41Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Mark 5:41
Our text today is perhaps one of my favorites in all of scripture. As we read of the 12 year old girl who Jesus raises from the dead, we cannot but smile as we think of children in our own lives, the sadness of someone so young being very sick or dying, and the joy that comes with envisioning Jesus reaching out, laying his hand on the child, and tenderly instructing her to get up from her deathbed.
The most severe of sadness must have turned to Joy in her parents faces as they watched her slowly but confidently heed the word of our Savior.
Amazingly, by the power of God’s Word, our Savior has worked such a miracle for all who call themselves Christians. Through the waters of Holy Baptism, our Lord has reached out to each of us, condemned by the sickness of sin, and said to us “Get up” you are now alive.
Baptism seems at times to be such a simple thing. And yet, wrapped in this mystery is the most amazing of all miracles. The baptized dies to sin, and comes back to life in Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Baptism, Jesus reaches out to us, heals us, and gives us new life. With the little girl, may we too get up and begin to walk around with the new life God has given us.
Touch some water today and thank God for your Baptism. If you have not been baptized, one of our pastors would love to talk to you about this amazing blessing from God. What can you do today with this new life God has given you through water and the Spirit?
Prayer: Thank you for making me your child through Holy Baptism. May I ever walk in the new life of Water and the Spirit, that my actions may be pleasing in your sight. Amen.
Contributed by Pastor Jarod Koenig