Conqueror over Death
By Shirley Mitchell
“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 him…
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 5:22-24a, 35-42
Luke 8:42 tells us she is his only daughter. Jairus was a religious man, a ruler of the local synagogue, and a keeper of the sacred books. His position made him one of the most prominent men in the congregation. He was a man of prestige and power...a man known to the people of the town. Imagine Jairus’ decision to leave his home, to leave the bedside where his beloved daughter was taking what seemed to be her last breaths. She could die before he returned. However, he went quickly to find the miracle worker. The crowd made it easy to find Jesus. Jairus pushed his way through at first. Then, some people recognized him and cleared a path for him to Jesus. He fell at the feet of the miracle worker and pleaded with him, “My little daughter is dying.”
I have so much empathy for any parent who has ever said words similar to Jairus’ words. My church performs a Passion Play every spring on the life of Jesus. This year my oldest daughter Mikayla will be in the play. Her role is Jairus’ daughter. We have been teaching her about the story and how to play her part. We explained to her that she can’t move, talk, or speak. She must pretend there is no life in her at all and completely trust the man who carries her to Jesus. The first time I saw Mikayla acting lifeless, with her beautiful hair that I have brushed many times hanging straight down, the tears seeped out of my eyes. Even now, I have to stop typing for a few minutes. I cry at the thought of her being here no longer. I cry for Jairus’ wife. I cry for the mothers who have lived this nightmare. I cry for the mothers who have lost the baby that they nursed, the child whose hand that they held, and the bruised knee that they have kissed. I need to cry again… I think I have pulled myself together now. I can’t begin to imagine their pain. However, there are some truths that I know about my God and His Son that will help them through their sorrow. Let’s talk about these points.
1. Because of Jairus’ faith and humbleness, Jesus went with him. Jairus risked his reputation and his position to save his daughter’s life. Some in the crowd might have gasped to see a man in his position humble himself. There was no concern for the controversy that would stir with his peers, the other Jewish leaders. His daughter was more important than his pride. Pride can be the biggest obstacle to getting to Jesus.
2. Jesus followed Jairus’ suggested battle plan. Jesus did not need to go to Jairus’ house to heal his daughter. When Jairus first fell before Jesus, he could have asked for the healing right then, and Jesus could have healed her. Luke 7:1-10 tells the story of the faith of the centurion. His servant was healed when the centurion showed his great faith by asking Jesus to command it be done without coming to his home. Jesus used this healing to show us how amazed He is when people show great faith. In the event of Jairus and his daughter, Jesus used this healing to show there is no limit to His miraculous power. Jesus has authority over death.
3. When the messengers delivered bad news, Jesus gave Jairus hope. Imagine Jesus’ words to not believe the message to be the finale. Imagine the expression on Jesus’ face as He said those words. These words must have brought Jairus peace and faith to continue journeying with Jesus to his home. Jairus knew he had Jesus right by his side and to not believe the bad news. Jesus gave him hope that things would end well, but He did not tell Jairus how the crisis would end.
4. Jairus, his family, Peter, James, and John were able to see the mighty power of God conquer death. When they arrived at the house, the hired professional mourners and flutists were outside. Usually there were women wailing loudly the name of the deceased and people tearing their garments. Jairus was such a prominent man that there were most likely many mourners. However, the mourners scoffed at Jesus. Therefore, they were thrown out and did not get to see the miracle. They had no clue of the man’s identity who had come to the house of death.
John 1:4 tells us that in Jesus is life. To the mourners, Jesus was just a teacher or maybe a prophet. Death was beyond the limits of the traveling miracle man’s abilities. They had no idea that Jesus is Life. However, the ones who believed were able to witness the mind-blowing event. I know someone had to jump at least a foot in the air. I don’t think the disciples ever were too accustomed to His mighty power – and neither will we be. Our God has the ability to blow our minds away and conquer any obstacle facing us – even death.
Pray with me: Oh, LORD, You are the Ultimate Victor. You have conquered death. You have conquered all sins and strongholds. I bring You my fiercest battle. I bring You my heartaches. I bring You the things that I have no control over. I ask with as much faith as Jairus asked that You come and show Yourself mighty in my life. Give me hope through the dark times. Encourage me when things appear to be going poorly. May I press on and remain at Your side so I can see Your glory and power. It’s in the Name above all names, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, I pray. Amen.
Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study