Tâlîtha Cümī

"While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, 'Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?' But ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, 'Do not fear, only believe.' And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. When they came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, he saw a tumult, and people weeping and wailing loudly. And when he had entered, he said to them, 'Why do you make a tumult and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.' And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 

Taking her by her hand he said to her, 'Tâlîtha cümī'; which means, 'Little girl, I say to you arise.' And immediately the girl got up and walked."

Mark 5:35-42

This. 

Let's just talk about this for a bit. 

There was a little girl. She was dead. Jesus came and brought her back.

That's some very cool stuff right there. 

We hear lots of stories of Jesus healing the sick and bringing the dead back to life again.

This story is probably my favorite because I'm able to imagine myself as that little girl. In fact, I AM that little girl. 

Now, I realize that this may sound slightly morbid. After all, I am basically saying that I am dead, right?

RIGHT. But not the physical kind of dead. Last time I checked, I was very much alive with a beating heart and lungs full of air. 

No, no. I'm talking about the death that finds its way into our soul with sin. 

We all sin. We all make mistakes. We are not perfect. Sin is so ugly and every time I fall into sin, it deadens my soul THAT much more until I become dead in sin. 

So, again, like the little girl, I am often dead.

The best part of the story is when Jesus went into this girl's house and brought her back to life. She IMMEDIATELY got up and walked. Death had left her and she was just as alive as she had been before. 

In the same way, when I am dead in sin and when I am in desparate need of my life being saved and when I am in desperate need of mercy, Jesus comes to me. 

He takes me by my hand and He looks into my eyes and He says to me, "Tâlîtha Cümi."

"Little girl, I say to you arise." 

Immediately, my strength is renewed and I get up and I walk. 

Not only does He come to me when I call out to Him, but He has already saved my life once before. And I wasn't even born yet. Jesus Christ came down to earth and died on a cross so that every single one of our souls could arise from the death that comes with sin and that our lives may be saved. He outstretched both of his hands and He died so that with His strength, we could get up and walk. And every single time that we fall back into sin, time and time again, He is there to give us His hand to drag us up out of our mess and to give us His grace, His life in us, once again. 

Read this story once more. And this time, picture yourself on that bed dying from sin. Imagine Jesus looking down into your eyes and firmly grabbing your hand. Immediately, you will get up and you will walk. Your life will be saved.

"Tâlîtha Cümi."