活两次的女孩
马可福音五章21至24节，35至43节
21耶稣坐船又渡到那边去，就有许多人到他那里聚集；他正在海边上。
22有一个管会堂的人，名叫睚鲁，来见耶稣，就俯伏在他脚前，
23再三的求他，说：我的小女儿快要死了，求你去按手在他身上，使他痊愈，得以活了。
24耶稣就和他同去。有许多人跟随拥挤他。
35还说话的时候，有人从管会堂的家里来，说：你的女儿死了，何必还劳动先生呢？
36耶稣听见所说的话，就对管会堂的说：不要怕，只要信！
37于是带着彼得、雅各、和雅各的兄弟约翰同去，不许别人跟随他。
38他们来到管会堂的家里；耶稣看见那里乱嚷，并有人大大的哭泣哀号，
39进到里面，就对他们说：为甚么乱嚷哭泣呢？孩子不是死了，是睡着了。
40他们就嗤笑耶稣。耶稣把他们都撵出去，就带着孩子的父母，和跟随的人进了孩子所在的地方，
41就拉着孩子的手，对他说：大利大，古米！繙出来就是说：闺女，我吩咐你起来！
42那闺女立时起来走。他们就大大的惊奇；闺女已经十二岁了。
43耶稣切切的嘱咐他们，不要叫人知道这事，又吩咐给他东西吃。
信息分享
耶稣随着睚鲁回家的路上，三番四次地遭到延误。背后突然有人拉扯睚鲁的衣袖，原来是他的仆人前来报信，说他的女儿已经死了。这个消息听在睚鲁耳中，简直是晴天霹雳！但耶稣立即安慰他说：「不要怕，只要信！」
于是，他们一行人赶到睚鲁的家。当耶稣对众人说女孩不是死去，她只是睡着了，他们都嗤笑起来。然而，信徒离世，其实就真如睡着了一般：他在这边睡着了，立即就在另一边醒来，张开眼睛便看见救主的面容。
这并非如某些人所教导的「灵睡」。反之，我们只是身体睡着了，要等到将来复活；但我们的灵魂却一直存活清醒，并立即与基督同在。
主耶稣来到女孩面前，向她说话。有趣的是，耶稣曾经使三个人从死里复活，而每次都是用祂的声音把他们唤醒。那名女孩立即醒过来，并起来行走。当耶稣呼唤人的时候，连死去的人都懂得立即回应。
死在罪中的人，不论他死去多久，对耶稣来说都是没有分别的。当耶稣向他说话的时候，新的生命便临到他的身上。我们今天需要更多像睚鲁的信徒，他愿意不辞劳苦地跑去找耶稣，求祂赶去拯救那些活在死亡边缘的人。
祷告：
主啊，求你今天使用我，使我成为你施福的器皿。
THE GIRL WHO LIVED TWICE
Mark 5: 21 - 24, 35 - 43
21 Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea.
22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet
23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”
24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.
35 While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”
36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.”
37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.
38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly.
39 When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”
40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying.
41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”
42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement.
43 But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.
Message
There were several delays along the way as Jesus went with Jairus. Suddenly there was a tug at Jairus' sleeve. One of his servants was there to tell him that his daughter had died. What heartbreak that must have meant to Jairus. But Jesus said, 'Don't be afraid, just trust me'.
So they came to the house. When Jesus said the little girl was only asleep, everyone laughed at him. But when a Christian dies it is very much like going to sleep here and awakening immediately on the other side, the looking into the face of our Saviour.
This is not 'soul-sleep' as some teach. It is only the body that is asleep until the resurrection. The soul is alive and conscious and in the presence of Christ.
Our Lord spoke to the girl who was dead. It is interesting that one each of the three occasions that Jesus raised someone from the dead, it was by his voice. The girl stood up and walked immediately. Even the dead have to respond when Jesus calls.
It doesn't make any difference how long a person has been dead in sin. When Jesus speaks, new life comes to them immediately. Today we need more people like Jairus - people who believe in Christ and who are willing to go out of their way to bring Christ to those who need him.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord, make me a channel of blessing today!