Jesus Gives Life
Women Impacted by Jesus – part 10
April 1, 2018, brings an interesting combination of commemorations – April Fools’ Day, Resurrection Sunday, and the one-year anniversary of standing beside my mother-in-law’s casket in the cemetery at her committal service. As I stood there that day, I was comforted with this thought: “She is not here; she is with Jesus.” Jesus gives life.
Today, we look at Jesus raising to life the daughter of Jairus (Luke 8:40-42,49-56). In December 2017, we reflected on Jesus raising to life the only son of a widow (Luke 7:11-17). The Luke 8 parallel story of Jesus raising a daughter back to life shows us the inclusive nature of His ministry. All people have value and worth in the eyes of Christ.
Jesus was not satisfied with this conclusion spoken by someone from the house of Jairus: “Your daughter is dead: don’t bother the teacher anymore.” (8:49) Instead, Jesus says to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” (vs. 50) He travels to the house of Jairus and tells the mourners to stop wailing. They laugh at Jesus, knowing that the girl is dead. Stop wailing? Foolishness. The girl is dead.
In the presence of Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother, Jesus takes the girl’s hand and says, “My child, get up!” Her spirit returns, she stands up, and Jesus tells her astonished parents to give their daughter something to eat. (vs. 51-56) I love that the mother is not excluded. She is present in the room as Jesus takes her daughter by the hand and brings her back to life.
Don’t bother? No. Quite the opposite. Turn to Jesus. Jesus gives life. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.” (John 11:25)
Who have you given up on? Who seems to be a lost cause, not worth your continued efforts or attention? What situation causes you to say, “Don’t bother. The dream is dead.”? On this Resurrection Sunday, don’t be a fool. Don’t be afraid. Be encouraged by the life-giving power of Jesus.
