'Heralds of Light, Arise! Shine!'

'Heralds of Light, Arise! Shine!'

 

 

After telling Jairus, the synagogue ruler, "Do not be afraid; just believe," Jesus allowed only Peter, James, and his brother John to follow Him, and they went with Him to Jairus' house.  When He saw the commotion and people weeping and wailing loudly, He went inside and said, "Why all this commotion and wailing?  The child is not dead but asleep."  At this, they laughed at Him.  After He put them all out, He took the child's parents and the disciples who were with Him and went into the room where the girl was.  He took her by the hand and said, "Talitha koum!" which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!"  Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around.  At this, they were completely astonished.  Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone about this and told them to give her something to eat (Mark 5:36-43).  As I reflect on this passage, several thoughts come to mind:

 

(1)    As I reflect on the passage where Jesus took only Peter, James, and John with Him to the house of Jairus, I am reminded that later, on the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus also took only Peter, James, and John with Him (Mark 9:2).  Additionally, in the Garden of Gethsemane, He took only Peter, James, and John apart from the others and said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.  Stay here and keep watch" (Mark 14:32-34, Korean Modern Bible).

 

(2)     As I meditate on the words of Jesus, who, upon entering the house of Jairus, told those who were weeping and wailing, "The child is not dead but asleep," I am reminded of His words to His disciples, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up" (John 11:11, Korean Modern Bible).  At that time, the disciples thought that Lazarus was merely resting, so they said, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better."  But Jesus was speaking of Lazarus's death (vv. 12-13).  So, Jesus clearly told them, "Lazarus is dead. And for your sake, I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.  But let us go to him now" (vv. 14-15, Korean Modern Bible).  He then went to Bethany and raised Lazarus, who had been dead for four days (vv. 17-18, 43-44).  This reminds me of the passage in 1 Thessalonians 4:13, which says: "Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death ... so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.  For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him ..." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).

 

(3)    As I meditate on the words of Jesus, who took the hand of the synagogue leader Jairus's dead daughter and said, "Talitha koum!" (meaning, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!"), and how the 12-year-old girl immediately rose and walked, I am reminded of Isaiah 60:1: "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you."  I also recalled the lyrics of the hymn "Heralds of the Light, Be Swift," specifically the first verse and chorus: "Heralds of the light, be swift, haste your going; Shatter the fetters of night.  Peoples still without the truth wait unknowing.  Beam forth the Gospel of Light.  Heralds of Light, speed away!  Let shine the bright Gospel ray.  End the night of sin, Let the brightness in!  Heralds of light, speed the day."