Mark 5:22–43 tells two miracles on one road. Jairus, a leader in the synagogue, falls at Jesus’s feet. He begs Him to come heal his little daughter, who is dying. On the way, a woman who has been sick for twelve years reaches through the crowd. She touches the edge of Jesus’s clothes and is healed right away. Jesus stops and finds her. He calls her “Daughter” and tells her that her faith has made her whole. Then a messenger says Jairus’s girl has died. Jesus tells Jairus, “Be not afraid, only believe.” At the house, He takes the girl by the hand and tells her to arise. She gets up and walks. She’s twelve years old.
Matthew 10 adds two more treasures for little ones. In 10:1–8, Jesus calls twelve Apostles and gives them power to heal and to teach. We have Apostles on the earth today. And in 10:29–31, Jesus teaches that Heavenly Father notices even a tiny sparrow. He knows the number of hairs on each person’s head. Young children sometimes feel small or overlooked. This is the week to tell them that Heavenly Father knows them by name.
Four- to seven-year-olds love the wake-up moment and the tiny coin for two birds. Keep the girl’s death gentle. Jesus said she was like someone sleeping, and He woke her up. Let the 6- and 7-year-olds read the short lines. Let the 4- and 5-year-olds lead the crowd, the sparrows and the big reach.
Many children have seen priesthood power at work in a blessing. It might come from a father, grandfather, bishop or ministering brother. The same power Jesus gave His Apostles blesses the sick today. For the 7-year-olds, baptism is done by that same priesthood authority. Faith doesn’t mean we never feel afraid. It means we bring our fears to Jesus and keep believing.
