Written by Débora Amaro, volunteer with Ministério Irmã Rosa de Ferro in Campo Grande, Brazil
There are several accounts about Jesus where His divinity is expressed with great power, and I believe that resurrecting people is one of the biggest demonstrations of that. We have some biblical accounts, like the widow’s son in Nain (Luke 7:11-17), Lazarus (John 11), and Jairo’s daughter (Matt. 9).
But, for the moment we will focus on Jairo’s daughter. We don’t know her name, her age, or even what she looked like. The only information we have about her is her ancestry: she’s Jairo’s daughter. Let’s take a look at the whole history:
‘‘While he was still saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.”
Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples [...]
When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. News of this spread through all that region. (Matt. 9:18-19, 23-26)
This complex history demonstrates Jesus’ compassion for women and children, whom, most of the time, were undervalued during the first century’s Jewish society.
We know that Jesus has power to resurrect the dead. He was resurrected himself after the crucifixion and lives today at the Father’s right hand. But, one thing is knowing, reading and listening about it. It’s another thing to actually experience it.
And that’s where the mystery lies: We are not Jairo’s daughter, but we were also dead and we were also resurrected!
Look at how beautiful the reality of what Christ did for us is, in the words of the apostle Paul:
‘‘As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following the desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 2:1-7)
Like Jairo’s daughter, we didn’t have (at least not in any biblical account) a name or an identity.
And just like Jairo interceded to God on behalf of his daughter, Jesus interceded to God on our behalf.
Just like they doubted the power of God during that time, they doubt God’s power to transform lives today.
Jesus knew there was hope for Jairo’s daughter, because He is powerful to bring LIFE, and HE knew there was hope for us also, through His sacrifice.
When Jesus says there was no reason for mourning, they laughed at Him. Those who doubt God’s power can laugh at us and at our faith, but they can’t contest a miracle: a life made new is a miracle!
This HIStory also speaks a lot about us: Christ has the power to resurrect! It’s incredible to know that the same power that resurrected Jesus lives in us today:
‘‘(...) and his incomparable great power for us who believe.
That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms…” (Eph. 1:19-20)
Is there something that our God cannot do? He already performed the greatest miracle ever, giving us new life.
God bless us!
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