Too Late — or perhaps not?!

By Helen Jesze, 11^th June 2021

‘He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”)’

Mark 5:41 NIV

Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue and his wife, were heartbroken. Their little daughter was ill and growing worse by the day! No doctor could help and in desperation, Jairus went to look for the great miracle-worker he had heard so much about – Jesus of Nazareth. When he found him, although a respected man in the community, Jairus threw himself down at Jesus’ feet and pleaded that he would come to heal his daughter. Jesus was willing and they started back along the road.

Jairus, although elated that Jesus was coming with him, must have been trying to curb his impatience, hoping desperately that they would get there in time. Suddenly there was a commotion and Jesus stopped and asked, “Who touched me?” This was crazy, for there was a huge crowd following Jesus. There’s no time for that! We need to go! But Jesus knew that a demand had been made on his healing power, for he could feel ‘virtue had gone out of him’. In answer, came a woman, trembling with fear and admitting that she had touched the Rabbi’s garment, and had been healed of a blood disease from which she had suffered for 12 years! Jesus was not angry, he said her faith had healed her, and she should go in peace.

Then the news which Jairus had been dreading was brought to him by his servants – his little girl had died. Why trouble the Master any longer, they asked. but Jesus was not perturbed.

‘Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe!” ‘

Mark 5:36 NIV

Why had Jesus stopped to talk with the woman?! If not, they might have got there in time! But Jairus pushed away his fear and clung onto the words of Jesus. As they came in, they saw the house was filled with wailing mourners, but Jesus taking Peter, James and John, three of his disciples, entered the chamber of death. Then, approaching the bed, came the calm, triumphant command of the Saviour, in our Scripture verse above, and the little girl came back to Life!

It had looked as though it was all too late! This makes me think of the death of Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary. They had sent a message to Jesus to come quickly, for his dear friend was sick (John 11). But when he heard this, Jesus purposely waited two more days before he finally went to Bethany. By the time they got there, Lazarus had been in the grave four days already. Martha ran to meet him and said that if Jesus had been there, Lazarus would not have died. But, she added, she knew that even now, God would give Jesus anything he asked him for, and Lazarus would come alive again at the resurrection.

‘ “I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’” Jesus took Martha a step further in her understanding of him, and she recognised that Jesus was the Christ, the Anointed One, the Son of God, the awaited Messiah. She called her sister, Mary who said exactly the same to Jesus, ‘ “If you had been here…”’

Jesus wanted to perform a greater miracle than just healing Lazarus; he wanted to show he was Lord over death and the grave. They rolled away the stone and he cried with a loud voice, ‘ “Lazarus, come out!”’ The dead man shuffled out, bound hand and foot with a cloth over his face. Jesus commanded them to take off the grave clothes and presented him to the overwhelmed, rejoicing Martha and Mary. Again, it had looked as though it was too late! But Jesus was working to his Father’s time-table, and not Man’s agenda.

What about YOU today? Can you see places, situations in your life which you have prayed so often about, but it looks as though it is TOO LATE?! Here it was a matter of hours or days before Jesus brought the answer. Sometimes we wait for months or years, and circumstances, people or satan tell us: It is too late! I myself, have been waiting years for some of these answers, and also hear the accusing voices, even lies which say it is too late.

Jesus might well have a greater miracle in the making, which could not be performed if he had answered our prayers sooner. Let’s do what Jesus did when the servants came to tell Jairus that his daughter had died – Jesus ignored their news, and said, as he does to you and me today: Do not fear, only believe!

Too late? Perhaps not after all! Take heart and be encouraged today – OUR GOD IS FOR US!