our daughter was 4 years old and needed eye surgery. After the surgery, she had both eyes patched and when she awoke from the anesthesia; she was terrified and started screaming. Her mother and I felt helpless as she screamed uncontrollably, all we could do was hold her and try to tell everything was all right. Jarius’s little girl is dying and he is helpless to do anything about her condition. Jairus gives us another picture, like the demon possessed man, the bleeding woman and now Jairus of what it means to trust in Jesus, Forsake All I Take Him.

The moments must have seemed like eternity as Jarius anxiously awaits Jesus to go with him to see his daughter. The crowds are no respecter of persons and demand a touch from Jesus, like the bleeding woman. Then out of nowhere, a delegation comes and tells him his daughter is dead, ‘Why bother the teacher any more?’ (Mark 5:35). Words cannot adequately describe the emotions that must of have gripped Jairus. his little girl is dead. The delegation encourages Jairus to abandon Jesus. (Mark 5:35)

The text does not tell us the motivation of those who try to discourage Jairus from trusting Jesus, however, their words are deadly and encouraged by the evil one. It reminds me of Simon, when Jesus says, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31, 32) Jesus is our great mediator, and High Priest interceding and shepherding his people. The whispers from the evil one are silenced with the presence of Jesus. “Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe.’” (Mark 5:36) Jesus is the strength for us in our time of testing, he does not abandon us. Jairus is greeted with the challenge to trust Jesus in the death of his little girl. The death of one of your children is crushing news, striking the very core of belief. As Jesus makes his way to the home of Jairus, death will be defeated. When Jesus arrives he invites Peter, James and John along with the parents into the room with the little girl. Jesus takes her little hand and said, “‘Talithat koum!’ (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!). Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.” (Mark 5:41, 42) What man could not do Jesus can do, raise the dead. The little girl will eventually die but only to live. Jesus pictured for all that he has power over death. If that is true, then the promise He offers of Eternal Life can be fulfilled by Him. While the little girl, Jairus and his wife will eventually die they are assured that they will live on together with Jesus. That is true for us today. Who has not lost a loved one that they long to see again? When Jesus arrived at Jairus home, there were scoffers who, “laughed at him.” (Mark 5:40) Jesus did not allow the scoffers in the room to witnesses his mighty power and forbid the inner circle who witnessed the event to tell anyone else. (Mark 5:43) The same is true today, those who scoff at Jesus in this life will never enter, the abode of God and gaze on his glory. Jesus presence for the scoffer will be a mortifying experience at which time the final words of hopelessness will be heard, "Depart from me I never knew you." (Matthew 7:23)

Jesus in real time displays what is promised to all who trust in him.

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Ephesians 1:6; 2:8,9; John 6:37; 10:28; Matthew 11:28; 28:20; 1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 102:17; Romans 8:28-39)


Those of us who die in Christ have the promise of eternity but until then he cares about our every need including the little girls need for food, “give her something to eat.” (Mark 5:43)