Little Girl, Arise! — Worshiping the Lord of Life
Month 7: The Miracle Worker · Family Worship
Today's Scripture
Read together: Mark 5:35-43
35 While He was still speaking, messengers from the house of Jairus arrived and said, “Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher anymore?” 36 But Jesus overheard their conversation and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; just believe.” 37 And He did not allow anyone to accompany Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 When they arrived at the house of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw the commotion and the people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep.” 40 And they laughed at Him. After He had put them all outside, He took the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and went in to see the child. 41 Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” 42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). And at once they were utterly astounded. 43 Then Jesus gave strict orders that no one should know about this, and He told them to give her something to eat.
Memory Verse
“Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?””— Mark 4:41 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Proverbs 2-4
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 194 of 365 — "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life" — wisdom for the whole family.)The Heart of It
This week we've watched Jesus rule the storm, the demons, and a long sickness. Today we reach the deepest enemy of all. Today we reach death itself. Jairus was a synagogue leader. He had begged Jesus to come and heal his dying twelve-year-old daughter. But on the way, Jesus stopped for the bleeding woman. And while they waited, the worst news arrived: "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?" In other words, it's too late now. But Jesus turned to the heartbroken father. And He said the words our family can hold onto forever: "Do not be afraid; only believe." Then He went to the house. He took the little girl by the hand. He said, "Talitha, cumi." That means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise." And she got up and walked. Jesus spoke to death the same way He spoke to the storm. And death obeyed Him too.
So this is a day to worship. Step back and look at the whole picture this week has painted. The wind obeys Him. The waves obey Him. Evil spirits obey Him. Sickness obeys Him. And now even death obeys Him. There is no power in all of creation that does not bow to the word of Jesus. And the same Jesus who said "Little girl, arise" will one day raise everyone who belongs to Him. He can do this because He Himself rose from the grave (). For Jairus's family, "too late" became "arise." For us, death is the worst word the world can say. But death is not the last word. Jesus is. That is why we sing. That is why we trust Him in the dark. That is why, when we are afraid, we hear Him say to us too: "Do not be afraid; only believe." Let's lift our hearts and worship the Lord of life.
Around the Table
A little girl had died. But Jesus held her hand and said, "Little girl, get up!" And she did! Jesus is even stronger than death. That's why we sing happy songs to Him!
Let's do it: Hold hands in a circle. Gently sway as you sing a favorite worship song together. Then cheer, "Jesus is the King of life!"
Jesus told the sad dad, "Do not be afraid; only believe." This week we saw that Jesus is stronger than storms. He is stronger than scary things. He is stronger than sickness. He is even stronger than death.
Let's talk: Go around and each name one thing Jesus is stronger than. Then thank Him out loud for being more powerful than all of it.
Jesus' power over death points straight to His own resurrection, and to ours. "Talitha, cumi" gives us a peek at the day He will call all His people out of the grave.
Let's go deeper: Jesus has authority even over death. How does knowing that change the way a Christian can face hard things, even losing someone we love?
💬 Conversation Starter
This week Jesus showed He's stronger than storms, and fear, and sickness, and death. As a family, take turns finishing this sentence out loud: "Jesus is so powerful that He can even ______." Keep going around the table. How long can you make the list?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
People say, "Dead is dead. Nobody comes back." But Mark names the people who were there. Jairus was there. Peter, James, and John were there. Mark even writes down the very Aramaic words Jesus spoke. Those are the marks of someone who saw it happen, not the marks of a made-up story (). And the empty tomb of Easter is the reason Christians have never been afraid of the grave.
For Dad · Go Deeper
Family worship is the natural home for this passage. Raising the dead is not finally a puzzle to argue about. It is a reason to praise. You are the worship leader of your home. So this week, gather the threads together. There was the storm. There was Legion. There was the woman. And now there is Jairus's daughter. Lift your family's eyes to the one Person all of these reveal. Jesus is Lord over every realm, even the last enemy (). Don't rush past Jesus' tender word to Jairus: "only believe." In the original language it is a present-tense command. It means keep on believing. And He spoke it at the very moment the situation looked hopeless. That is the kind of faith you are modeling for your children. Not a faith that never meets death, but one that keeps trusting the Lord of life right through it. There is deep comfort here for grieving families too. Jesus called the girl's death "sleep" (v. 39). He didn't mean death isn't real. He meant that for those in Christ, it isn't permanent. The One who can wake her will wake us all. Lead your family to worship. Not a far-off, distant God, but the tender Savior who takes a dead child by the hand. End the week singing. Your kids will remember the songs long after they forget the lessons.
Draws on: Joel Beeke, Family Worship; N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope.
Let's Pray Together
"Lord Jesus, You are King over the storm. You are King over sickness. You are King over death itself. We worship You! Help us keep believing, even when things look hopeless. Thank You that because You live, we will live too. We give You all our praise. In Jesus' name, amen."
Even death obeys Jesus. So I can worship Him and never be afraid.