JAIRU'S DAUGHTER

 

JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER

21And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea.

22Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24And he went with him.

35While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”

36But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”

37And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James.

38They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.”

40And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was.

41Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”

42And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

MARK 5:21-24, 35-43.

COMMENTARY

When Jesus returned from the Eastern shore of the Lake of Galilee, to where he was living, near Capharnaum; He was approached by one of the elders of the local synagogue, asking him to heal his daughter, who was 12 years old (v.42), and was seriously ill.

Scripture does not say what illness it was, but it must have been one of fast death. 2000 years ago, these types of diseases were common, hard to imagine these days.

Jesus, in his mercy, did not refuse, as he never refused to help anyone who came near him.

Jesus took only Peter, James and John. It is clear in Scripture that these were later called ‘Pillars of the Church’ (Galatians 2: 9, the James of Galatians, was the brother of Jesus and not John’s, who had already died, Acts 12: 2). Apart from Peter, who was chosen from before he was born to be the leader of the Twelve (John 1:42). We do not know exactly why James and his brother John had this privilege. James and John were possibly two of the first disciples of Jesus, but not the first, who were Andrew and Peter (Matthew 4:15; John 1: 41-42). The reason must have been another. Perhaps by the pure choice of Lord Jesus, or by their own merit, for having strong Faith, for having spent more time with the Lord and to know better his doctrine and personality.

But the girl died before Jesus reached the Jew's house. They were tried to dissuade from completing the trip, since the girl had died and a cure was no longer necessary.

Jairus' faith doubted, and the messenger’ was little. This is why Jesus tells Jairus in his mercy, "DO NOT FEAR, JUST BELIEVE", and they continued on the path in Faith. Faith that Jesus was a Prophet of God and that he had the power to work miracles.

Due to their lack of conviction, Lord Jesus denied entry to anyone who made fun of Him, when He said that the girl "was sleeping."

Without prayer, and directly in his own Name, he ordered the girl to rise from the dead, and without delay, she rose to life again.

On this day, the second resurrection that Jesus carried out in his ministry, our Lord made clear not only the divine approval of his ministry (Luke 7: 16-17), but his own divinity.

Jesus did not wait for prior divine approval, nor did He entrust the result to God. He did it Himself, by his own power, which no one can do except God alone.

This day, Jesus proved to be The Lord of Life, as raising a dead man is something that only GOD can do. The only miracle, which the devil cannot copy or falsify.

Jesus entrusted them not to make it public, and to give the girl something to eat, to initiate her biological functions.

Among this event, Jesus also healed a woman from a long illness of blood loss, but that is another story.

Omar Flores.