I am creating a series of art and poems based on the words Jesus spoke to women. This poem is based on the story of Jesus raising the 12-year-old daughter of Jairus, the synagogue leader in Mark 5:21-43 and Luke 8:40-56

at the end of exhaustion
in and out of light
I finally drink deep
of sleep and pressing darkness

outside the rise and fall
of wailing
–for death stings
a needling pain

“Don’t fear
only believe
She is sleeping”

He is near
his eyes
unshrouded
and seeing

“Little girl arise”

black shifts to
grays and browns
breath returns
with smell and touch and hunger

“Give her something to eat”

my parents
ashen with relief
the sting of death
extracted

“Don’t tell anyone”

He puzzles me
so dangerous, so safe
so powerful, so gentle
do good men die on crosses?

what kind of man
chews up death
and then spits it out
like Jonah’s whale

or like Jonah himself
spit out of the grave
and onto the shore
hungry for a bite of fish

All I know is
I tasted life and death
on the same day
and He visited in the middle

COPYRIGHT/USAGE: All writing, artwork and photos are copyright Marydean Draws. Please do not repost or resell on another website. I’m happy for you to use my coloring pages and other printables for home, school, and ministry. If you share content, please link back to the original post. Thank you!

Here is the process video of creating this art:

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1Corinthians 15:20-26 ESV)

“If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.” (Psalm 139:11-12 ESV)

“And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.” (Luke 24:41-43 ESV)

jesus speaks to women