Jairus’ Daughter Raised from the Dead

“While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and she will live.’ So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did his disciples…But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went out into all that land.” –Matthew 9:18, 25-26 NKJV. [Read Mt. 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-24; 35-43; Luke 8:40-42; 49-56]

Yesterday we looked at the account of Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin who came to Jesus by night seeking the way to salvation. Today we have another “ruler of the synagogue, Jairus by name, who sought Jesus because his only child, a beloved twelve-year old daughter, had just died (or, according to Luke and Mark, she was “at the point of death, dying, but died before Jesus arrived at the home). Jairus believed that Jesus could lay hands on her and restore her to life. How did he know this? Had he seen the miracles of healing Jesus had performed when people who had been blind or lame since birth were restored? Had he seen or heard how Jesus stopped a funeral procession in a village called Nain when a widow woman’s only son was raised from the dead? In calendar time, Lazarus’ raising from the dead came later in Jesus’ ministry. It is commendable that this synagogue ruler would have both the bravery and faith to go to Jesus with this challenge. Love for his daughter transcended his customs and prohibitions.

Jairus would have gone to Jesus without the blessings of his compatriots, the Jewish rulers. They sought to discredit Jesus. Jairus, whose name means “Jah [or God] will enlighten” was willing to go to the only person who might restore his only child to life and health. After an interruption along the way and another miraculous healing, Jesus arrived at Jairus’ house. The mourners were already in place, crying and lamenting the child’s death. Jesus took Jairus and his wife, and Peter, James and John with him to the place where the dead child was laid. Taking her hand, Jesus said, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” The action was immediate. She arose, she walked, she was well, she was restored to her parents. Jesus asked that the miracle be kept secret. Why was this, and how impossible was this request? After all, from death she had been given life. From darkness she had been brought back to the light of day. It was a reason for great rejoicing in Jairus’ house and throughout the community. Furthermore, it was a prelude to Jesus’ own resurrection following His crucifixion—and our own following our death.

Hallelujah!

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Saturday, March 13, 2010