In Mark 5:21-43, Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, begged Jesus to come and heal his daughter as she was so ill, she was on her death bed. Yet, he had hope, likely having heard many testimonies of Jesus’ healing miracles. Jesus went with him, and a great crowd followed. A woman who suffered an issue of blood for 12 years touched him on his way and was healed by her faith. The father was likely worried this delay could be critical.
Then at that moment word came the child had died. Yet Jesus assured him, “Do not be afraid, only believe.” As they approached, there were people weeping and wailing and Jesus said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” Putting all the people out, he entered the room where she lay and said to her, “Talitha cumi” which meant, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And she arose and walked, and He commanded to get her something to eat.
Studying this miracle, there are some important points to consider a great lesson for us to take to heart. First, it took 12 years for the woman with the issue of blood to receive her healing. It took 12 years for the little girl to experience Jesus’ resurrecting power. This is no coincidence. What is significant about this number and the girl’s age? Well, the first point to come to mind is that Jesus used 12 apostles to ignite the Christian faith and the growing body of Christ, spreading His healing and deliverance throughout the area and beyond. In the little girl, 12 is the age of accountability to the Jewish law. It is celebrated in our day as the bat mitzvah. At this age, she becomes a “daughter of the Law.” This might be the equivalent of being born again and beginning the study of scripture as a Christian, accountable to the teachings of Christ. Furthermore, we know not when salvation may come to a loved one we are praying for. Even if it takes our version of “12 years” (or longer!), It is never too late for Jesus’ resurrecting power to visit them!
Then we see, the first thing He commands is to get her something to eat. 1 Peter 2:2-3 says, “Like a newborn infant, long for the pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” The little girl has just tasted the goodness of the Lord, granting her life from the dead. She is hungry for the spiritual milk of His Word and salvation and indeed, this is the first priority in her new birth into a new life—just as it is for us when we first taste the goodness of Messiah’s salvation and mercy.
In Romans 13:11-13, the apostle Paul exhorts us, “And you know what time it is, how it is now the time to awake from sleep; for salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us live honorably as in the day…” This little girl was commanded out of the sleep of death, just as we are called out of the death of lives which were once in the darkness of sin and death, into the marvelous light of His Presence and calling. W e were not truly dead, but asleep because of Jesus’ resurrecting power. We are commanded to wake up to the light!
1 Peter 2:9-10 says, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” Just as this little girl, God has called us out of darkness into the Day of a new birth. Having received mercy in His saving grace, we are called to proclaim His praises and live for Him as “sons and daughters of the Law of love” that He laid down for us in His gospels. We are now 12 years old and accountable to obey His commands.
Jesus says to us, just as He said to her, “Sons and daughters of the Most High, Arise!” Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and deny ourselves and the selfishness of our carnal natures. Let us put on the armor of light and live for Him who called us out of the darkness of death. Let us live honorably as in the day, for our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed! Let us Arise as God’s people and show His love and mercy to the world for His sake. Let faith arise!
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