35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. 37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. 39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. 40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. 41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. 43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat. (Mark 5:35-43 KJV)
Jesus raises Jairus’s Daughter
Diseases and death came into the world through the sin and disobedience of the first Adam, but by the grace of the second Adam, both are conquered. Christ, having healed an incurable disease, now goes on to triumph over death, just as earlier in the chapter he had triumphed over a violent demon.
The event in this passage, Mark 5:35-43, began in and is the continuation of Mark 5:21-34. In Mark 5:21-34, we see Jesus return to Capernaum, he was quickly surrounded by a large crowd, happy to see him again. Not long after, a man of some importance in the city came to him. In deep distress, he approached Jesus humbly, fell at his feet, and pleaded with him on behalf of his daughter, who was at the point of death, and perhaps already dead. Yet he believed that if Jesus came and laid his hands on her, she would recover (Mark 5:22-23).
He did not seem to think Jesus could heal from a distance, or that he could raise the dead, though this likely occurred after the resurrection of the widow’s son at Nain (Luke 7:11-17). Nevertheless, Jesus graciously granted his request and immediately set off to go to his house.
On the way to Jairus’ house, the woman with the issue of blood had received her healing. While Jesus was commending her faith, the sorrowful news was brought to Jairus that his daughter was dead, and therefore, if Christ were like other physicians, he had come too late. While there is life, there is hope, and room for the use of means; but when life is gone, it is past recall—“Why bother the Teacher any longer?” (Mark 5:35).
Normally, the proper response is to say, “The matter is settled, the will of God is done, and I submit. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and the child may live.’ But now that she is dead, why should I weep? I will go to her, but she will not return to me.” With such words, we should comfort ourselves, that our souls may be like a child weaned from its mother. But here the situation was unusual; the death of the child does not, as it usually does, bring the story to an end.
Christ encourages the grieving father to continue hoping that his appeal to Jesus on behalf of his child will not be in vain. Though Jesus paused to heal someone on the way, Jairus would not lose anything because of that delay. “Don’t be afraid; just believe” (Mark 5:36). Jairus may have hesitated, unsure whether to ask Jesus to proceed. But don’t we need God’s grace, his comfort, and the prayers of ministers and Christian friends just as much when death is in the house as when there’s only sickness? Jesus settles the matter: “Don’t be afraid that my coming will be useless—just believe that I’ll make it count.”
We must not give up hope concerning our loved ones who have died, nor grieve for them as people without hope. See what God said to Rachel, who refused to be comforted about her children because she thought they were gone: “Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded… There is hope for your future. Your children will return to their own land” (Jeremiah 31:16-17). Therefore, don’t fear or lose heart.
Faith is the only remedy for disturbing grief and fear in such times: “Only believe.” Maintain your confidence in Christ and your trust in him, and he will do what is best. Believe in the resurrection, and then do not be afraid.
Jesus went with a chosen few to the house where the child had died. He had, by allowing the crowd to follow, given the poor woman a chance to be healed; having done that, he now sent the crowd away and allowed only his three close disciples—Peter, James, and John—to come with him. This was enough to witness the miracle, but not such a crowd as to seem boastful.
He raised the dead girl to life. The details of this story are similar to those found in Matthew, but we notice the following:
The girl was deeply loved, for her relatives and neighbors were weeping and wailing loudly. It is heartbreaking when something that bloomed like a flower is so quickly cut down, when what we hoped would comfort us ends in grief.
It was beyond question that the girl was really dead. The people laughed at Jesus for saying, “She is not dead but asleep” (Mark 5:39), and though their laughter was wrong, it confirms that they believed she was truly gone.
Jesus excluded those who were loud in their grief and unable or unwilling to understand spiritual truths—those who mocked his words and were unfit to witness the miracle. However, he brought the girl’s parents in to witness the miracle, because he intended it for their comfort and because they, being quiet in their grief, showed true mourning.
Jesus raised the girl by a powerful word, which is preserved here in Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke, for added authenticity: Talitha cumi, “Little girl, I say to you, get up” (Mark 5:41). According to Dr. Lightfoot, it was customary among the Jews to say to the sick, “Arise from your disease,” meaning, “We hope you get well.”
But to the dead, Christ said, “Arise from the dead,” meaning, “I command you to get up.” And since the dead cannot rise on their own, power went along with his command to make it effective. Christ works while he commands, and his commands accomplish what he wills. Such is the gospel call to those dead in sin—it is by the word of Christ that spiritual life is given: “I said to you, Live!” (Ezekiel 16:6).
As soon as life returned, the girl got up and walked (Mark 5:42). Spiritual life will show itself by rising from sloth and carelessness, and walking in a godly manner—walking in Christ’s name and strength. Even from those twelve years old, it can be expected that they live differently than in the natural vanity of their minds.
All who saw and heard of it were amazed. “They were completely astonished” (Mark 5:42). They couldn’t deny something extraordinary had happened, though they didn’t know what to make of it. Their wonder should have led to faith, but instead it remained as mere amazement.
Jesus strictly instructed them not to tell anyone about it (Mark 5:43). Enough people knew already, but he did not want it widely spread yet, because his own resurrection was to be the great proof of his power over death. The evidence of this miracle was to remain private until the more important proof was revealed. Jesus also made sure she was given something to eat. This showed that she was not just alive, but well—she had an appetite.
In the same way, newborn believers desire the pure spiritual milk of God’s word (1 Peter 2:1-2). Just as Christ provided food for Adam after creating him (Genesis 1:29), he now provides for the one to whom he has given new life. Where Christ gives spiritual life, he will also provide the nourishment needed to sustain it to eternal life. He will never forsake or neglect the work of his own hands (Matthew 6:25).