Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. But he commanded them strictly that no-one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.
Mark 5:42.43.
We can well imagine that all were “overcome with great amazement”. Who had ever heard of a dead person being made alive again? It was an inconceivable miracle! Similarly, the salvation of a soul is a miracle: being “born again” can only be a work of God. If the miracle in Jairus’ house was inexplicable, it had happened for all to see. Nor is there an explanation for regeneration, but its consequences can be observed.
The girl was alive, healthy and could walk. But Jesus commanded the parents to give her something to eat. Had they in their joy or their astonishment overlooked that their child had been ill and now needed food? Just as nourishment is essential for our body, so, too, does God-given new life require spiritual food. This is what some believers neglect: they rarely read their Bible, but only occasionally here or there. Is it any wonder that such Christians weaken spiritually? How can the inner man grow if fed only sparsely?
Our new life needs good spiritual nourishment: a well-organized plan leading us through the Bible, Bible commentaries providing helpful explanations, calendar leaves giving daily guidance, motivation through fellowship with other believers and prayer to preserve our relationship with God. These will ensure recognizable progress on our spiritual pathway.
Image: By Philip De Vere – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44393007