“After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.” Mark 5.40-43
Some people might ask how does Jesus have the power to heal? I often wonder about his particular methods for healing. Sometimes he uses water, sometimes spittle, sometimes he lays hands on people and sometimes he just uses words. It is this last one, when Jesus doesn’t make any kind of physical movement, and speaks only words over a person that amazes me.
In this instance, Jesus uses both a physical touch (he took the girl by the hand) and he uses words (“little girl, I say to you get up”) to bring life back into this body of flesh. Jesus has the power to make things happen by merely speaking the words. How can this be? John 1 tells us Jesus is the Word made flesh and that the Word was with God in the beginning of time in Genesis 1.
So Jesus is the physical manifestation of the spoken Word of God. And God the Father, who created a world out of nothing, did so simply with a word or words — “Let there be light,” Genesis 1.3, for example. The whole first portion of Genesis is God creating the world — with words. And if Jesus is God’s words turned into a human, then the living Word made Flesh certainly has the same power to speak and miracles happen.
Why am I sharing all this with you? Because if God did it once, he can do it again. God can bring hope and healing to our own situations by his words. And his Word is not only written down so we might read it in the Old and New Testaments, his Word is written on our hearts. And his Word is as available to us now as it was to the little twelve year old girl that Jesus brought back to life with just a word.
Your situation might not be as dire as needing to be raised from the dead, but perhaps you need hope to visit your home. Maybe you are feeling lost and alone and you need His Word to surround you, comfort you and give you peace. His Word is available for you now. Read it, ask for the Living Word to be with you in the power and presence of God’s Holy Spirit who is closer than you realize.
“O Lord God, the New Year is upon us – 2024! I can’t believe it. I’m no spring chicken anymore! 53 years and counting! But throughout my life, you have always been present. From when I felt you as a child, to when I met you in my youth, to your continued pursuit of me into my thirties, forties and now fifties. You are here. Your Word brings strength to my limbs. Come now Holy Spirit. Fall upon me. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen