Advent Day 9

But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” (Mark 5:36)

Sometimes, Jesus says things that are best described as simply impossible. Simple to say but impossible to do. A ruler of the synagogue’s daughter has been declared dead, and Jesus tells him not to be afraid, only to believe. How could anyone do this?

One thing that stands out about the ministry of Jesus is how little power he credits to death. He almost never even refers to it as death unless he is speaking of his own death on the cross. Jesus’ go-to name for death is sleep. We see that in this story as he finds people weeping and wailing over the death of this man’s daughter and says to them: “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping” (Mark 5:39).

We think the opposite of fear is peace, but many times, Jesus contrasts fear with faith. This is because true peace is born out of faith in Christ. Without faith, there is no peace. This is not a command to replace fear with a faith we have created in ourselves. Jesus knows we can’t do that. So, instead, he speaks faith into the hearts of his fearful creation. Jesus doesn’t wait for the weepers and mourners to believe before he raises this little girl from the dead (after all, we are told that those hearing these words from Jesus laughed at him); instead, he does it in the presence of fear and doubt.

“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” (Mark 5:41-42).

Jesus overturns death with a word. Fear has now been replaced by faith, and where there is faith, there is peace. Do not fear; only believe. Simple to say but impossible to do. The good news is Jesus is Lord of the impossible. His birth into a sinful and chaotic world speaks faith and peace into hearts that can muster up neither. He was born to make war with death and he has won. On the day of resurrection, he will take you by the hand and say, “Child of God, wake up.”

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