

Mark 5:22-24, 39-43 - Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing [Jesus], he fell at His feet and implored Him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live." And He went with him. ... And when He had entered, [Jesus] said to [the people], "Why are you making a commotion and weeping? 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 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. And He strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
I love how practical Jesus is after He raises someone from the dead. Here He reminds the little girl's parents to give her something to eat; I wonder how long it would have taken them to think of that on their own? Jesus doesn't wait to see; He just gently points them in the right direction. In the same way, when He raises Lazarus from the dead, He notices that poor Lazarus is still wrapped up like a mummy in his grave clothes, and nobody's making a move to help! So He says, "Unbind him, and let him go" (John 11:44b).
This is not the behavior of a man who's looking for applause for the great miracle He's just done! No, His mind is all on the needs of the people He's serving. He did the miracle because He loved them; and now that the crisis is over, He moves on to the next thing they need.
You can even see Jesus doing this at His own resurrection. He sends an angel to roll back the stone—not to help Jesus get out, He was already gone by then; but to help the women who were on their way. He knows they aren't strong enough to move the stone, and He also knows they can't cope with the soldiers who are guarding it; but the angel deals with both problems easily. And then he speaks gently to the women and tells them what to do next: "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead" (Matthew 28:7a).
What a wonderful God we have, always thinking of our needs, even when we are lost in amazement at the wonders He has done! Surely, this is a love we can never praise too much. It's the same love that led Him to leave heaven and become a Man, our Savior Jesus—who came to teach and to preach and to heal, and ultimately, to lay down His life for us all on the cross. By His death and resurrection He broke the power of death over the whole human race, for everyone who will trust in Him to help. Now that is real help.
WE PRAY: Thank You, Lord, for meeting my needs. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. Do you tend to be more practical or more dreamy and imaginative?
2. What practical task can you do today to help someone in need?
3. Tell about a time when God used someone to meet a need of yours.
Today's Bible Readings: 1 Kings 10-11 Acts 8:26-40
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