Christ’s Ultimate Power over Death - Evangelical Caucus/Devotional

Gracetoyou.org ^ | 2008 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

“When Jesus came into the official’s house, and saw the flute-players and the crowd in noisy disorder, He said, ‘Leave; for the girl has not died, but is asleep.’ And they began laughing at Him. But when the crowd had been sent out, He entered and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. This news spread throughout all that land” (Matthew 9:23–26).

Unlike those in the contemporary Western world, funerals in most ancient cultures, including the Jewish one of Jesus’ time, were not events with reverent music and quiet whispers. Instead funerals featured much loud wailing by professional mourners and dissonant music played by hired musicians. Because Jairus was the top leader of the local synagogue and a wealthy man, he probably hired a large number of mourners and musicians for his daughter’s funeral.

Jesus surprised and annoyed the mourners by telling them to leave, claiming that the girl was not dead but asleep (cf. John 11:11). That the people’s weeping turned so quickly to harsh, derisive laughter—the kind by those feeling superior to another—showed that their mourning was indeed an insincere, paid action devoid of genuine sorrow or any real faith that the Lord could raise Jairus’s daughter.

Mark’s account of this episode adds these details: Jesus “entered the room where the child was. Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, ‘Talitha kum!’ (which translated means, ‘Little girl, I say to you, get up!’). Immediately the girl got up and began to walk” (Mark 5:40c–42a). Christ easily could have resuscitated her by a mere word, but His intimate interaction displayed a healing compassion far more than what was minimally necessary. And it convincingly showed His power over every enemy of mankind, including “the final enemy” of death and hades (cf. Rev. 1:18).

Ask Yourself

We can always expect faith to be met by doubters and revilers, even among those in the church—sometimes especially by those in the church.

What kind of an impact does this have on your willingness to believe?

Are you ever the cold water on anyone else’s spiritual passion?

[metmom]

Studying God’s Word ping

[InkStone]

metmom, you are So Faithful, in your presentation of our Redeemer : thank you.
Now Get Some Rest !!

[metmom]

Thank you. Pray it can be so. Mr mm and I have had a really bad month with our own separate health issues.

[imardmd1]

In the preamble of Paul's letter to his dispersed Jewish brethren, many of whom were probably shaky in the necessity of leaving the ancient (but now dead) religion, the victory of Jesus Messiah was set forth as the encouraging theme in which the conversion to the New Covenant from the Old one was to be discussed, drawn from the core of the second chapter, verses 14 and 15, which give the basis upon which their full confidence should rest:

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

His readers were to find full assurance that not only was the freedom from the power of sin over their behavior as promised, but also that they should no longer be afraid of the separation from the physical body, the "old man." in that they themselves should never stop existing as a person, but be always joyfully in the Presence of their Risen Messiah and Eternal High Priest Lord Jesus, who regards them as fellow brethren and favored Friends forever.

Asking the Lord to apply Himself to the cares of your own present health situation, metmom; and that of your dear husband as well. May our Heavenly Father give you both relief, as you continue to address the tasks He has set before you.

[spincaster]

I no longer fear death, for I will be will Jesus when that time comes.

[imardmd1]

Consider that Simon Peter put in practice with full trust as seen in his Master's example with Jairus' daughter, the young maid ("talitha" in Aramaic, "damsel" in ours), though mocked, in raising her up to full life.

Jesus sent the hired mourners away, came into the girl, took her hand and said, "Talitha, cum," translated as "Damsel, arise."

In Peter's case, when apprised of a fellow female disciple's death, he came to see her. The name of the sickened woman was "Tabitha" In the Aramaic tongue, meaning "Gazelle" in our language, but translated as "Dorcas" into the Koine Greek.

Peter shooed out the mourners, got down and prayed over her, then said to her, "Tabitha, arise" and took her hand.

Something to ponder on, eh?

[Getready]

Could anyone nowadays even imagine the shock Jairus and the mourners must have felt...?
Must have been saying to themselves, “WHO is this man?” or “where did this man get this kind of power?”, or “Did I just see this?”
Thank you for the post, recounting the extraordinary reason for our hopes.
I hope you and your husband can be relieved of your health issues and continue on...

[ptsal]

bkmk

[trebb]

Another good one - with good questions at the end.

An old codger who was dear to me used to occasionally say, “I believe, Lord - help my disbelief” as a reminder that, in our human form (my wife says, “We are spiritual beings having a Human experience”), we often wander from the path He laid out for us.

[metmom]

The older I get and the more I read Scripture and pray, the more aware of my sinfulness and total inability to do ANYTHING, even the least of things right that I could appeal to for God to grant me eternal life. My best works and purest motives and even if I should accidentally do something that would be untainted by the corruption of this present world (not possible), could not begin to settle that debt.

It’s Jesus. Only. That is my only hope and will be my only appeal.

My Faith has Found a Resting Place.

I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.

[metmom]

Thank you.

God alone knows what the cause of my issues are, and He alone is the only One who can address it.

[metmom]

Romans 7.

[ViLaLuz]

Also the doubters and mockers were probably worried Jesus was threatening their paid gig.

[gitmo]

Romans 7 is followed by the most amazing passage I know:

(NASB)
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him Romans 8:1-9

[boatbums]

Amen! For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

[trebb]

Thanks for that reference - it’s been a while since I read my entire Bible - perhaps I need to go over it again instead of just certain references I find pertinent to certain situations.

[metmom]

AMEN!!!!!

In sight of the struggle within us that we experience and feel, God’s declaration over us is one of NO CONDEMNATION even if out minds of the lies of the enemy tell us otherwise.