Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear people.

Overcast, calm, wet, but not raining—that’s the weather report from this window.

It looks like a nice day emerging out there. The cat is in the studio begging for attention. And Hondo is just outside the door begging for attention. And Becki is at the house begging to be left alone. Not really. But she needs to be left alone enough to prepare for her last visit at the office of the orthopedic surgeon who performed her hip replacement.

I have signage to knock out, logs to sort out, milling to punch out, a big table to turn out, and information to find out. How can I do it all? I’m still trying to figure out. However, as a wise policy, I still think it’s best to give preliminary and priority attention to the IN before getting all consumed by the OUT. Know what I mean?

Blessings on your day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

It was definitely not good news that the messengers from Jairus’ house presented while Jesus and Jairus were on their way to that very sick little girl. They said to Jairus, “Your daughter is dead.” There’s the blunt truth. End of the line. Painful finality. She’s gone. Jesus said, “Oh phooey—I guess we’re too late. Sorry.” NO He didn’t! He wasn’t even fazed. In this case He persevered and carried on to the house where the girl lay hopelessly DEAD. He actually encouraged Jairus at that point with some revolutionary good news. At least it was good advice. And it’s good advice for us too—whether we are facing death—or even facing life. He said, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

This is one of three instances in the record of Jesus’ ministry that He revealed His Divine power over death. He raised the widow’s son at Nain. He later raised Lazarus. And here He raises this 12-year-old girl. It is noteworthy that He raised them all the same way: He spoke to them. Life was imparted by the Word of Jesus. If it is true that God breathed into the first man the breath of life so that this lump of crafted matter became a living soul, the miracle of transforming a dead body into a living one should come as no surprise. For the Transcendent One, what we regard as miraculous is normative. So to this young girl Jesus simply and tenderly said, “Little girl, get up.” No loud prolonged praying. No ceremonial gyrations. She simply became animated by the authority of that Word. Life was imparted by that Word—life restored.

In the spiritual sense, no one needs to accept being DEAD—dead “in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1). That’s the glory of the Gospel. We need only come to Jesus and be responsive to His Word. “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” He is the way, the truth, and the what?—the LIFE! Say it again—LIFE!