Friday, August 5, 2011
Mark 5:39 "The child is not dead, but sleeping."
DEEP, DEEP SLEEP
Recent terrorism in Norway reminded us again that not just the elderly, but also children die. So while it may be true that the infant mortality rate has declined in the recent century and life expectancy has gone up in recent decades, still it is not difficult in our day to imagine the feelings of Jairus and his wife as they stood over the bed of their twelve-year-old daughter and watched her breathe her last.
One of the joys of parenthood is standing by a cradle or bed and seeing your child sleep peacefully. It is true that you cannot communicate with them unless you end that peacefulness by waking them, but you know that refreshing sleep is the best thing for them, so you do not wake them even to tell them you are home and love them. You do not wake them unless it is necessary for their well-being.
Such was Jesus' attitude about death. Jairus and his wife were well aware of how different this situation was. They not only could not communicate with their daughter now, but they could not wake her up, even if they thought it was the best thing for her. But Jesus could, and would. To Him death was like sleep and if it was the best thing for someone at the time, He would wake them up.
He did not always wake the dead, nor even do it often, for there is something better than this life, something more joyous than present joys. He died and rose again to win that something -- eternal life and joy -- for us. So now ... if we are awake He is with us, and when we sleep we shall be with Him!
