Mark 5:35-43:
Mar 5:35 While Jesus was saying this, some messengers came from Jairus' house and told him, "Your daughter has died. Why bother the Teacher any longer?"
Mar 5:36 Jesus paid no attention to what they said, but told him, "Don't be afraid, only believe."
Mar 5:37 Then he did not let anyone else go on with him except Peter and James and his brother John.
Mar 5:38 They arrived at Jairus' house, where Jesus saw the confusion and heard all the loud crying and wailing.
Mar 5:39 He went in and said to them, "Why all this confusion? Why are you crying? The child is not dead---she is only sleeping!"
Mar 5:40 They started making fun of him, so he put them all out, took the child's father and mother and his three disciples, and went into the room where the child was lying.
Mar 5:41 He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha, koum," which means, "Little girl, I tell you to get up!"
Mar 5:42 She got up at once and started walking around. (She was twelve years old.) When this happened, they were completely amazed.
Mar 5:43 But Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone, and he said, "Give her something to eat." GNB
Ironically, the faith of Jairus' messengers was not as great as his own! Although Capernaum was full of illustrations of Jesus' power to heal, the messengers seem to automatically assume that to raise the dead was too much to expect. Thus, they reasoned that they shouldn't waste the teacher's time since the situation was now in the realm of the "impossible." They had yet to learn the truth of Luke 18:27 - "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God"!
It is likely the case that the delay caused by healing the hemophiliac must have tried Jairus' patience severely, yet we hear no word of murmuring or bitterness from him. However, as this sad news is delivered it is likely that his countenance changed. Jesus, therefore, reassured him - "Do not be afraid; only believe." Jesus wasn't discouraged and there was no reason for Jairus to be. Jesus encouraged him to continue believing and his daughter would be made well (Luke 8:50).
After arriving at the house, only Peter, James, and John, in addition to the girl's parents, were honored with the special privilege of entering. On other occasions these three also shared special moments with the Lord (e.g., Matt. 17:1; Mark 14:33). There were some present who "wept and wailed loudly." It was their tradition for the mourning to begin at the moment of death and continue without intermission until the burial, which usually took place on the day of death. Even to this day, funerals in the East are characterized by noisy uproars and frantic demonstrations of sorrow, made by real and hired mourners.
Jesus asked in Mark 5:39 - "Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping." Technically, this is not correct, but Jesus could say it justifiably because He intended to turn this death into nothing more than a momentary sleep (cf. John 11:11-14). Jesus, who had not yet even seen the young girl, was ridiculed for His statement. It seemed utterly absurd for Him to question their judgment since they had been in proximity to the body and knew the girl to be dead.
Because the commotion was unsuited to the seriousness of a resurrection and because Jesus preferred to work His miracles as privately as possible in order to suppress unnecessary excitement, Jesus had everyone put outside except for the five who had entered with Him.
Our Lord then "took the child by the hand." This was certainly not necessary to perform the miracle, but it was for the good of those present. Their impression would be deepened and the faith of the parents strengthened. "Little girl, I say to you, arise" (Mark 5:41). The words Jesus used were simple. They were words with which any child might be wakened from sleep in the morning.
Luke 8:55 indicated that her spirit then returned, which underscores the truth that she really was dead (cf. James 2:26). Immediately, she arose and walked. Her restoration was instantaneous and absolute.
"And they were overcome with great amazement" (Mark 5:42). Even though Jesus had told Jairus that He would make his daughter well, he was still astonished. Faith in God's great promises is seldom so strong that fulfillment fails to waken astonishment.
Jesus then "commanded them strictly that no one should know it." This command was given in an effort to minimize popular excitement. Additionally, it is certain that Jesus didn't want to be begged to raise the dead on future occasions. As far as the Scriptures reveal, He never was asked to do such. He also instructs them to feed the child. Though Jesus had miraculously brought her back to life, she was to be sustained by natural and ordinary means. It is generally the case that when a person has an appetite and is able to eat, then they have been restored to a normal condition.
Mar 5:35 While Jesus was saying this, some messengers came from Jairus' house and told him, "Your daughter has died. Why bother the Teacher any longer?"
Mar 5:36 Jesus paid no attention to what they said, but told him, "Don't be afraid, only believe."
Mar 5:37 Then he did not let anyone else go on with him except Peter and James and his brother John.
Mar 5:38 They arrived at Jairus' house, where Jesus saw the confusion and heard all the loud crying and wailing.
Mar 5:39 He went in and said to them, "Why all this confusion? Why are you crying? The child is not dead---she is only sleeping!"
Mar 5:40 They started making fun of him, so he put them all out, took the child's father and mother and his three disciples, and went into the room where the child was lying.
Mar 5:41 He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha, koum," which means, "Little girl, I tell you to get up!"
Mar 5:42 She got up at once and started walking around. (She was twelve years old.) When this happened, they were completely amazed.
Mar 5:43 But Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone, and he said, "Give her something to eat." GNB
Ironically, the faith of Jairus' messengers was not as great as his own! Although Capernaum was full of illustrations of Jesus' power to heal, the messengers seem to automatically assume that to raise the dead was too much to expect. Thus, they reasoned that they shouldn't waste the teacher's time since the situation was now in the realm of the "impossible." They had yet to learn the truth of Luke 18:27 - "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God"!
It is likely the case that the delay caused by healing the hemophiliac must have tried Jairus' patience severely, yet we hear no word of murmuring or bitterness from him. However, as this sad news is delivered it is likely that his countenance changed. Jesus, therefore, reassured him - "Do not be afraid; only believe." Jesus wasn't discouraged and there was no reason for Jairus to be. Jesus encouraged him to continue believing and his daughter would be made well (Luke 8:50).
After arriving at the house, only Peter, James, and John, in addition to the girl's parents, were honored with the special privilege of entering. On other occasions these three also shared special moments with the Lord (e.g., Matt. 17:1; Mark 14:33). There were some present who "wept and wailed loudly." It was their tradition for the mourning to begin at the moment of death and continue without intermission until the burial, which usually took place on the day of death. Even to this day, funerals in the East are characterized by noisy uproars and frantic demonstrations of sorrow, made by real and hired mourners.
Jesus asked in Mark 5:39 - "Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping." Technically, this is not correct, but Jesus could say it justifiably because He intended to turn this death into nothing more than a momentary sleep (cf. John 11:11-14). Jesus, who had not yet even seen the young girl, was ridiculed for His statement. It seemed utterly absurd for Him to question their judgment since they had been in proximity to the body and knew the girl to be dead.
Because the commotion was unsuited to the seriousness of a resurrection and because Jesus preferred to work His miracles as privately as possible in order to suppress unnecessary excitement, Jesus had everyone put outside except for the five who had entered with Him.
Our Lord then "took the child by the hand." This was certainly not necessary to perform the miracle, but it was for the good of those present. Their impression would be deepened and the faith of the parents strengthened. "Little girl, I say to you, arise" (Mark 5:41). The words Jesus used were simple. They were words with which any child might be wakened from sleep in the morning.
Luke 8:55 indicated that her spirit then returned, which underscores the truth that she really was dead (cf. James 2:26). Immediately, she arose and walked. Her restoration was instantaneous and absolute.
"And they were overcome with great amazement" (Mark 5:42). Even though Jesus had told Jairus that He would make his daughter well, he was still astonished. Faith in God's great promises is seldom so strong that fulfillment fails to waken astonishment.
Jesus then "commanded them strictly that no one should know it." This command was given in an effort to minimize popular excitement. Additionally, it is certain that Jesus didn't want to be begged to raise the dead on future occasions. As far as the Scriptures reveal, He never was asked to do such. He also instructs them to feed the child. Though Jesus had miraculously brought her back to life, she was to be sustained by natural and ordinary means. It is generally the case that when a person has an appetite and is able to eat, then they have been restored to a normal condition.
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