Mark 5:40-43 (NKJV) And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. 41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. 43 But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.
V40 “And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying.” What were their reactions when the ruler’s daughter stepped outside perfectly well? These people had heard of Jesus and His miraculous healings. They had no excuse. To have witnesses, Jesus brought in 5 people: mom, dad, and the 3 Apostles. Jesus had all the others leave, for they were a hindrance to faith. When others are a hindrance to our faith, it sometimes is best, if they are out of our lives if at all possible.
V41 “Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” No theatrical movements or voice, just “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”
The voice of the Lord (word):
- Psalm 29:3-9: powerful, majestic, breaks cedars of Lebanon, divides flames of fire, shakes the wilderness, causes birth, and strips the forests bare.
- Psalm 18:13-15: can call for hailstone and coals of fire, can send out lightning, can break the foundations of the earth.
- Matthew 8:26-27: stills a storm. Other verses show Jesus’s voice to cast out demons, heal sickness, raise the dead, etc.
- Exodus 20:18-21 at Mt. Sinai.
- 1 John 1:1: the word of life. Word is (G3056) λόγος lógos
V42 “Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement.” Immediately is a common word in the Gospel of Mark showing the immediate obedience to the creator’s command.
V43 “But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.” Luke writes: Luke 8:55-56 “And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately; and He gave orders for something to be given her to eat. 56 Her parents were amazed; but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened.” Why didn’t He want everyone to know what happened? Precept Austin has this comment: “There are 3 possible reasons: (1) The resulting crowds of curiosity seekers might hinder His ministry (cf. Mark 1:40-45+, John 6:14-15) (2) The Jewish crowds might seek to try to make Him king by force (John 6:14-15+), or (3) Sometimes it was an act of judgment to hide the truth from those who continued to reject Him (Luke 9:21+). Hiebert makes one other point that “For the sake of her normal development, she was not to be made the center of curiosity and excited talk.”
We learn:
- The power of the Lord Jesus.
- The need to believe Jesus.
- The superiority of Jesus’s wisdom.
Questions:
- Does our faith always bring what we want? Compare James 4:3.
- What is our response to Jesus’s power and wisdom?