Last week, we left Jairus the synagogue ruler at the feet of Jesus begging for his daughter to be healed. Just as Jesus was on his way, Jairus’ friends came to report that the daughter had died. Rather indifferently, they suggested that Jairus no longer needed to bother the teacher. Note that in their eyes Jesus was the “teacher” not the “healer.” Jesus encouraged Jairus to “just believe.”

When Jesus arrives at the house of Jairus, he finds a noisy crowd of mourners, some of whom are hired mourners. Mark tells it this way:

When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” Mark 5:38-39

“Being asleep” was an often used euphemism to refer to death.  But had they not believed she was dead, they would not have had the mourners at the door. How did the mourners react to Jesus’ statement ?

But they laughed at him. Mark 5:40

Once again we see the callousness of this crowd of friends. They could turn it on and just as easily turn it off—even laugh! I think we get a picture of the attitudes of Jairus’ friends. With this kind of prejudice against Jesus, it is a wonder that Jairus had the gumption to go to Jesus in the first place. But we know that when people get in a tight spot, they will call out to the Savior as a last resort. Jairus had come in humility. His friends had come with ridicule.

Jesus puts the friends out of the house and takes only the parents up to the girl’s room along with his inner circle of disciples, Peter, James, and John. Mark records that Jesus speaks in Aramaic in this tender scene..

He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”) Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. Mark 5:41-42 

The parents may have had their doubts, but hoping against hope that Jesus might revive her. When it actually happens, they are astonished.

Has that ever happened to you? You were praying for something, trying to trust, trying to believe, hoping against hope and then He did what you knew He could do, you were astonished. Pause to relive one of those moments in your life.

I remember when my husband Jim had prostate cancer. I continued to pray that the trip to a Chicago specialist for surgery was the right decision and that the doc could get all of it. The next day, the doctor said, “It was a small cancer in just a few cells, but it was a fast growing kind. We tested cells in the lymph nodes around it and believe we got all of it.” Later, I went down the elevator to the cafeteria. Hospital elevators are always my time of breathing deeply and leaning my head back against the wall to recoup. I smiled through my tears of gratitude that all worked out—the decision to have surgery in a timely manner, God’s hand upon it all, and yes, astonished at His goodness.

In Jesus’ typical manner, he instructs the girl’s parents to give her something to eat. Go on about the business of living. Tend to the practical—reminiscent of Peter’s mother-in-law after she was healed.

Wouldn’t you love to know how Jairus dealt with his friends after that day was over?

~ Joyce ~