The Text
35 While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore?”
36 When Jesus overheard what was said, he told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.”
37 He did not let anyone accompany him except Peter, James, and John, James’s brother.
38 They came to the leader’s house, and he saw a commotion—people weeping and wailing loudly.
39 He went in and said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.”
40 They laughed at him, but he put them all outside. He took the child’s father, mother, and those who were with him, and entered the place where the child was.
41 Then he took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum” (which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, get up”).
42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk. (She was twelve years old.) At this they were utterly astounded.
43 Then he gave them strict orders that no one should know about this and told them to give her something to eat.
The Devotion
Christ alone who calls dead to life
Ezekiel 37:3 (CSB) Then he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I replied, “Lord GOD, only you know.”
Christ alone is the resurrection and the life
John 11:23-26 (CSB) “Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told her. 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. 26 Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Christ alone saves us from death
Ephesians 2:3-7 (CSB) We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! 6 He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Christ alone abolishes death and brought everlasting life
2 Timothy 1:8-10 (CSB) So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me his prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. 10 This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Christ alone kills death
Revelation 20:14 (CSB) Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
Christ alone removes death
Revelation 21:4 (CSB) He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
The Discussion
1. If death is abolished by God, how do we live?
2. Do believers experience a second death?
Revelation 20:15 (CSB) And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
3. What does the gospel of life smells like to other believers and to unbelievers?
2 Corinthians 2:14-17 (CSB) But thanks be to God, who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place. 15 For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. Who is adequate for these things? 17 For we do not market the word of God for profit like so many. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.
4. Who can save us from this body death?
Romans 7:24-25 (CSB) What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.
The Prayer from the Psalms
Save us! Cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
Grant us repentance. Write your word upon our hearts so we might not sin against you.
You are my Rock and Redeemer.
Amen.
The Resources
Calvin’s Commentaries.
by John Calvin.
Baker. 2009.
Olive Tree
Mark: An Expositional Commentary
by R.C. Sproul.
Reformation Trust Publisher. 2011.
Goodreads
New Testament Commentary: Exposition of the Gospel According to Mark
by William Hendriksen.
Baker. 1981.
Goodreads
The Gospel according to Mark: The English Text With Introduction, Exposition, and Notes (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)
by William L. Lane.
Eerdman’s. 1974.
Goodreads
Mark (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, NT Volume 2)
Edited by Thomas C. Odin & Christopher A. Hall
IVP Academic. 2005.
Goodreads
Mark (The Story of God Bible Commentary Series)
by Timothy G. Gombis.
Zondervan Academic. March 9th 2021.
Goodreads