A Look At Jairus’ Daughter

Since I was a child, the Biblical account of Jairus’ daughter has been a big influence in my life. “While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.” Mark 5:35-43 And, once my 1995 rededication experience happened in 1995, it has taken on greater personal meaning for me. It did, after all, result in both my eating disorder recovery and book, “Thin Enough,” not mention, my spiritual relationship with God. Not too shabby, a story about a supposedly dead little girl, eh? And, since then, I’ve loved different artistic interpretations of the scripture. I find it interesting how different artists tell the story. We see one telling of Jesus in the doorway… One of Jesus reaching for her hand, while still in her “deathbed…” And there have been some expressions of Jairus’ daughter actually sitting up in her bed, “resurrected…” …Including, yes, even my own take on it… The point is, no matter where you are in proximity to Jesus, no matter where Jesus is in proximity to you, it’s relevant. It’s alive. It’s alive because it’s God’s Word which cannot fail… “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:8-11 Wherever you are in your life, your recovery, your issues, “the arise message” is still right there. Personally apply it for yourself! Copyright © 2013 by Sheryle Cruse