It’s Never Too Late

God can bring back to life anything you have given up as dead. We are all familiar with the story in Mark 5 of Jairus, the desperate synagogue ruler who asked Jesus to heal his daughter. The twelve-year-old girl was dangerously near death and Jairus pleaded with Christ to come to his house and lay hands on her.

Jesus agreed to go with Jairus but he had some interruptions along the way. When Jesus stopped to minister to the woman with a blood disease who touched the hem of his garment (Mark 5:25-34), a messenger came with the tragic news that Jairus’ daughter had died (5:35). Of course, Jairus’ heart was gripped with grief and he must have thought, “If only we had gotten there on time. Now it’s too late — my daughter is gone!” But Jesus assured him, “Do not be afraid; only believe” (5:36).

They continued toward Jairus’ home and as they neared the property, they heard sounds of wailing and weeping. Jairus’ family and neighbors were grieving loudly. Consider the contrast in this scene: God in the flesh, the creator of the universe, was approaching in all his power to perform the unimaginable. Yet, the mourners were weeping in his presence. In short, they were testifying, “God can only help as long as there is some sign of hope left. But when all life is gone, there is no need to call on him; even he can’t restore that kind of situation.”

How many Christians today no longer call upon the Lord because they think their problem is hopeless? Jesus rebuked such unbelief when he said to the weeping crowd at Jairus’ home: “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping” (5:39).

The Lord was stating, “This situation is not what you see or think. You think all hope is gone, but I say there will be restoration.” He then went to the little girl’s room and with merely one small phrase, he brought the child to life (5:41).

This story in Mark’s gospel shows us that nothing is too “dead” or too far gone for Jesus to restore to life. He is saying, “Put your trust in me to fix your problem. It’s never too late for me to work.”