“37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.” Mark 5:37-43
As the story reaches its climax, Jesus and Jairus journey towards the house, where they confront the harsh reality of death. Here, we discover what it truly means to trust Jesus in a world marred by suffering and sin. In this final installment, we explore how Jesus is worthy of a faith that is worshipful.
Worthy Of Worshipful Faith
As Jesus approaches the house, the scene is far from serene. There’s a tumult of weeping and wailing, signaling the tragic loss of Jairus’s daughter. Despite the despairing atmosphere, Jesus remains unwavering, declaring, ‘The child is not dead but sleeping.’ His words are met with scoffs and laughter, yet undeterred, Jesus clears the scene, leaving only a select few to witness the miracle that unfolds.
In a moment charged with divine power, Jesus takes the girl’s hand and commands her to rise. Instantly, she awakens from death’s grip, restored to life. However, what follows is unexpected—there are no jubilant celebrations and no tearful reunions. Instead, those present are overcome with profound amazement, their focus shifting from the girl to the One who holds authority over life and death—Jesus.
So what is faith that is worshipful? It is a self forgetful dependance. Faith is an act of worship because true faith empties us of ourselves—our power, our truth, our wisdom—and it magnifies Jesus—His power, His truth, and His wisdom. In the presence of Jesus, all our self-worth and self-confidence are eclipsed. When Jesus increases, and we decrease, that’s when our faith truly becomes worthy of Him.
The Resurrection Of Jesus
Why is Jesus worthy of such worshipful faith? His miraculous act of raising the girl from the dead points us to the heart of the gospel. While the girl’s restoration was temporary, Jesus’s victory over death is eternal. Death, the incurable disease of humanity, finds its conqueror in Jesus, who rose triumphant from the grave, never to die again. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus offers the ultimate hope of eternal life to all who trust in Him.
The real hope for the suffering woman and for Jairus’s daughter wasn’t actually the power that Jesus exhibited that day. The real hope was that Jesus was on His way to the cross where He would die and rise up victorious conquering the incurable disease of death for all those who would put their trust in Him. The gospel gets us outside of ourselves. Standing at the empty tomb, we are overcome with amazement. And it is there that by faith and in worship, Jesus increases and we decrease. Our little life slips into the background and His overwhelming glory takes center stage.
In conclusion, Jesus desires not merely our acknowledgment of His power but our complete trust and surrender. True faith isn’t hypothetical or passive; it’s a dynamic reliance on Jesus that transforms lives and places Him at the center of our existence. Only Jesus, the sovereign King who conquered death itself, is worthy of our unwavering devotion and worship.
