Sometimes I get messages for class from something else I have read…a scripture, a devotional (My favorites are from Max Lucado and She Reads Truth), Jesus Calling, etc.  Sometimes they come from that still small voice that prompts me to write…and I write so fast that I can hardly keep up.  This was one of those times….

Mark 5: 41-42 (NIV)

The background of this scene was a dim one.  Jairus, a synagogue ruler has come to Jesus to plead for his daughter’s life.  As Jesus and Jairus are walking to his house, the news has come that it’s too late.  Jesus presses on anyway, goes into the house, tells the mourners that the girl is only sleeping, is laughed at-but then He walks into the room.  The room where the little girl lay….lifeless. (my paraphrase)

vs. 41 “He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).  vs. 42 “Immediately the girl stood up and walked around.”

Close your eyes and picture this scene.  Crying.  Wailing.  Grieving.  Before Jesus spoke new life into this little girl, the situation looked dark and hopeless. But two words he says…”Get up.”  And IMMEDIATELY, scripture tell us she stood up.  She didn’t stop to argue-to say, “But Lord, my circumstances tell me to stay down.  My circumstances tell me I’m defeated…that there needs to be a funeral.  That it’s too late.”  “Immediately, the girl stood up and walked around.”  

She stood up AND walked around.  She didn’t stop to look down at her deathbed.  To look back.  She left it behind.  She had no choice in this because the Master, the Healer had walked into the room, and given her new life.

This word “Koum” in the Greek means “the fresh.”  (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)  So Jesus breathes FRESH life, FRESH air into us today.  FRESH hope.  Things are NOT allowed to stay dead when Jesus walks into the room.  He IS resurrection.  He IS restoration. Jesus-and only Jesus can take our ashes, our destruction, our brokenness-our death, and give us new life. 

This is us.  You and me.  We are that little girl.  When circumstances and situations bring anything BUT life, our Savior says, “Get Up.” We are not held down by anything when Jesus is in charge.  He always wins.  He always has the last say.  When our eyes want to look back…or look down, He reaches and places his hand under our chin, lifting our eyes to meet His.