LESSON III.—SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 1900.
THE DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS RAISED.
22 "And there cometh one of the rulers of the synagog, Jairus 23 by name; and seeing Him, he falleth at His feet, and beseecheth Him much, saying, My little daughter is at the point of 24 death; I pray Thee, that Thou come and lay Thy hands on her, that she may be made whole, and live. And He went with him; and a great multitude followed Him, and they thronged Him." 35 "While He yet spake, they come from the ruler of the synagog's house, saying, Thy daughter is dead; why troublest 36 thou the Master any further? But Jesus, not heeding the word spoken, saith unto the ruler of the synagog, Fear not, 37 only believe. And He suffered no man to follow with Him, 38 save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. And they come to the house of the ruler of the synagog; and He beholdeth a tumult, and many weeping and wailing greatly. 39 And when He was entered in, He saith unto them, Why make 40 ye a tumult, and weep? the child is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed Him to scorn. But He, having put them all forth, taketh the father of the child and her mother and them that were with Him, and goeth in where the child was. 41 And taking the child by the hand, He saith unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, 42 Arise. And straightway the damsel rose up, and walked; for 43 she was twelve years old. And they were amazed straightway with a great amazement. And He charged them much that no man should know this; and He commanded that something should be given her to eat." Golden Text: "He is risen, as He said." Matt. 28:6. (1) Who came to Jesus while He was at the house of Matthew? What position did this man hold among the Jews? How did he approach Jesus? V. 22. (2) In what way did this man show his earnestness? What had caused him to visit Jesus at this time? Therefore, what request did he make of Jesus? What in his expression showed his faith in Jesus' power? V. 23. Note 1. (3) Was the request of Jairus at once complied with? How was He accompanied on the way toward the house? V. 24. (4) While Jesus was still speaking to the woman who had touched His garment, what word came to Jairus? Wherein did they show their lack of faith in the power of Jesus? V. 35. Note 2. (5) What reassuring words did the Saviour speak to Jairus? V. 36. (6) Whom only did the Saviour take with Him to the ruler's house? V. 37. (7) What was taking place at the house of Jairus when Jesus and His disciples arrived? V. 38. Note 3. (8) What question did Jesus ask of those who were mourning? What did He say in regard to the maid's condition? V. 39. Note 4. (9) How was this announcement received by them? What did Jesus at once do? Whom did He take with Him into the room where the child was lying? V. 40. (10) What did He do and say? V. 41. Note 5. (11) What was the result of the Saviour's command? How did this miracle affect the people? V. 42. (12) What charge did He give to those who knew of the miracle? What command did He give concerning the child? V. 43. 1. Lieth at the point of death.—In Matthew the record is that she was dead; but this does not imply15a contradiction between the two accounts. "He [Jairus] knew that she could scarcely be living now; and yet having no certain notice of her death, he at one moment expressed himself in one language, at the next in another."—Trench. But the firm faith which he had in the Saviour's power is expressed in the words he uses, "Come, . . . . . that she may be made whole and live." The centurion had said, "Speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed." Both had perfect faith in Christ's power to heal; but the centurion realized that Christ could heal by His word as surely and as well as tho He were actually present. 2. Why troublest thou the Master any further?—They supposed that it was useless to attempt to do anything for a child who was dead. Jesus might heal diseases, but to conquer death was something they did not give even Him credit for power to perform; but He who had created the worlds, who had given life, was about to demonstrate His power to recreate and to renew life. 3. He beholdeth a tumult.—"There was always a terrible clamor at Eastern funerals; and the preparations had begun, for early burial was usual among the Jews."—Schaff. It was customary in the East for professional mourners to be in attendance at funerals, and these persons would vie with each other in mournful, dolorous ejaculations, accompanied with wailing, beating the breast, rending the outer garments, and tearing out the hair. 4. Not dead, but sleepeth.—We have a similar expression of the Saviour's in reference to the sickness of Lazarus. When the report came from the sisters of Lazarus that their brother was sick, Jesus said, "This sickness is not unto death;" and yet he died. "Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead." Lazarus' sickness was not unto death in God's purpose; he was only sleeping, and Christ would soon awaken him. The child in the purpose of God was not dead; for the Saviour would soon bring her back to life. That death was to her and in Christ's plan only a sleep of short duration. 5. I say unto thee, Arise.—The same person who died, the whole person who died, was bidden to live again. The Creator, the One who had given her life and permitted her to lie down in death, gives her life again, and bids her come forth from death. Some have erroneously supposed that this was a demonstration of the immortality of the soul. But Jesus did not command the maiden to come back into her body. He did not say to the soul, Return. He took the dead, cold hand of the child in His own; He spoke to the inanimate form before Him: "Damsel, I say unto thee, Arise. And straightway the damsel rose up." The miracle rather demonstrates Christ's power to give life to all who believe in Him. It demonstrates that Christ is the Author of life; but there is in it no shade of proof of inherent immortality. Christ can not give immortality to man when man is already possessed of immortality. If man is immortal, he must live forever; but in order that man might live forever, it was necessary that Christ should come to this world and die: John 3:16. "I am come that they might have life." John 10:10. Man is mortal until Christ calls him forth from the grave or changes him at His appearing from mortality to immortality. 1 Cor. 15:51-54. Paul expresses it also in this way, "that mortality might be swallowed up of life." 2 Cor. 5:4.