i, the scoffing mourner

this week i was reading in luke chapter 8 where Jesus heals Jairus' daughter. i had read this passage before and was familiar with the story. however, something struck me this time like it never had before.

Jesus was approached by Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue. he fell at Jesus' feet and pleaded with Him to come to his house to heal his daughter who was very ill. Jesus agreed to go, and as they were on their way, someone came to report that the daughter had already passed away. instead of stopping in His tracks and aborting His mission, Jesus kept on going.

"But Jesus on hearing this answered him, 'Do not fear; only believe and she will be well.' And when he came to the house...all were weeping and mourning for her, but He said, 'Do not weep, for she is not dead, but sleeping.' And they laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand He called, saying, 'Child, arise.' And her spirit returned and she got up at once." Luke 8: 50-55

when Jesus arived He must have seemed crazy. everyone was there weeping and mourning over the loss of this little child and instead of comforting them, he contradicts them. "She is not dead, but sleeping." how ridiculous this must have seemed to the mourners. they were there the whole time. they saw her take her last breath. they knew with certainty that she was gone. however, the reality of their perception was not the truth of the situation.

how often have i been in this spot? how many times have i laughed at the thought of an alternate reality? how easily do i find myself in the shoes of the scoffing mourner?

in seeking to live a life of faith, we all face similar situations on a frequent basis. we see the reality of our lives--cancer, loss, apathy, sin, brokeness, etc--and we recognize them as "the way it is." we see our culture spinning down a spiral of self-indulgence and destructive behavior and accept it as a fact. we watch as laws are passed and decisions are made and believe that nothing will change. well, all of these may be real but are they true?

i serve a God who raises the dead. the One who caused the sun to stand still in the sky. He releases those in bondage to addiction and sin. He went to the grave and came back to tell about it. He's not about doing things the "right way." He doesn't have a set of rules to follow or laws of nature to obey. who am I to tell Him was is "real" and what cannot possibly change? how can i laugh in His face as He whispers, "things will not always be this way" or "this is not how it is" or "no, she is not dead?"

may i have the faith to radically trust, the strength to see past the situation and the obedience to walk forward, no matter how "unreal" it may seem.