death is only sleep

Those who have teetered on the precipice of despair understand that Jesus is the God of the lost causes and the desperate. These are the ones who see the next step and know beyond all doubt it will not hold their weight.

 Those who say He is a crutch have never lived here. This is the land of resuscitation, not recuperation. The dead cannot learn to use a crutch.

Jarius was such a man. His daughter lay dead, lifeless. A crutch would do her no good. She needed more, she needed the One who made to her to heal her. She needed Jesus. And her daddy knew it.

Please excuse me to for being blunt for a moment but we all need to understand what actually happened here. Two parents had a very sick little girl, tried all they could do (not stated, but obvious) and to no avail. If you have ever spent time with the parents of a child who is suffering from cancer, or any other illness you have seen what was etched deep into their faces.

Unless you have held a child who has died in your arms, your own child, you cannot understand the chasm that Jesus was being asked to breech.

But to Jesus, it was a nap.

"While he was still talking, someone from the leader’s house came up and told him, “Your daughter died. No need now to bother the Teacher.”

Jesus overheard and said, “Don’t be upset. Just trust me and everything will be all right.” Going into the house, he wouldn’t let anyone enter with him except Peter, John, James, and the child’s parents.

Everyone was crying and carrying on over her. Jesus said, “Don’t cry. She didn’t die; she’s sleeping.” They laughed at him. They knew she was dead.

Then Jesus, gripping her hand, called, “My dear child, get up.” She was up in an instant, up and breathing again! He told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were ecstatic, but Jesus warned them to keep quiet. “Don’t tell a soul what happened in this room.” 

Luke 8:49-56

It is hard to enter into this story. I makes your throat tight, your hear quicken, your stomach sick and your eyes wet. 

We don't want to think of dead children, especially our own. This is a very natural. 

But if we refuse to feel the desperation, we cannot see the miracle nor the joy. 

She woke up! Jesus has destroyed death. He has brought Hope.

Dead men can't use crutches.