Where there's hope, there is life

 

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.  --2 Corinthians 12:10

Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman consul and orator who said, "Where there's life, there's hope."  Unfortunately for  him, he was beheaded on the orders of Marc Antony in 43 BC.  His writings, however, were read extensively in the 18th century and were influential in the philosophies of John Locke, David Hume, Montesquieu, and Edmund Burke--all of whom had a direct influence upon Jefferson and Madison, framers of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

While some may lose all hope when life is lost, we know that it seems darkest just before the dawn.  This is most evident in the life of Jesus as recorded in Mark 5.  We have already seen where Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, came to Jesus and begged Him to come heal his daughter.  After an interruption from a woman who'd had issues for 12 years and Jesus taking time to heal her, a message came from the home of Jairus.

While He was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, "Your daughter is dead.  Why trouble the Teacher any further?"  --Mark 5:35

They knew Jesus to be a great teacher with healing ability.  Hearing the bad news that the girl had passed away, Jesus observed that they had no hope at all of her recovery.  His words were meant to rekindle hope in their hearts; some heard Him, others derided Him.

But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe."  And He allowed no one to follow Him except Peter and James and John the brother of James.  They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly.  And when He had entered, He said to them, "Why are you making a commotion and weeping?  The child is not dead but sleeping."  And they laughed at him.  But He put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with Him and went in to where the child was.  --Mark 5:36-40

 Jesus' words of hope may have been overshadowed by the young girls parents' sense of despair, but they allowed Jesus and His three closest friends to follow them home.  As they approached the house, however, the noise from the mourners drowned out everything else.  Jesus quieted them, and spoke words of hope to them, but they laughed Him to scorn.

Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."  Those without hope had no faith in Jesus' words or ability, and they were shooed away quickly.  In the deafening silence that was left, the child's father and mother were left with their own thoughts, memories, and grief.  Their only hope was in Jesus.  The only assurance they had was His words.  Jesus bade them to believe, but I imagine their faith did not cast a long shadow.  Whatever amount of faith you have, it is enough when Jesus is there.

 After the doubters were sent away, Jesus did what he came to do.

Taking her by the hand, He said to her, "Talitha cumi," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."  And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.  And He strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.  --Mark 5:41-43

 Jesus didn't do this for fame and fortune.  He often told those whom He had healed to not tell anyone.  I can't imagine, however, keeping quiet if my daughter had been raised from the dead.  Imagine the reaction of those from the town who had been weeping and wailing at the house when Jairus's family arrived at synagogue the next Sabbath.

This was the second person whom Jesus raised from the dead, the first being the son of the Widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17).  There was one other, the raising of Lazarus (John 11).  Interestingly, this corresponds with the three accounts of people who were resurrected in the Old Testament: Elijah raised the son of the Widow of Zaraphath (1 Kings 17:17-24).  His successor Elisha raised the Shunammite woman's son (2 Kings 4:18-37).  There is also an account of a soldier who died in battle being thrown into Elijah's grave and coming back to life (2 Kings 13:20-21).  There are correlations between each of the resurrections in the Old Testament and the three people that Jesus raised, and it further testifies to His divinity.

I want to look at one more aspect of this passage, one further facet of the scripture.  It has to do with the names given to the young girl.  We do not know her given name, but there are three different words used to designate her.  The first is the Greek word paidion, which is the diminutive form of the word pais.  This literally means a child, whether son or daughter (in relation to law), or a boy or girl (in relation to age).  In a legal sense, it is their child, their legal heir, their responsibility.  This was the girl's status before she had an encounter with Jesus.

The term that Jesus called her when He took her by the hand was Talitha, meaning "Little lamb."  It is a term of endearment and of familiarity.  It also foreshadows His own death, as He became the Lamb of God who was sacrificed for the sins of the world.  Mark glosses over it, translating it as "Little girl"--it was not the main point of his story.  I think God included it in the narrative so that we could identify with it.  Jesus called her "Lambkin" or "Little lamb" when He called her from death into life.  What does He say to you and me when He calls us out of spiritual death into eternal life?  He knows our name, and Revelation 3:12 implies that He has a unique nickname for each and every one of us.

The third term designating the young girl, and seen in the passage exclusively after Jesus raised her is the Greek word korasion.  It means young girl or maiden, it is a term of endearment, and is the diminutive form of the word kore which is the root of the word korizomai, meaning to caress, to care for.  I don't know if there is a direct correlation, but it makes me think of the Spanish word corazon meaning "heart" and often used as a term of endearment.

Before we meet Jesus, we are little more than legal liabilities.  Then when we do meet Him, He calls us by name, a name given exclusively to us.  From that point forward, we are called by His name; we are endeared to Him; He holds us in His heart.  There is no better picture of love than that, and no better evidence of our hope of eternal life.