Just Get Up

Just Get Up

Read: Mark 5:21-43

“Talitha koum!”

Mark 5:41

“The miracles of Jesus were the ordinary works of His Father.”

—George MacDonald

IN WORD The first order of business for Jesus, once He arrives on the scene and tells the crowds the truth about the situation—that the little girl is not dead but asleep—is to get rid of all the naysayers. He “put them all out” (v. 40), allowing only the people who were desperate—her parents—and the people who were faithful—His disciples—to watch the miracle. Miracles must be done in the presence of desperation and faith, when a need for God and a trust in Him can take center stage. Wailing? It distracts. It acknowledges neither God’s power nor His goodwill.

Once the wailers are gone, Jesus can do His work. And His miracle is astonishing in its simplicity. Like a father waking his child for breakfast, Jesus gently speaks the Aramaic equivalent of: “It’s time to get up, little one.” Where the wailers proclaimed death, Jesus speaks life. Where they grieved loudly, He quietly takes her hand and tells her it’s time to wake up. Where they laughed with contempt, He celebrates with joy. They were ready for her funeral; He tells them to feed her breakfast.

IN DEED We face a lot of distractions in life. We hear the negative reports of those who think every situation is a hopeless one. With Jesus, no situation is hopeless. Even apparent disasters are entirely redeemable for a sovereign God who responds to faith. And where we encounter “impossible” situations, we are frequently fed complex, impotent approaches to them. Let Jesus walk into your situation and speak a soothing, simple word. Let Him enter into the distresses of your life and gently take your hand. Is it discouragement? depression? hopelessness? dread? the ravages of death itself? No matter. Let Him come in, take your hand, and whisper the encouraging, life-giving words only a loving parent can whisper: “It’s time to get up, little one.” Let the wailers wallow in disaster, if they must. We need to tune them out and listen to the gentle voice of our God.