THE WORD 4 ev 1

Today’s Reading: Mark 5 (click here for link)

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.

I think I get a small sense of déjà vu reading this account of Jesus raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead. The King James Version here translates verse 40 as, “They laughed him to scorn.” This sounds strikingly similar to another death and resurrection account we recently read—Matthew 27. In fact, this text from Mark 5 greatly foreshadows Marks description of Jesus passion, where like in Matthew’s account, Jesus too is mocked and derided by synagogue rulers, soldiers, the crowds beneath the cross, and finally by a criminal hanging beside him; each of them ridiculing him for his claim to be the Christ; each of them laughing because their hard hearts could not understand.

"You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."

“He saved others, but can he save himself?”

"Hail, King of the Jews!"

"Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?"

"His blood be on us and on our children!"

“He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God.”

(From Matthew 26, 27 and Mark 15)

They laugh him to scorn at Jarius’s house and they laugh him to scorn at the cross. Yet in both places Jesus performs his greatest miracle—he reveals his sacred purpose: He brings life from death. The dead girl rises up and eats! Jesus after three days rises up and eats a meal of fish on the lake shore.

Who is it that has the last laugh?

The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One… [But] he who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury. O why do the nations rage, and the people plot in vain? (Psalm 2)

This morning we witness a small taste of the great victory. Talitha koum reminds us of the angel’s words in the early light of Easter morning, “He is risen, he is not here.”

The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at him, but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming. (psalm 37) On that day every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. There will be no laughing on that day. (Philippians 2)

Dear Christian friends, whatever may trouble you today, hear these words: "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!").

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8)

Come quickly, Lord… raise us up from our suffering.

Pastor Aaron