“It’s as easy as taking candy from a baby.” It’s a proverbial saying, indicating how effortless something might be. And when it comes to the account in Luke 8 of Jesus raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead – it is implied by Jesus.

This Jairus we are told, was a “ruler of the synagogue.” This would have been where Jesus had His home at the time, in Capernaum. And as the “ruler”, Jairus would have been what we might call the lead elder. He would have been responsible for making the weekly worship arrangements and more. A devout Jew. And his little girl, was only 12. In all probability, Jesus knew them both.

Implored by Jairus to come to his house and heal his daughter, Jesus unhesitatingly responds. While still on the way, they receive the news the little girl had died. But Jesus tells Jairus to trust Him, and they keep going.

Upon reaching the house, it is a sad scene indeed. These people were not fools. They knew death when they saw it. Their perceptions were not wrong. But they had no idea how different things are to King of Glory, versus us. So Jesus, somewhat enigmatically at this point says to them: “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” And their response? “They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.”

But here’s the point – to Jesus, raising the dead, was no more difficult than rousing a child from a nap. We simply don’t get that. And it isn’t that raising the dead isn’t miraculous, it is. But, to this Jesus, because of who and what He is – because His power is so great, so transcendent, because He is truly master and Lord of all creation – He alone can say, she is just sleeping.

This beloved, is the Christ who died for you, and who is at this moment at the right hand of the Father, interceding for all His own. Remember that in the things you bring before Him in prayer today.

To the God of all the universe

To the Christ who’s Lord of all

To this Jesus, God incarnate

What is death’s but flimsy pall?

To Him, to raise the dead to life

To Him, to void the grave

To this Jesus, God incarnate

What is life, but what He gave?

To us, to wake a sleeping child

To us, the simpl’st act

To this Jesus, God incarnate

Resurrection’s no great craft