Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.
Jairus’s daughter met Jesus.
Jairus had found himself in a very scary situation. His daughter was so sick that she was about to die. So he came to Jesus, trusting in faith that this amazing teacher could heal his little girl.
On the way there, Jesus was interrupted by another person who needed to be healed. (We will learn more about that tomorrow.) Then, while Jesus was delayed and helping that person, Jairus received word that his daughter had died.
People began murmuring that Jesus shouldn’t even bother going to Jairus’s house anymore. But Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
Jairus already had faith that Jesus could heal. Now Jesus told him to believe even more; Jesus wanted the father to believe that he could raise the girl from death.
In the world as we know it, we might expect that Jesus’ healing power was limited in some ways. But, with Jesus, we are not in “the world as we know it” anymore. We are in the kingdom of God! There is enough for everyone in the kingdom of God, and Jesus’ healing power and love are at the center of it all. Even death is not enough to stop Jesus. And Jesus raised the girl from death, giving her new life, just like he gives us new life.
God, I thank you for your abundant power to give us new life. I praise you that Jesus is stronger than death, and I praise you for his gifts of new life for all people, including me. Amen.
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