The Victorious Kingdom

Saint Mark 5:22-44, 35-6:1 (9/16-9/29) Friday of the Fourteenth Week after Pentecost

The Victorious Kingdom: Saint Mark 5:22-24, 35-6:1, especially vss. 41, 42: “Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, ‘Talitha, cumi,’ which is translated, ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise.’ Immediately the girl arose and walked....” At Baptism, the Church prayed that we might “...be made worthy of the Kingdom incorruptible.” Jairus’ daughter certainly was “...made worthy of the Kingdom;” for when that victorious realm embraced her life, corruption ended. The young girl, in rising from her death-bed, gained the victory of the Prophet David, “He sent from on high, and He took me; He received me out of many waters” (Ps. 17:16).

Indeed, the sovereignty of the Kingdom of God breaks the tyranny of sin, demons, and sickness. The Evangelist Mark, in the passages that precede the present account, records the victorious intervention of God’s Kingdom: Christ our God stopped the wind and waves of the Sea of Galilee, and freed His disciples from the faithless fear that convinced them He and they were perishing (Mk. 4:38-40). The Lord asserted the regal authority of the Kingdom of God against a legion of demons by restoring to “...his right mind” (Mk. 5:15) a possessed man whom “...no one could bind” (Mk. 5:3). This man He sent home to announce “...what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you” (Mk. 5:19).

The invincibility of the Kingdom of God against sickness is also revealed. One time a ruler of the synagogue came to the Lord Jesus 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’” (Mk. 5:23). Even before the Lord Jesus reached the home of the ruler, a woman with a prolonged illness - a twelve-year issue of blood - touched the hem of His garment and was healed. The Lord sent her away in peace, her affliction fully ended (Mk. 5:25-34).

In all these encounters, the Lord Jesus emphasizes that the reign of the Kingdom is manifest particularly when God is approached in faith. The trust of the disciples suffered when their boat was swamping. Still, they came to Jesus (Mk. 4:38), and He transformed disbelieving fright into reverent awe (Mk. 4:41). The possessed man “...ran and worshiped Him” (Mk. 5:6), and thereafter he “...began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him” (Mk. 5:20). Notice that the evident death of the young daughter of the ruler prompted some of his household to run to the man and urge him not to “...trouble the Teacher any further” (Mk. 5:35). But, as the Lord Jesus does consistently, He challenged the ruler to hold onto whatever faith he had that had led him ask for His help: “...Do not be afraid; only believe” (vs. 36).

So Christ and the father came to the ruler’s home, where the mourners were weeping and wailing (vs. 38). The Lord of the Kingdom challenged these mourners who surmised that the girl was dead: No! “...The child is not dead, but sleeping” (vs. 39). But when these professional mourners ‘knew’ better and ridiculed Him, He put the faithless ones outside. They were beyond the reign of God’s Kingdom of Life. Then, He went to the girl, taking with Him those with a modicum of faith. In their presence, He took the hand of the motionless girl and said, “...Little girl, I say to you, arise” (vs. 41). The clouds of doubt and gloom were blown from the room, for “Immediately the girl arose and walked” (vs. 42). Not only can the Kingdom of God overcome sin, demons, and sickness, but also the dread ultimacy of death.

How often apparently irresistible powers bully our faith - sin, chronic sickness, the sinister possession of demons. Especially, we quail at ostensibly inescapable death. Hear this, citizens of the victorious Kingdom, defy them all: “I shall not die, but live” (Ps. 117:17)!

Illumine us who with faith do worship Thee; and rescue us from fire eternal.

From Dynamis Publications: 013198

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Troparion - Tone 4
Commanders of the heavenly hosts, we who are unworthy beseech you, by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory, and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry to you: “Deliver us from all harm, for you are the commanders of the powers on high!”

Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for me.

Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!

Galatians 2:6-10 (Epistle)

6 But from those who seemed to be something-whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man-for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me.
7 But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter
8 (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles),
9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
10 They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.


Mark 5:22-24,35-6:1 (Gospel)

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.
1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him.

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Troparion - Tone 4
Commanders of the heavenly hosts, we who are unworthy beseech you, by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory, and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry to you: “Deliver us from all harm, for you are the commanders of the powers on high!”

Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for me.

Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!