Translation: 简体中文 繁體中文

Raising the Ruler's Daughter

Matt 9:18,23; Mark 5:22,35; Luke 8:40,49

Luke 8:40-42,49-56 (web)
It happened, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed him,
for they were all waiting for him.
Behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue.
He fell down at Jesus’ feet, and begged him to come into his house,
for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.
But as he went, the multitudes pressed against him.
While he still spoke, one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house came, saying to him,
"Your daughter is dead. Don’t trouble the Teacher."
But Jesus hearing it, answered him,
"Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be healed."
When he came to the house, he didn’t allow anyone to enter in,
except Peter, John, James, the father of the child, and her mother.
All were weeping and mourning her, but he said,
"Don’t weep. She isn’t dead, but sleeping."
They were ridiculing him, knowing that she was dead.
But he put them all outside, and taking her by the hand,
he called, saying, "Child, arise!"
Her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately.
He commanded that something be given to her to eat.
Her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had been done.

What does this reveal about Jesus?

Jesus can raise the dead to life.

Notes & Applications:

The one that came from the house reckoned Jesus only a teacher and not a healer. Many accept some aspects of Jesus while denying other aspects. Many reckon him a good teacher - even Islam regards him as a prophet. But many reject him as Lord and Savior.

"laughed at him" is more literally to laugh him to scorn, or mock him. Notice the flow of people's reaction to Jesus. It starts with expectation then mockery followed by astonishment. This is also the flow of history. The Jews had certain expectations of the Messiah, then mocked him, but in the end they will be astonished.

A Christian's attitude towards death:

It is interesting that Jesus wept when he went to raise Lazarus. But not here. He didn't seem to empathize with the crowd here for they mocked him and were completely without hope. In view that he himself wept went Lazarus died I think that "Stop wailing" should be interepreted in the sense Paul writes to the Thessalonians: "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope." 1Th 4:13 Hopeless grieving for Christians who have died is inappropriate. One should not think of them as dead so much as simply asleep. The grief is that their presence is gone for a time, as they bide their time in paradise awaiting the resurrection. I've fancied having my own tombstone inscribe with the phrase "I'll be back!", which would make for a rather interesting reaction among those strolling through the cemetery late at night. But this is the Christian's perspective. Everyone live forever - it's just a matter of where!

Death and life from God's perspective has to do with whether one has the Son. "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." 1John 5:12 Therefore let's not take the physical aspect of death too seriously. For "the man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." Joh 12:25

The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources Jan 29,2022