Jairus’s Daughter

The resurrections prior to Jesus’ own death and resurrection were

not limited to any specific ethnic group or social class. Moses was

perhaps the greatest human leader of God’s people ever (Deut. 34:10–

12). By contrast, the poor Phoenician widow was not even an Israelite

(1 Kings 17:9). The Shunammite woman was prominent in her com-

munity (2 Kings 4:8). The widow of Nain had only one son, upon

whom she was probably dependent (Luke 7:12). In contrast, Jairus

was a ruler of the synagogue, probably in Capernaum (Mark 5:22).

Regardless of their different cultural backgrounds or social status, all

of them were blessed by God’s life-giving power.

Read Mark 5:21–24, 35–43. What can we learn about death from Christ’s

words “ ‘The child is not dead, but sleeping’ ”? (Mark 5:39, NKJV).

Jairus’s 12-year-old daughter was lying deathly sick at home. So, he went

to Jesus and begged Him to come to his home and lay His healing hands on

her. But before they could get there, someone already brought the sad news

“ ‘Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?’ ” (Mark

5:35, NKJV).

Then Jesus said to the grieving father, “ ‘Do not fear, only believe’ ”

(Mark 5:36, NRSV). Indeed, all the father could do was trust totally in

God’s intervention.

Arriving at the house, Jesus said to those who gathered there, “ ‘Why

do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleep-

ing’ ” (Mark 5:39, NRSV). They ridiculed Him because (1) they knew

that she was dead, and (2) they did not grasp the meaning of His words.

“The comforting metaphor by which ‘sleep’ stands for ‘death’ seems to

have been Christ’s favorite way of referring to this experience ([Matt.

9:24; Luke 8:52;] see on John 11:11–15). Death is a sleep, but it is a

deep sleep from which only the great Life-giver can awaken one, for

He alone has the keys to the tomb (see Rev. 1:18; cf. John 3:16; Rom.

6:23).”—The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 609.

After the resurrection of this girl, those who saw it were “overcome with

amazement” (Mark 5:42, NRSV). No wonder. For now, death is final, abso-

lute, and seemingly irreversible. To have seen something like this with their

own eyes surely must have been an amazing, life-changing experience.

Jesus’ words, “ ‘Do not fear, only believe’ ” (Mark 5:36, NRSV), are still

meaningful for us today. How can we learn to do that, even amid fear-

ful situations, which are the most important times to keep believing?