In the Fulness of Time/Part 51

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In our previous article, Jesus had a request from Jairus, ruler of the synagogue that his 12 year old daughter was at the point of death, but as the Gospel of Mark records it, she died while they were on the way to see her. In addition to this, Jesus was interrupted in His journey by a diseased woman, whom He healed. Now the story resumes according to Matthew 9:23-26.

Power over Death: Restoring Life to Jairus’ Daughter. Matthew 9:23-26

Jesus Rebukes the Mourners. 9:23-24

Matthew 9:23-24 “And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the musicians and the people making noise, He said unto them, Give place; for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.”

This sequence of events is detailed in Mark and Luke:

1. As soon as Jesus healed the woman with the issue of blood, messengers from Jairus’ house came and told him not to bother Jesus, because the little girl who was at the point of death (Mark 5:23) had, in reality, died (Mark 5:35).
2. Jesus assured Jairus that his daughter would be made well (Luke 8:50).
3. Jesus arrived at Jairus’ house and rebuked the minstrels (flute players) and wailing mourners. The custom was to hire paid mourners and musicians who would make loud mournful noises to show publicly that the family cared. This was not a new thing. Through Jeremiah, the Lord warned His people Israel that they would be scattered among the na­tions and that they should “call for the mourning women… and let them… take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears… for death is come… to cut off the children” (Jeremiah 9:17-21).
4. Jesus was laughed to scorn for saying that the girl was not dead, but was sleeping. The Greek word kataggelon literally means “to ridicule,” and has been freely translated, “they looked down their noses at him.” But why would Jesus say this since He knew that she had really died? Perhaps the answer is that He wanted to make the miracle all the more graphic. Was she really dead? Yes, for several reasons: First, the messengers af­firmed she was dead; second, the mourners were hired only at death, and they knew she was dead; third, when Jesus brought her back to life, her spirit “came again” (Luke 8:55). The spirit does not leave a person until death occurs.
5. Jesus put everyone out of the house except the parents and three of His disciples, Peter, James and John (Mark 5:37, 40).

Jesus Restores Life to the Daughter of Jairus. 9:25-26.

Matthew 9:25-26 “But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. And the fame of this went abroad into all that land.”

Not only did Jesus say, “Talitha Cumi which is being interpreted, Little girl, I say unto thee, arise,” but she also walked, after which He commanded them to give her some­thing to eat (Mark 5:42-43). The parents were charged by Jesus not to tell anyone what was done, but as Matthew says, the fame of the miracle went abroad. After all, it would be quite evident that she was alive again, a twelve year old girl would soon be out in the street with her friends!

Once more, the Lord Jesus proved that He was the Messiah/King by His authority over disease and even death, “the last enemy to be destroyed” (I Corinthians 15:26). And surely it will be, once for all, “in the fulness of time.”

Read Part 52