Mark 5:35-39 (NKJV) While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” 37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. 39 When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”
V35 “While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” This is reasonable though grievous information. Now, at this point, all know that she is dead. The father would understandably be upset and sad. Can Jesus really raise the dead?
V36 “As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” Jesus knows what all were thinking, so to encourage faith in the father, He states, “Do not be afraid, only believe.” Notice the importance of faith/believing. Faith is often tested. Compare Abraham—Genesis 22:2, Israel at Jericho—Joshua 6:3, and the widow at Zarephath—1 Kings 17:9-13. Testing of our faith is for 1) increased patience and maturing of our Christianity (Romans 5:3), 2) purify faith (Zechariah 13:9), 3) to separate fake Christ-followers from the true, 4) promote unity in the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:26).
The Greek word for patience in Romans 5:3 is (G5281) ὑπομονή hupŏmŏnē, which means (Strong) “steadfastness, constancy, endurance.”
V37 “And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.” Why only these 3? Space didn’t allow more people, so it seems likely. These 3 are also legal witnesses. See Matthew 18:16, Luke 24:48, and Acts 5:32.
V38 “Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly.” (Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary) “Mourning began at the moment a person died. The family would begin its wailing, and neighbors would rush to the bereaved household and join in the wailing. If the family could afford them, hired mourners were employed to add their chants, lamentations, and shrieks. Such hired mourners were probably among those who scorned Jesus when He said that Jairus’ daughter was “not dead, but sleeping” (Matt. 9:24). Dirgesongs were also played on flutes (Matt. 9:23–24). Amid such pandemonium, it is understandable that Jesus put the crowd outside the house before raising Jairus’ daughter.”
V39 “When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” Jesus knows what they do not. They laugh, but the ruler did not. The crowd should have known about Jesus and His miracles to know better, but they, like all of us, need to learn and believe Jesus for ourselves.
The word sleep is used for physical death (John 11:11-14—Lazarus was already dead). It is good that they acknowledge her to be dead. Thus, Jesus did really resurrect a dead girl.
We learn:
- It is good to seek Jesus.
- It is good to believe in Jesus.
- We are witnesses, too.
Questions:
- Are you a witness?
- How is your faith?