Scripture Daily

Context No. 1807 of 4322 · Mark

Context · Reflection

Mark 5:35-43: in context

35While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue ruler’s house, saying, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?” 36But Jesus, when he heard the message spoken, immediately said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.” 37He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38He came to the synagogue ruler’s house, and he saw an uproar, weeping, and great wailing. 39When he had entered in, he said to them, “Why do you make an uproar and weep? The child is not dead, but is asleep.” 40They ridiculed him. But he, having put them all out, took the father of the child, her mother, and those who were with him, and went in where the child was lying. 41Taking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha cumi!” which means, being interpreted, “Girl, I tell you, get up!” 42Immediately the girl rose up and walked, for she was twelve years old. They were amazed with great amazement. 43He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and commanded that something should be given to her to eat.

As Jesus is on his way to heal Jairus's dying daughter, word comes: the child is dead; why trouble the teacher any further? It seems too late; the situation is finished. But Jesus, overhearing, says to the grieving father, do not be afraid; only believe. At the house, amid the weeping and wailing, he says the child is only asleep, and the mourners laugh at him. He puts them out, takes the child by the hand, and says, Girl, get up. Immediately she rises, and he tells them to give her something to eat.

The words Jesus speaks to Jairus come at the point where hope seems finished: do not be afraid; only believe. The messengers have just said the worst, your daughter is dead; it is too late; there is nothing more to be done. And precisely there, when the situation looks hopeless and everyone else has given up, Jesus calls for faith. Do not fear, only believe. He asks Jairus to keep trusting past the point where all seemed lost, to hold onto faith in the very moment that faith looks foolish, because the one he is trusting is Lord even over death, for whom the girl's death is only a sleep from which he can wake her. There is a call here for the moments when our own situations seem finished, when the word comes that it is too late, when everyone else says to stop hoping. In such moments, Jesus' word to Jairus is his word to us: do not be afraid; only believe. This is not a promise that every dead thing will be raised as we wish; Jesus did not raise every dead child, and he does not undo every loss. But it is a call to keep trusting God past the point where hope seems reasonable, to hold onto faith in the one for whom nothing is finally hopeless, even death. The mourners laughed at Jesus for saying the girl was only asleep; to them the case was closed. But Jesus saw what they could not, that the situation they called hopeless was, in his hands, not the end. When the word comes that it is too late, and everyone says to give up, faith holds on to the one who is Lord even where we see only death, hearing his word: do not be afraid; only believe.

When a situation in my life seems finished, the word comes that it is too late, and everyone says to give up hope, do I let go of faith, or can I hold onto Jesus' word to Jairus, do not be afraid, only believe, trusting the one for whom nothing is finally hopeless, even where I see only death?

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