Jesus Beside the Dead Daughter of Jairusby CBPepper
8:52Luke 8:52
And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
The saying belongs to the healing of Jairus' daughter, which took place right after Jesus returned from healing the demoniacs at Gadara. Jairus was a ruler of the synagogue who fell at Jesus' feet and greatly besought Him to come and lay hands on his little daughter, who lay at the point of death after the most learned physicians had given her up to die. Jesus at once went with the stricken father toward his home, to the surprise of the disciples at His ready compliance with the request of a haughty ruler. Though it was only a short distance, progress was very slow because the people pressed forward on every side eager to see Him and beg His aid, while the anxious father feared being too late, and Jesus, pitying their spiritual darkness and physical maladies, stopped to minister to their wants, at times nearly carried off His feet by the surging masses. The words were spoken in Jairus' house where his daughter lay dead, with only Peter, James and John and the parents permitted to enter the room with Jesus. The weeping was a loud outward show of grief made especially by women hired according to the custom of the country to display sorrow.
The girl was truly and ordinarily dead, seen at death's point and changed into a pulseless and unconscious form. When He said weep not and declared she was not dead but sleepeth, He rebuked that display of grief and called death sleep because her death was temporary and He was about to restore her to life as though waking her from sleep. His words prepare for His raising of her and show death subject to His power. The mourners mocked Him and laughed His words to scorn because they thought she was plainly dead and did not believe she could live. They were indignant that a humble stranger commanded them to stop lamenting and claimed the girl still lived. He sent the mourners from the room, and they left at His command before He raised her.
By His word and power He raised her and she returned to life, the same power shown when He lifted the widow's son at Nain and when He called forth Lazarus after four days dead. These raisings show His power over death and point forward to His second coming, when His voice will pierce the tombs and the dead in Christ will rise to glorious, immortal life to ever be with the Lord. Even while the great work of redemption weighed on Him and His energies were taxed in teaching and healing, He did not overlook the necessities of the humblest of His servants, reminding her parents after restoring her that she must have something to eat. This practical care teaches Christians cooperating with Him for the salvation of souls that faithful, conscientious attention to little things is the secret of success in every line of Christian effort and influence.
The saying belongs to the healing of Jairus' daughter, which took place right after Jesus returned from healing the demoniacs at Gadara. Jairus was a ruler of the synagogue who fell at Jesus' feet and greatly besought Him to come and lay hands on his little daughter, who lay at the point of death after the most learned physicians had given her up to die. Jesus at once went with the stricken father toward his home, to the surprise of the disciples at His ready compliance with the request of a haughty ruler. Though it was only a short distance, progress was very slow because the people pressed forward on every side eager to see Him and beg His aid, while the anxious father feared being too late, and Jesus, pitying their spiritual darkness and physical maladies, stopped to minister to their wants, at times nearly carried off His feet by the surging masses. The words were spoken in Jairus' house where his daughter lay dead, with only Peter, James and John and the parents permitted to enter the room with Jesus. The weeping was a loud outward show of grief made especially by women hired according to the custom of the country to display sorrow.
The girl was truly and ordinarily dead, seen at death's point and changed into a pulseless and unconscious form. When He said weep not and declared she was not dead but sleepeth, He rebuked that display of grief and called death sleep because her death was temporary and He was about to restore her to life as though waking her from sleep. His words prepare for His raising of her and show death subject to His power. The mourners mocked Him and laughed His words to scorn because they thought she was plainly dead and did not believe she could live. They were indignant that a humble stranger commanded them to stop lamenting and claimed the girl still lived. He sent the mourners from the room, and they left at His command before He raised her.
By His word and power He raised her and she returned to life, the same power shown when He lifted the widow's son at Nain and when He called forth Lazarus after four days dead. These raisings show His power over death and point forward to His second coming, when His voice will pierce the tombs and the dead in Christ will rise to glorious, immortal life to ever be with the Lord. Even while the great work of redemption weighed on Him and His energies were taxed in teaching and healing, He did not overlook the necessities of the humblest of His servants, reminding her parents after restoring her that she must have something to eat. This practical care teaches Christians cooperating with Him for the salvation of souls that faithful, conscientious attention to little things is the secret of success in every line of Christian effort and influence.