Take His Hand: How Jesus Reaches Out to Change Lives
As the golden rays of the sun filtered through the canopy of leaves overhead, a father and his little girl strolled leisurely through Central Park in NYC, their fingers intertwined in a tender grip. Whether it was her small hand clasped around his strong fingers or her tiny palm enveloping his, the connection between them was palpable, exuding warmth and affection. With each step, laughter and chatter filled the air, punctuated by the chirping of birds and the rustling of trees. However, as they approached a bustling street crossing, the father instinctively tightened his hold, enveloping her delicate hand in his for safety. This simple act of protection not only emphasized his role as her father but also reinforced the trust and love between them, creating a moment that would linger in their hearts long after the day ended. Seeing this sweet familial moment reminded me of several times in the Gospel of Mark when Jesus took someone’s hand and secured their lives for eternity.
Three stories are told by Mark of Jesus taking the hand of someone to heal, secure, and save: Simon Peter’s mother-in-law, Jarius’s daughter, and a father’s son. People wonder if we come to Jesus to begin a relationship with Him, or if He always initiates a relationship with us? In these accounts, we see how Jesus changes the lives of people who are unable to help themselves.
The First Story: Mark 1
In the first chapter of Mark, we read: “And immediately (Jesus) left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them” (Mark 1:29-31). The healing of Simon Peter’s mother-in-law shows us that Jesus has authority over the physical world. He has power over sickness. His compassionate touch lifts her out of sickness and heals her so completely that she gets up and serves a meal to His disciples! When Jesus took her hand in His, she went from sickness to health, and from helplessness to helping others. His hand reaching out to this woman changed her life from suffering alone to serving others. His touch changed Simon’s mother.
The Second Story: Mark 5
In the fifth chapter of Mark, the story is told of Jarius, a leader in the Synagogue, who came to Jesus one day and fell at his feet. He was a desperate parent who pleaded with Jesus, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so she will be healed and live.” Along the way to the house of Jarius, they get word that his little girl had died. “But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” (Mark 5:36) Jesus is telling the father of this little girl to trust Him. Be patient. Believe in who He is. As they walk, it’s as if Jesus is giving Jarius time to recall when He calmed the storm and demonstrated to everyone that His power made the wind and waves be still. Perhaps as they walked, they remembered when the paralytic was lowered down through the roof by his friends for his body to be healed, and Jesus gave him eternal life with the forgiveness of sins. As they walked, they waited for Jesus to show them His power.
When Jesus finally arrived at Jarius’s house, everyone was weeping and mourning for the dead girl. The hired flute players were already there playing their grief dirges for the family. So, of course, they laugh when Jesus says she’s asleep. They know a dead child when they see one, and they are already grieving! Do you think it’s odd that when Jesus arrives at Jarius’s house, he says the girl is just sleeping? The parallel accounts of this story in Matthew 9 and Luke 8 make it clear that Jesus understands that she’s dead. She’s not just mostly dead; she’s completely dead. So why does He make that reference to sleep? Let’s pay attention to what Jesus does to show us. “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. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” (Mark 5:40-41)
Do you notice that Jesus says two things to her? The first is “talitha,” which is a term of endearment that literally means, “little girl.” Likely a better translation would be “honey” or “darlin” as southerners say. “Honey, get up!” “Darlin, get up!” The second thing Jesus says to her is “cumi,” which means “arise, get up!” He’s not saying “be resurrected” as we might assume, since clearly, she’s dead. The language Jesus uses in this moment is a lot like what her parents might say on any other morning of her life. “Honey, it’s time to get up.” Jesus sits down beside her and takes her hand and says, “Honey, get up!” “Darlin, get up!” Only Jesus has the power to gently take someone by the hand and lift her right up out of death! It’s as if he were saying by His actions in this moment: “If I have you by the hand, death itself is nothing but sleep!”
Immediately, the girl responds to the touch of Jesus and His invitation to get up. She gets up and begins walking around. Jarius came to Jesus for a fever cure for his little girl, not for a resurrection! She was dead! And a dead person, even a person who is in a deep sleep, can do nothing for herself! Jesus did for Talitha what she could not do for herself! When we go to Jesus for help, we get from Him far more than we had in mind! Jarius went to Jesus for his daughter’s health, and he learned to trust Jesus in the walking and waiting, and his daughter was brought from death to life! Apart from Jesus, we are dead in sin. But when He takes our hand and says, “Honey, get up,” He gives us life–abundant and eternal! His touch changed Jarius’ daughter.
The Third Story: Mark 9
In the ninth chapter of Mark, the account is told of what happens when Jesus takes someone by the hand. A father comes to Jesus to beg for healing for his son, who had suffered from childhood with demons and seizures. The son was speechless, and his convulsions caused him to fall into harm. Because of his suffering in these ways, the son was an outcast from society. His desperate father asks Jesus for pity and healing for his son “if possible.” Jesus kindly responds to the father that “everything is possible for the one who believes,” to which the father responds so, so honestly, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)
If you find yourself doubting God as this parent did, you are not alone! Let this man’s cry be your prayer. Be honest with God about your doubts for your children, your grandchildren, your nieces and nephews, and neighbors. God will see your faith and strengthen it despite your doubt. I love Jesus for what He does next in the story. I love when Jesus took the seizing son by the hand and lifted him up out of his sickness and sin. Jesus restored this outcast son to being accepted in society. Only Jesus can do what the parents cannot do! Jesus is better than anything because only He can save the sinner, heal his sickness, and give him new life. The parent cannot save or heal the child! However, the parent can prayerfully place the child before the One who is faithful to save! Jesus even explains to His disciples that the only way this child was healed was through prayer! “Lord, I do believe. Help my unbelief!” This can be our prayer! His touch changed this father’s son.
Jesus reached out His hand to Simon’s mother-in-law, and she got up and served. Jesus reached out His hand to Jarius’ daughter, and she was resurrected to life. Jesus reached out his hand to a suffering son, and he was healed and restored to society. Jesus does everything for us that we cannot do for ourselves. He lifts us out of sickness and even from the death that our sins have caused. He changes our status from outcast to accepted. The personal touch of his hand reminds us of our need for Him to change us, because we realize that “we are more wicked than we ever believed and more accepted and loved than we ever dared hope!” as Tim Keller often explained when sharing the good news of Jesus.
What about you? Have you responded to the compassionate, life-changing touch of the hand of Jesus? Has He said to you, “Darlin, get up?” and have you responded in faith to rise and walk with Him? Will you take His hand today and trust Jesus to give you the abundant life that is promised for all those who have faith in his life, death, and resurrection?
