Many North Americans never deal with the reality of death. People usually die in hospitals or hospices, cared for by nurses and doctors instead of at home, cared for by family and friends. Many of us also instinctively feel that children should be protected from the ugly facts of life and especially its inevitable end in death. Some parents zealously keep children away from a dying grandparent and from every real contact with death.

What do we do, then, with this Bible story? It's about a young girl who was dying---in fact, who actually died before the end of the story. That's your challenge as a teacher, and that's your opportunity to tell your children about a Savior who overcomes even death.

Mark artfully weaves together two stories of healing, the woman with the hemorrhage and the daughter of Jairus, and you should enjoy the full story. However, it's a little too much to pack together in one lesson at this age level, so we will concentrate on the little girl.

While many of the Jewish leaders rejected Jesus, others were deeply impressed by his words and actions, especially when they experienced deep need themselves. Jairus's daughter was dying, and in fact was close to death. He pleaded with Jesus to hurry to save his daughter. He clearly believed Jesus had the power to make her alive and well.

This is where the entanglement with the woman with the hemorrhage adds enormous drama to the story. It delays Jesus, and the girl dies before Jesus can arrive. When the messengers came running to tell Jairus that his daughter had already died, there seems to be no reason for Jesus to go to Jairus's house. But Jesus encourages Jairus, saying, "Don't be afraid; just believe."

Already people were wailing and mourning the girl's death. It was finished; the girl was dead. They laughed at Jesus when he said that the girl was only asleep. (Death is often characterized as sleep in the New Testament.) This phrase does not mean that the girl was in a coma and not really dead. That would take away the entire point of the story.

Notice how sensitively Jesus dealt with the parents of the girl, taking them with him as he went into the girl's room. And notice how gently Jesus revived the little girl, and the thoughtfulness he showed by urging them to feed and care for her. Mark's gospel retains the Aramaic in which Jesus spoke the tender words: Talitha Koum Somehow the original language must have conveyed both the gentleness and power of the command.

By this miracle Jesus demonstrates that he has a power that only God possesses---the power to give life. Jesus strides into a room where death has struck its blow and hopeless mourning wails its tune, and he breathes life and hope.