COMMENTARY ON MARK
LESSON NUMBER 57
JESUS FACES THE UNBELIEVING CROWD
“ Mark 5:38 And He cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. 39 And when He was come in, He saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. 40 And they laughed Him to scorn. But when He had put them all out, He taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with Him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.” (Mark 5:38-40; Matthew 9:23-24; Luke 8:52-53)
JAIRUS AND HIS DAUGHTER, #5
INTRODUCTION
How does unbelief effect the Lord Jesus? And, how does unbelief respond to the statements of the Lord of glory? This occasion will provide some insight into these matters. Although it is often denied by some who wear the name of Jesus, the responses of men, whether that of belief or unbelief, do have an effect upon Christ. The fact that the Lord knows all, does not mean He is indifferent to human expressions. It is said of the Savior – particularly regarding His revelation as a Man – “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows” (Heb 1:9). As is evident, this is the only appropriate response to righteousness and evil, and precisely reflects the posture of heaven. There is no way that Jesus can respond lovingly to iniquity, or heartlessly to righteousness. For Him to react in such a manner would contradict His nature, and He “cannot deny Himself.”He is not only faithful to His word, but to His nature as well (2 Tim 2:13). By perpetrating erroneous views of the Lord Jesus, Satan has enabled men to remain comfortable in their sin. However, those who have consciously confronted the Lord Himself know very well that no person can remain comfortable in their sin before Him, or discouraged from pursuing His mercy. Of course, where there is no awareness of Christ, men can only speculate about such things.
JESUS SEES A TUMULT
“ Mk 5:38 And He cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. (Mark 5:38).
HE COMETH INTO THE HOUSE. A lot had happened since Jairus had first spoken to Jesus. He had earnestly entreated the Lord (v 23). Jesus had accompanied him in a return to his house, with a throng coming along with them (v 24). A woman with an issue of blood had made her way through the throng to touch the hem of Christ’s garment, and was healed (vs 25-29). Jesus, sensing that virtue had gone out of Him, inquired who had touched Him, looking about to see the woman who did this (vs 30-32). The woman came to Him, telling him all the truth: why she touched Him and what happened when she did (v 33; Lk 8:47). Jesus told the woman her faith had made her whole, to go in peace, and be whole from the plague that had been upon her (v 34). That is a lot to happen during what men would call “an emergency.”
It is the business of faith to keep trusting, persevering, and clinging to hope, even though there may seem to be delays along the way. While there is certainly a sense in which the Lord deeply cares for His own, none of us should approach Him as though we were the only ones standing in need of Him. That is one reason why Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” “forgive us our debts,” “lead us not into temptation,” and “deliver us from evil.” Faith can survive what appears to be delays!
HE SEES THE TUMULT. As soon as Jesus comes to the house, He sees “the tumult.” He has just come from an environment of faith, as seen in Jairus’ request, and the healing of the woman with an issue of blood. The word “seeth” is not a casual one. It means “to view attentively, take a view of, and survey.” STRONG’S That is, Jesus took particular note of the activities going on at Jairus’ home. This, of course, would not be possible if, as some allege, Jesus viewed everyone alike, or was able to easily endure all of the expressions of men. And what does Jesus see? It is “the tumult.” Other versions read, “commotion,” NASB “people running this way and that,” BBE “great confusion,” LIVING and “a scene of uproar.” WEYMOUTH Capturing the full sense of the text, another version reads, “He looked [carefully and with understanding] at [the] tumult.” AMPLIFIED
We have every reason to believe Jesus still beholds the reactions of men – particularly during what is termed a “crisis.” It is at such a time that belief or unbelief tend to rise to the surface. Some people are able to associate crises with the Living God. All, it seems to me, will be tempted not to do so. However, faith consistently and always overcomes the world. As it is written, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4). For every person, there comes a time when profession is tested by circumstance.
Matthew says Jesus beheld “the minstrels and the people making a noise” (Matt 9:23), or “flute-players, and the crowd in noisy disorder.” NASB These conditions testified to at least two things. First, Jairus’ daughter had, in fact, died. Second, the people made no association of Jesus with the raising of the dead. A short time earlier, in Judah, Jesus had raised the departed son of a widow from Nain (Lk 17:12-15). Jesus, however had not become well known for His ability to raise the dead. In fact, Jairus had made no request for Jesus to raise his daughter. There are still people who perceive Jesus as being wholly adequate for some matters, but deficient for others – as when both Mary and Martha both said, “Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died” (John 11:21,32). It seems to me that the professed church still comes short in the matter of comprehending that Jesus, “is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (1 Tim 6:15). That is something that only faith can grasp.
AND THEM THAT WEPT AND WAILED. Jesus beheld more than the general conditions. He also took special note of those who were weeping and wailing “greatly,” or loudly. NKJV It was a scene of the hopelessness that is produced by unbelief. These were people who were sorrowing as those who “have no hope” (1 Thess 4:13).
Wailing is a cry that is audible, more akin to a shout. Our culture does not ordinarily have this practice, which remains common throughout the middle East. During the various upheavals that are presently taking place in that part of the world, scenes of “wailing” are often brought to us. It is a depiction of those who are overcome by sorrow, and loudly articulate their sorrow. There is also the sound of hopelessness and despair in wailing.
There are matters in life over which men have no power. There are actually more of these than we are capable of imagining. However, death is one that stands out – a common experience, yet one to which men cannot grow accustomed. In the ministry of Jesus, many things were confirmed to the hearts of men. One of them was this: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”(Psa 46:1). And again, “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth”(Psa 145:18). This is a reality that faith can see and grasp. When it does, it neutralizes all circumstances, so that they can no longer cast us into the pit of despair. This is another aspect of overcoming the world.
SHE IS NOT DEAD, BUT ONLY SLEEPS
“ 39 And when He was come in, He saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.”
WHEN HE WAS COME IN. Only Jesus can enter into the domain of unbelief with great poise, taking charge of the situation. He does not enter, however, to make Himself available to everyone, but to those who have been given to Him by the Father (John 6:39; 17:9,11,24). Jesus saw what was going on, but He did not enter the house as a spectator. Sometimes I sense that much of the activity of the modern church does not reach beyond Jesus seeing and knowing what they are doing. There does not seem to be a sense of Him being “A Minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man” (Heb 8:2). Jesus said of the Father and Himself, “My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I, too, am working” NIV (John 5:17). It only remains for our faith to take hold of that circumstance and live in the power of it.
WHY MAKE YE THIS ADO. Other versions read, “Why make this commotion?” NKJV “Why all this commotion and wailing?” NIV “Why do you make a tumult?” DARBY “Why are you making such a noise?” BBE “Why make ye this trouble?” GENEVA “Why do you continue all this confusion?” WILLIAMS and “Why do you make an uproar and weep?” AMPLIFIED
As you can see, when truth is apprehended, it makes one intolerant of expressions of unbelief. The person who sees the case as it really is finds the expressions of unbelief chaffing against his spirit. He knows there is no good reason for them, and he can not abide them. Here, it is as though Jesus said, “Why have I entered into an environment such as this? How do you account for your conduct, now that the King of glory is here?” How does one answer such an inquiry?
Jesus’ is frequently said to have asked such questions: “Why?” “Why take ye thought for raiment?” (Matt 6:28). “Why are ye fearful?” (Matt 8:26). “Why reason ye among yourselves?” (Matt 16:8). “Why tempt ye Me?” (Matt 22:18). “How is it that ye have no faith?” (Mk 4:40). “Why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?” (Lk 12:57). “Why sleep ye?” (Lk 22:46). “Why are ye troubled?” (Lk 24:38). “Why do ye not understand My speech?” (John 8:43). “Why do ye not believe Me?” (John 8:46).
When men allow expressions of unbelief to be uttered, they are accountable to Jesus for why they have done so. If your heart is tender and sensitive, you will hear Him. When this occurs, it is good to acknowledge our failings, and not attempt to explain them.
“GIVE PLACE.” Matthew records Jesus saying, “Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth” (Matt 9:24). “Give place” means, “Depart,” NASB “Go away,” NIV “Withdraw,” DARBY “Leave,” NAU and “Get out of here.” NJB
Matthew adds, “And when the people were put forth,” or “put outside” NIV (Matt 9:25). Later Mark will say that Jesus Himself “put them all out” (Mk 5:40). Luke says the same thing (Lk 8:54).
There are some people who are not permitted to seethe more profound works of God. Others, like Peter, James, and John, are allowed to go further, and see more. This is one of the great deficiencies of living at a distance from the Lord, becoming absorbed into the “fashion of this world” (1 Cor 7:31). Some people, like the sellers and merchants in the Temple, are driven out. During that most memorable event, it is said of Jesus, “And [He] would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple” (Mark 11:15-16). He would not allow anyone in the Temple who was not there on Temple business!
I have often pondered if this does not explain the lifelessness and superficiality that exists in many of the churches of our land. Could it be that such people have actually been thrust out of the working area, and are not allowed to see the working of the Lord?
NOT DEAD, BUT ASLEEP. All three writers report these words of Jesus: “The damsel is not dead, but sleepeth” (Matt 9:24; Mk 5:39; Lk 8:52). This is the same thing He said about Lazarus after he had died: “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep” (John 11:11). By these words Jesus does not mean that the young girl had not actually died, her soul departing from her body as Rachel’s did from hers (Gen 35:18), or the son of the widow of Zarephath, whose soul came into his body when he was raised by Elijah (1 Kgs 17:21-22). Jairus’ daughter had really died, but she would not remain in the grip of death. Jesus would call her back from the region of the dead, from which no person can return under their own power.
This was a miniature representation of the resurrection of the dead, when “they that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake” (Dan 12:2), when “all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth” (John 5:28-29). It ought to be noted that the part of man that “sleeps” is the body, not the soul. That is also the part of Jairus’ daughter that was “asleep” (1 Cor 15:6,51; 1 Thess 4:14; 5:10; 2 Pet 3:4).
Also, Jesus is here calling “those things that are not as though they were” (Rom 4:17) – something that none but Jesus can do!
THE RESPONSE OF UNBELIEF
“ 40 And they laughed Him to scorn. But when He had put them all out, He taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with Him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.”
THEY LAUGHED HIM TO SCORN. All of the Gospels use this phrase, “they laughed Him to scorn.” Other versions read, “they ridiculed Him,” NKJV “they began laughing at Him,” NASB “they derided Him,” DARBY “laughed at Him in bitter derision,” LIVING “began to laugh in His face,” WILLIAMS and “laughed and jeered at Him.” AMPLIFIED
How quickly the flesh can swing from one carnal mood to another – from weeping greatly to laughing and jeering. In this case, the latter response is the most serious one. Their laughing was more real than their weeping. Their weeping and wailing was superficial, but their tawdry laughter was really from their hearts!
Luke adds that they laughed Jesus to scorn, “knowing that she was dead” (Lk 8:53). They obviously reasoned that death was the boundary beyond which no work could be done. Perhaps they had all been waiting for the return of Jairus with the Master, persuaded that something could be done for his “little daughter” when she was sick. But, alas, now the very thought of her recovering was nothing more than an imagination at which they will jeer. For them, what was seen outweighed the words of Jesus of Nazareth.
The spirit of Jairus’ daughter lived on, and was neither dead nor asleep. Jesus once made a point of this, saying of God Himself, “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living” (Matt 22:32). We are told that He said this in view of the resurrection, when even Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would enter their resurrection bodies. Until then, however, they were very much alive.
This teaches us to view the circumstances of life, that have been caused by sin, as a temporary condition. Death is not the final word, for it will itself be “swallowed up of life” (1 Cor 15:54). These people, however, knew nothing of these verities, and so they laughed in the face of He who would conquer death, once and for all concluding its reign.
I have long marveled at the insolence of the flesh. It is brash, unafraid to scoff, and to parade its folly. Who has not confronted the brashness of the flesh in scoffing at things pertaining to the power and effectiveness of Jesus? Those who give themselves to ministering to the saints will soon find some scoffer who will deride the proclaimer for suggesting God is over all, of that He chooses, or that He has power over all flesh. They will promote their carnal notions, and then laugh at the believer who sees through them and rejects them. How many times I have seen this happen. I have heard the derisive laughter of those who could not accept the fact that God gives understanding, or that the Jews will yet be delivered, or that spiritual Babylon is destined to fall. Such benighted souls will be fully exposed at the coming of the Lord.
THOSE PRIVILEGED TO WITNESS THE WORK. Again, we will see that all people are not given the same privileges. This is particularly true of those who show unbelief in their responses and manners. Mark says that after Jesus had put all of the people out of the room, He “took the father and mother of the damsel, and them that were with Him.” Luke reads, “He suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden”(Luke 8:51). Mark reminds us that the separation of Peter, James, and John from the others, took place right after Jairus got the words that his daughter had died (Mk 5:37).
God has said there are special people to whom He will show His salvation (Psa 50:23). There are also those to whom it is said, “He will show them His covenant” (Psa 25:14). There are those to whom it is given to “know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 13:11). When it comes to knowing the will of the Lord, there are a select people to whom this privilege is given. “If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority” NKJV (John 7:17). Let the fool say that God views everyone the same. After they have belched out their foolishness, Jesus will put them out of the room of impossibilities, and take in those who have found favor in His sight!
WHERE THE DAMSEL WAS LYING. Who but Jesus can remove all of the scoffers, and lead the penitent and tender of heart into the room of impossibilities? He will have them look at the case, beholding that there is nothing here that men can do. Alone with Jesus in the room, there will be no uncertainty about the helplessness of all flesh! The situation they are confronting is very real, and the answer to it lies outside the domain of nature. The girl’s body is lifeless and cold. There is no question about her state!
It is Jesus’ manner to bring His people to confront reality, and their need of Him. Like Paul, any one of us can be brought to a point where we despair “even of life” – when we are “pressed out of measure, above strength” (2 Cor 1:8). We may be treading water in the murky deep (2 Cor 11:25), or confined in some dark prison house of oppression (Acts 16:24). But, Jesus can bring you into that very room, and show you it is the place of possibility, not impossibility!