Thursday Thought -- January 3, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“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.’ --- 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 any more?’  Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe.’  He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James.  When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly.  He went in and said to them, ‘Why all this commotion and wailing?  The child is not dead but asleep.’  But they laughed at him.  After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was.  He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha 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 5:22-23; 35-42)

There is nothing in life that frightens people more than death.  It’s the unknown and unseen that frightens.  What is beyond death?  What will happen to me when I die?

What would it take for you to be able to trust that Jesus can help you even after you die?

The stories in the New Testament like the one above were provided for that very reason.  The raising of Jairus’ daughter is one of the few accounts of Jesus conquering death.  Jesus raised Lazarus after he had been in the tomb for several days.  He raised the widow’s son as they were carrying him to the place of his burial.  He raised Jairus’ daughter after she had been pronounced dead by the people caring for her.  And, of course, Jesus Himself also came back alive after He was dead and buried!

All of those stories have a common purpose.  They proclaim to us that Jesus is more powerful than death.  Death is an enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26), so it is natural and to be expected that we will fear it and dread facing it.  But that final enemy is not stronger than Jesus.

Jesus can, and Jesus has conquered death.  Even in death we can trust Jesus.  He, and only He, can overcome death for us.  In Jesus, we can face death with confidence because He has proven He is more powerful than death!

His, by Grace,

Steve