Luke 8:49-56

Posted by DJL on May 28, 2013 in Daily Bread | 0 comments

While he was still speaking, someone came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.” When Jesus heard this, he replied, “Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be saved.” When he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him, except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. They were all weeping and wailing for her; but he said, “Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and called out, “Child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then he directed them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astounded; but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.

They laugh at Jesus when he said she wasn’t dead but only sleeping.

Of course they do. They’ve seen dead people before. They know what death looks like. Indeed, they know it all too well for it is the one constant, the defining reality of their lives.

And so when this itinerant preacher and supposed miracle worker comes in and says that she’s not dead, only sleeping, they assume he’s out of touch, at best, or perhaps a tad deranged. They know death. And obviously this guy doesn’t.

Well, they’re half right. They know death. But Jesus does, too. It’s not that he’s unacquainted with death, but rather that he knows life even better. Real life. Abundant life. Life in and with and through the power of the kingdom of God.

And so Jesus, the Lord of Life, calls this young girl to arise, to get up, to be raised up, to be resurrected. And she is.

And now they are astounded. Of course they are. Death they’re familiar with – it is the rule of the realm, the one constant that never changes. Until now.

We, too, often are more familiar with death than life. We are more familiar with the givens of this world, with those things that cannot change, that have always been this way and will never be any different. And, confident of our expectations, or perhaps stuck in our certainty, we miss God’s entrance to renew and restore and redeem and resurrect.

But one day only life will remain, and all of our skeptical or perhaps fearful laughter at the preposterousness of grace will be transformed into holy mirth.

Prayer: Dear God, surprise us again and again with your commitment to life and power to raise up that we may join in the laughter of the saints. In Jesus’ name, Amen.