The Death of Death in the Kingdom of God
Truth Taught- In God’s Kingdom, there will be no sickness and no death.
Jesus is establishing God’s Kingdom as He moves God’s plans forward. The Kingdom of God is being established in the life of Jesus Christ. One day, God’s Kingdom will encompass the entire earth and our planet will be the Garden of Eden with Jesus reigning supreme over all.
Our Lord explained that God’s Kingdom is taking Satan’s territory back, the curse being reversed and God bringing people into it. The Kingdom of God is advancing as like a seed that grows, the Gospel seed takes root within a person and they are forever changed. God’s Kingdom is advancing as Jesus defeats Satan and his army. We saw the calming of the storm and the Legion of demons destroyed. Today, we will see another preview of the Kingdom of God when Jesus defeats death. Death will be put to death. Beloved, there will be no death in God’s Kingdom.
Death has entered our world because of sin. Satan’s Kingdom is a kingdom of death. Through his influence in the Garden of Eden, death has reigned.
Romans 5:12 (ESV)
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
Because of the Fall, death has been part of the Kingdom of this world. In God’s Kingdom one day, there will be no death. So, it’s very fitting that as Jesus shows us here that not only does He have the power to grow the Kingdom and the power to overthrow the enemy kingdom but He also has the power to renew the effects of Satan’s Kingdom. Death will one day be destroyed and be no more.
In our passage today we will see Jesus heals a woman who is dying and resurrects a small child who has already died. Death is put to death in the Kingdom of God.
Please Stand…
Mark 5:21–43 (ESV)
21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 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.” 24 And he went with him.
And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 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. 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Here we are about to see a narrative that seems to be divided into two accounts but actually these stand together. The ruler of the synagogue in Capernaum, now where Jesus is again approaches Jesus on behalf of his dying daughter. Then as they are on their way to Jairus’ home, Jesus is stopped by another person who is dying.
1. The Faith of Jairus (5:21-24)
21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 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.” 24 And he went with him.
And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.
Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue appeals to Jesus.
Jesus and His disciples had just returned to Capernaum from their adventure. Jesus had asked them to come with Him to the other side. Little did they know what Jesus had in store for them. What a time of learning who Jesus is. What a time to see His miracles and power over Satan and his armies of demons and what a time of restoration as the demon possessed man now is a disciple. Jesus will win and God’s Kingdom will triumph over the kingdoms of this world. Jesus will reign supreme and receive a great reward, a people who worship Him. Jesus will heal all our diseases and sickness and He will conquer death. The fall and the curse will be removed from this world and we will be placed into the Garden of Eden as we one day enter into the New Heavens and New Earth.
Jairus was the ruler of the Synagogue located in Capernaum. This was Jesus’ synagogue and our Lord worshipped there often.
This ruler had as his main task to oversee that the worship was carried out in a biblical way. I find this a very fitting example of proper worship in the OT and how this worship meets Jesus in the NT.
OT worship delt with shadows and types. Remember how the sacrificial system with the tabernacle and High Priest pointed to Jesus as our High Priest and our Sacrifice? So, when this man sees Jesus, he runs to Him and falls at His feet in worship. That is a wonderful picture of the Old Covenant bowing down and being fulfilled by Jesus.
In the last passage we saw the demoniac running down to Jesus afraid that He would torment them. They recognized who Jesus was and they knew His great power and that He is the Son of God.
Here we see the ruler of the Synagogue recognized Jesus and came to Him for help.
It is very appropriate that this man who knew what proper worship was to extend that to Jesus. In bowing before Him and falling at His feet he is showing great submission to Jesus’ authority and power. This man knew Jesus had the power to heal his daughter. So, in Jesus’ great compassion and pity they set off.
What an act of faith and worship seen in Jairus
I believe this is true homage from a genuine heart. I think his posture of falling down shows his humility, his need, his desperation and also his faith. And that comes out in what he says, verse 23, “And implored Him earnestly, implored Him earnestly,” – begging, pleading – “saying, ‘My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.’”
Jesus, my daughter is very sick but if You just touch her, she would be made well…
2. The Divine Interruption (5:25-34)
25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
This woman was dying slowly. Day by day getting closer and closer to death. No one could stop this reality or even slow it down. She had spent all her money on doctors and medicine and the latest promises of miraculous healing all to no effect.
Now, she had heard about Jesus before. She had heard what He can do. She had heard about the lame walking, the paralytics jumping up and carrying their mats home, she had even heard about the blind given back their sight and the deaf hearing and the mute speaking…If I can just get close enough to touch Him then I will be made well. That was her mission.
She suffered from bleeding for twelve years. She was also considered unclean. She could not go to the synagogue to worship.
Leviticus 15:25 (ESV)
25 “If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, not at the time of her menstrual impurity, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her impurity, all the days of the discharge she shall continue in uncleanness. As in the days of her impurity, she shall be unclean.
It’s interesting that Jairus was the ruler of the synagogue and this woman was unable to go to that same place of worship. Was Jairus the one who enforced this Levitical law? Had they met before? Had he possibly sent her away?
She believed that while a touch from her would cause others uncleanness but to touch Jesus would have the opposite effect…Jesus would not become unclean but His power and authority would clean her or literally heal her causing this woman to become healed and cleansed all at once. To touch Jesus would stop the death march and she would be returned to the land of the living. In many ways this was a type of resurrection.
She touches the edge of Jesus’ outer garment and immediately, healing comes forth from Jesus. We must not forget that Jesus and the disciples are following Jairus through a great crowd when this happens. She touches Jesus and immediately He senses that healing power has left Him and He turns toward this suffering woman.
Here we see the effects of sin, the curse and Satan reversed. Here is a picture of the Kingdom of God where there will be no more sickness or death.
Also let’s see together that what she had sought for 12 years took place in a moment when Jesus was included. Perhaps there is something in your own life that you have tried and tried to be rid of maybe even for months or years. You know it shouldn’t be there and you tried everything. Will you not seek out the Lord Jesus and trust Him?
This woman knew/had faith that what Jesus had done for others, He could do for her. She was right. She came to Jesus and took up the posture of worship. She too fell before Him. Have you forsaken everything and fallen at Jesus’ feet by faith. In this life very often, we try other things first. We try to fix things in our own strength but what God desires is that we give these things to Him. You see when we give up and simply trust God then He will receive the praise. Here, the doctors and the treatments did not have the power to heal this dying woman but Jesus did.
Jesus asked His disciples who touched Me? The truth was that they were in a very dense crowd and many hundreds of people were touching Jesus. This is important as we understand that no one else in the crowd was healed or here saved. Only this woman because her touch was combined with faith. This takes things to a different level. Salvation is by grace through faith. Her healing was by faith. She had faith that if she just touched Him, she would be made well. So, we must realize that it was by faith that she was healed, as Jesus tells us…Daughter, your faith has made you well
3. Jesus Said, Do Not Fear, Have Faith (5:35-43)
35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 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. 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Jesus Christ has the power over death. He can heal a dying woman and resurrect the dead. God’s Kingdom is the place where sickness, death and dying will be no more.
The delay of Jesus getting to the little girl in time to heal her meant that now, as the report came, she was dead. This created an intense crisis within her father. It is too late; he may have thought. However, what does Jesus say?
Jesus, my daughter is very sick but if You just touch her, she would be made well…
Now, is it too late? Jairus may have thought, I’ve seen Jesus heal sick people before even this woman just now but is death too much. Can there be a miracle after someone has died?
We must see Jesus’ response…
Do not fear, only believe
Our Lord is encouraging this man and his faith. Don’t fear, don’t doubt, don’t let the world take charge still believe. Jesus knew all along what He was doing.
Word came to the father that his small daughter was dead. The mourners were already gathered and wailing because she was dead.
To Jesus and the power of God she was only sleeping. When He said that they began laughing at Him.
Never fear the world’s laughter. They will laugh at you when you’re living out your Christian life. They will laugh at your faith. They will shake their head when they see your commitment to Christ and His people. They speak about you behind your back and think you’re out of your mind by the things you do and the things you believe. Just like they did here with Jesus.
Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him
The wailing and grieving of these professional, artificial mourners could be turned on and off at will. Here it was turned off and laughter began.
Up in the little girl’s bedroom were assembled Jesus, her father and mother and Peter, James and John. These witnesses were about to see a resurrection from the dead.
41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.
This was no resuscitation as some sceptics would have us believe. She was really dead and Jesus brought her back to life.
Luke 8:54–55 (ESV)
54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” 55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat.
Mark ends this section with Jesus’ demand that no one who witnessed this resurrection tell anyone what had taken place. This was an almost impossible task since the young girl would be up an around Capernaum.
There were probably two reasons for this…
-Jesus was not willing to disclose His messiahship to those who did not believe. For example, those who laughed at His claims, He would withhold His true identity.
-Jesus’ time had not come yet. This claim to be the Messiah, the Son of God would accelerate the time of His death. Jesus was on a specific time schedule set by the Father.
As we consider the point of this passage, we must see together that Jesus has the power over sickness and death. These events point to His own resurrection from the dead and they also point to our own resurrection from the dead. In God’s Kingdom there will be no sickness and no death.
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 (ESV)
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Listen, beloved when our Lord returns all His people will be present and accounted for. Whether His people have fallen asleep or still alive all will meet Him on that day and be with Him for all eternity.
1 Corinthians 15:54–57 (ESV)
54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
In God’s Kingdom there will be no sickness and no death…the curse is reversed and we will be with Jesus forever…
Resources Used:
Mark by William Lane
Mark by J C Ryle
Words of grace
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