COMMENTARY ON MARK
LESSON NUMBER 58
JESUS RAISES JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER
“ Mark 5:41 And He took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 42And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. 43 And He charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.” (Mk 5:41-43; Matt 9:25-26; Luke 8:54-56)
JAIRUS AND HIS DAUGHTER, #6
INTRODUCTION
The authority and power of Jesus extends into the region of the dead. No person could “save sinners” who did not have such authority. Men did not need a new set of rules, or a mere philosophy of life. The human condition is one in which death dominates, and until that circumstance is effectively addressed, there can be no resolution to the human dilemma. When Jesus raised the dead, as seen in this second miracle of raising the dead, He was revealing His power over this dreaded enemy. This power would be revealed in its fulness when Jesus took back His own life from the dead, and would be revealed to its full extent at the resurrection of the dead. Because, prior of Jesus, so very little was known of the resurrection of the dead, men had to become acquainted with the reality of individuals being called back from the region of the dead. Before Jesus, two men were translated into heaven without having to pass through the experience of death: Enoch, from before the administration of the Law (Gen 5:22-24; Heb 11:5-6), and Elijah, from during the time of the Law (2 Kings 2:9-12). There were also three instances of the dead being raised. (1) The son of the widow of Zarephath by Elijah – 1 Kgs 17:17-23). (2) The son of the Shunammite by Elisha – 2 Kgs 4:32-37). (3) The dead man who was cast into the open grave of Elisha – 2 Kgs 13:21. Only the Gospel would fully bring “life and immortality to light.” The ministry of Jesus was a telling introduction to that illumination. Death was not a hopeless state!
THE COMMANDMENT TO LIFE
“ Mk 5:41 And He took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.”
HE TOOK HER BY THE HAND. All three gospels recording this event make a note of this: He “took her by the hand” (Matt 9:25; Mk 5:41; Lk 8:54). This act no doubt ministered to Jairus, for he had originally besought Jesus saying, “ My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay Thy hand upon her, and she shall live” (Matt 9:18).
According to the Law. Which was “until John” (Lk 16:16), touching a dead body, or a bone, or a grave, caused uncleanness: “He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days” (Num 19:11). A person, under such a circumstance, was “defiled by the dead” (Num 5:2; 9:6,10). Yet Jesus was, in every way, “undefiled” (Heb 7:26) – even though He was in an “evil world,” among sinners, and in contact with certain defiling influences according to the Law. He thus confirmed that His ministry was of a higher order than that of mere law. Following His ascension, He became the High Priest – but not according to the Law (Heb 7:14).
Only the “Lord of all” could come into the room of the dead and take hold of the hand of the deceased without any defilement passing to Him. He is Lord over every circumstance in which He is found – and over those in which He is not found as well. That can often be a most difficult lesson to learn, but time spent seeking to take hold of it is time well spent.
TALITHA CUMI. Mark says Jesus “said unto her, Talitha cumi.” Luke says, He “called, saying, Maid arise.” The secret was not in the words that were said, but in the voice that spoke them. This was nothing less than “the voice of the Lord” that is in every way omnipotent. The 29th Psalm is an ode to “the voice of the Lord.” It declares that this voice “is powerful,” “full of majesty,” “breaketh the cedars,” “divideth the flames of fire,” “shaketh the wilderness,” and “makes the hinds to calve” (Psa 29:4-9). Men are to expect that when they listen to what the Lord says, His words will exert power upon them, just as surely as they will do in the room where Jairus’ deceased daughter lay reposed. We must seek a full deliverance from the dreadful notion that the human intellect alone is able to take hold of the words of the Lord and act upon them. If those words had no power of themselves, all human effort to profit from them would be futile in the extreme.
“Talitha cumi” is a Syriac expression– apparently a language in which Jesus frequently spoke. Another example of Jesus using this language is found in Mark 7:34, where He healed a deaf man who had an impediment of speech, saying “Ephphatha,” meaning “Be opened.” A third use found of this language is found in Mark’s account of Christ’s cry from the cross at the ninth hour: “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”(Mark 15:34). Matthew has a slightly different expression (“Eli, Eli”), which is closer to the Hebrew. It is generally understood that Syriac was the language in which Jesus commonly spoke. Yet, the record of His words was generally expressed in the Greek language. However, here it seems that the Spirit wants to accentuate the power of Christ’s personal word – a word that is employed in all spiritual resurrections (John 5:25), and in the final resurrection as well (John 5:28-29).
I SAY UNTO THEE, ARISE! Luke reads, “Maid, arise.” This was a command that reached into the regions of the dead, from which Jesus Himself would return following spending three days and night there. This word is uttered before five attentive witnesses: Peter, James, John, Jairus, and his wife. Jesus did not lift the child up, but told her to “arise,” – to get up, confirming that her spirit had returned into her body. If the word of Christ is nothing more than an academic witness, like that of the scribes and Pharisees, nothing will happen. However, if He is the Lord from heaven, and has been given to have “life in Himself” (John 5:26), His word will be “with power” (Lk 4:32).
On one occasion, God likened Israel to an unwanted child that had been thrown into the open field, and was utterly helpless. He depicted Himself as coming by them, and quickening them by His word. “And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live” (Ezek 16:5-6). Thus the Lord is seen as causing life with a Word – or negating the power of death with a word!
Not only was this an introduction to the resurrection of the dead in the last day, it also acquainted men with what had really occurred when sin entered into the world. Men were thrust into a state of spiritual death – one in which they were separated from the Living God, being “dead in trespasses and sins.” Men could not be “taught” out of this state by someone external to themselves. They could not “work” themselves back into a state of life toward God. Whatever may be said of the human will, natural aptitude, and the wisdom of men, they are all impotent in the areas of both bodily and spiritual death. Only Jesus is free to work in these environs.
THOSE IN THE REGION OF THE DEAD RESPOND
“ 42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.”
STRAIGHTWAY THE DAMSEL AROSE. When Jesus gave the command to “arise,” the young girl immediately responded, getting up from the bed on which she had confined. One version reads, “she stood up,” NIV meaning that she got up from her bed and stood unassisted on her feet. The word “damsel” means an immature, or half-grown girl, or little girl. Mark uses this word three times in the text: “He took the damsel by the hand,” “Damsel, I unto thee, arise,” and “the damsel arose.” Here is a young girl struck down by death, which is no respecter of persons. Yet, life is restored by the Prince of life, who is also no respecter of persons.
Luke provides a few more details on the matter. “And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway.” Technically speaking, it was the girl’s “spirit” that Jesus addressed, and her “spirit” that obeyed, entering again into her vacated body. That means, of course, that her “spirit” was not reposing in sleep with her body, but was able to move about while her body could not. This same kind of language is used in the account of Elijah raising the son of the widow of Zarephath from the dead. Elijah had prayed insightfully: “O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again” (1 Kgs 17:21). It is written that “the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived” (1 Kgs 17:22). It is clear, therefore, and had been for at least 900 years, that the soul and the body are not permanently joined together. In death they are separated. They do not remain united in sleep. There is not a syllable of Scripture that suggests that the body is not alive when it remains united with the soul. As soon as the two are brought together, the body is again said to be alive.
AND WALKED. Only Mark makes a point of this: “the damsel arose, and walked.” It would have been marvelous enough for someone to be raised form the dead, get out of bed, and stand steadily on their feet next to the bed. That would have been as impossible as one standing up and said to have “walked around.” NIV This did not make the miracle any greater, for it was already in the category of the impossible. Rather, this confirmed the girl had, in fact, been raised from the dead, and was in possession of all her faculties and appetites.
THE AGE OF TWELVE YEARS. This is a time when life in all of its potential is beginning to be made known. It is a time when significant things can be expected to begin to surface in the youth. Manasseh was “twelve years old when he began to reign” (2 Kgs 21:1). Jesus was “twelve years old” when He was found in the Temple, “sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hear them, and asking them questions.” It is written that, at that age, “all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers” (Lk 2:42-43). It is supposed that Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were about this age when they were taken captive to Babylon (Dan 1:3-7). Miriam might have been about this age when she watched her baby brother Moses, and orchestrated the bringing of Moses’ mother to nurture him in Egypt (Ex 2:4-7).
It is tragic beyond comprehension when any age treats its young with such disdain as to offer them nothing more than entertainment, foolish fads, dumbed-down literature, and meaningless music. Such a generation is squandering its youth!
ASTONISHMENT. Those witnessing the miracle were “astonished with a great astonishment,” or “completely astounded.” NASB Luke reads, “And her parents were astonished,” or “amazed” NASB (Lk 8:56). That is, there was no possible way to account for this event apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. It was beyond the border of all human ability. It extended beyond the boundary of scientific expertise, and the limited circumference of worldly wisdom. There was only one explanation for what happened. “This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes” (Psa 118:23).
A TYPE OF SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION. This event introduces us to the nature of salvation, which is nothing less than a spiritual resurrection. Therefore, it is said of the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, “And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins . . . Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:1,5,6). There is no other valid salvation! Where people have not been raised up from death in sin, insensitivity to God, and separation from His Person and power, there has been no salvation! Those who bear the attributes of spiritual death – being the vassals of Satan, having corrupt desires, and being at enmity with God – are, in fact “dead,” just as surely as Jairus’ daughter. When they are raised, they also will get up and stand, and be ready to eat.
This also introduces us to the fact that a spiritual resurrection is also attended with a walk, which commences when one is “raised with Christ” – walking “in newness of life” (Rom 6:4). The raised individual begins to move about in “the heavenly places,” obtaining Divine benefits, seeking the things above, and living unto the One who died for them. Who does not know that it is a reproach to Christ for people to supposedly have been raised from death in trespasses and sins, yet who do not walk about in their new spiritual environs.
A CHARGE AND A COMMAND
“ 43 And He charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.”
HE CHARGED THEM STRAITLY. To be “charged straitly” is to be “commanded strictly,” NKJV be given “strict orders,” NASB and be “charged much.” DARBY There is the idea of repetition in these words, indicating that Jesus was making a very special point, particularly to the young girl’s parents. Some people do not believe Jesus can speak in such a manner – making special demands of people, when they should speak and when they should not. However, Jesus is well within His rights to tell us what should be told and what should not be told.
One of the sure indications of spiritual growth is when a person begins to take the words of the Lord Jesus seriously. If He says “forsake all” (Lk 14:33), “fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt 10:28), or “Take heed what ye hear” (Mk 4:24), we do well to let His sayings “sink down into our ears” (Lk 9:44). In my judgment, the contemporary church is extremely deficient and dull in this area.
NO MAN SHOULD KNOW IT. This is not the first time Jesus has demanded such a response (Mk 1:43-44; 7:36; Matt 9:30; 12:15-16; 17:9). At least three things can be seen here.
The Immediate Circumstance. First, this was not intended to be a permanent condition, but was no doubt spoken with the immediate surroundings in mind. When Jesus had arrived, He had not only faced a “tumult,” but was “laughed to scorn” when He said the young girl was not dead, but was only asleep. Such a miserable audience would not be given the good news of what took place in the room from which they had been put out. Bearing witness of the works of the Lord to such a people would be akin to casting “your pearls before swine” (Matt 7:6). Those who disdain the word of the Lord lose the right to hear of His wonderful works.
Jesus Did Not Seek Honor Among men. Jesus once said, “I receive not honor from men” (John 5:41). That is, this was not His ambition, nor did He engage in a quest for such a thing. It was the honor of the Father that Jesus sought, for it was His will that He was commissioned to fulfill. Therefore He said, “it is my Father that honoreth Me” (John 8:54).
His Hour Had Not Yet Come. Jesus knew that when His hour was come, He would be “delivered up” because of the “envy” of the scribes and Pharisees (Matt 27:18). Christ’s popularity among the people was disdainful to their religious leaders. This is why, during the initial phases of Christ’s ministry, when He knew the “Pharisees had heard” that He was making and baptizing “more disciples than John,” He “left Judea,” going through Galilee by way of Samaria (John 4:1-4). The time for Him to be offered up “had not yet come” (John 2:4; 7:6,30; 8:20). Therefore, He would not provoke His enemies to act prematurely to the appointed time.
GIVE HER SOMETHING TO EAT. Mark is the only writer who records this gracious act of the Lord: “and commanded that something should be given her to eat.” This would confirm even further that she had been restored to a state of perfect heath, for eating is a normal lot in life. She was raised supernaturally, but she will be sustained by the means of ordinary Divine provision.
There is a wonderful lesson to be seen here. In the kingdom of God, men are sustained “by every word of God” (Lk 4:4) – that is truly “the children’s bread.” However, before one can feed on this bread, they must be raised from death in trespasses and sins. Once raised, however, that “newness of life” is to be sustained by the appointed means. It will be necessary to live by faith, walk in the Spirit, and set one’s affection on things above (Heb 10:38; Gal 5:16; Col 3:1-2). A person who fails to do this cannot expect to continue living to God, anymore than Jairus’ daughter could continue to live without being given something to eat.
It appears that this circumstance is not generally acknowledged. The scarcity of spiritual food that is extant in the professed church is rather astounding. Even if one imagines that the conversions that are reported are genuine, how can the newness of life be maintained when those who have been raised from death in sin are not being given something to eat?
HIS FAME WAS SPREAD ABROAD. Matthew says of this event, “And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land” (Matt 9:26). Other versions read, “the report of this,” NKJV “this news,” NASB and “news of this.” NIV The reputation of Jesus is always preceded by a report of what He has done, or will do. Even the revelation of the Christ by John the Baptist was preceded by the announcement that He was “the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Intrinsic to this understanding is the fact that what Jesus does cannot be hidden, anymore than a city that is set on a hill can be hidden (Matt 5:14). When there is a prevailing ignorance of Christ, it is an acknowledgment that His works are not present.
Adorning the doctrine. One of the reasons for the legitimate and truthful promotion of the real Jesus is the lives of those who fellowship with Him. Their lives are said to “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior” (Tit 2:10), confirming that He has, in fact, been at work within them.