And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,
Jairus was one of the rulers of the synagogue, an elder of the Jews, who came to Jesus and fell at His feet in earnest entreaty. He came just after Jesus had returned across the sea to a great waiting multitude, while Jesus was faint and weary from teaching and healing with the people pressing about Him. He came in great distress because his little daughter lay at the point of death, given up to die by the most learned physicians. Though haughty by standing as a ruler, he humbled himself and begged greatly that Jesus would come and lay hands on her that she might be healed and live. Jesus at once agreed with tender sympathy and set out with him for his home, while the eager crowd followed and pressed so closely that their progress was slow despite the anxious father's fear of being too late.
Jairus Comes to Jesus
The man who comes is Jairus, one of the rulers of the synagogue, an elder of the Jews. He comes just after Jesus has returned across the sea from healing the demoniacs at Gadara to a great waiting multitude. At that moment Jesus is sitting at table in the house of Levi to eat, faint and weary from teaching and healing, while the people press about the door with the sick and afflicted.
He comes in great distress because his little daughter lies at the point of death, near death and given up to die by the most learned physicians. Though by standing a haughty ruler and a haughty rabbi, he humbles himself, falls at Jesus' feet, and begs greatly and beseechingly for Him to come and lay His hands on her so that she may be healed and live. His urgent appeal is for his dying daughter, trusting that touch will bring healing and life.
Jesus at once agrees with tender response to the stricken, distressed father and sets out with him for his home. That ready compliance with the entreaty of the haughty ruler surprises the disciples, while the eager, expectant crowd follows to see and touch Jesus. His heartfelt appeal moves Jesus to go with him to heal her.
Though the house is not far distant, progress is slow because the crowd presses close. The anxious father pushes on, impatient and fearful of being too late, urging his way through the pressing crowd. Meanwhile Jesus pauses to pity and minister to spiritual darkness and physical sickness, stopping to relieve suffering, meet the wants of the people, and comfort troubled hearts.
Death, Raising, and Meaning
On the way a messenger meets the company with word that the daughter is dead and Jesus need not be troubled further, but Jesus answers Jairus with the assurance to fear not and believe only and she shall be made whole, and Jairus presses closer to Jesus and hurries with Him toward the house. At the house hired mourners and flute-players have already gathered and fill the air with clamor over the loss. When Jesus declares that the damsel is not dead but sleepeth they laugh Him to scorn in unbelief, so He requires them all to leave and enters the chamber of death with only the father and the mother and Peter and James and John.
Taking the child's hand and bidding her arise, He instantly restores her life. Her eyes open as if from sleep, she arises in full life, and her parents clasp her weeping for joy. After raising her He turns to the parents and reminds them that she must have something to eat. This shows that even while the great work of redemption weighed upon Him and all the energies of body and soul were taxed in teaching and healing, He noticed the most simple things in human life and did not overlook the needs of the humblest. His reminder about food teaches order and economy and attention to little things.
Her return to life was temporary, for unlike the saints raised at Christ's resurrection she was not made immortal but remained subject to death and decay.
Jairus was one of the rulers of the synagogue, an elder of the Jews, who came to Jesus and fell at His feet in earnest entreaty. He came just after Jesus had returned across the sea to a great waiting multitude, while Jesus was faint and weary from teaching and healing with the people pressing about Him. He came in great distress because his little daughter lay at the point of death, given up to die by the most learned physicians. Though haughty by standing as a ruler, he humbled himself and begged greatly that Jesus would come and lay hands on her that she might be healed and live. Jesus at once agreed with tender sympathy and set out with him for his home, while the eager crowd followed and pressed so closely that their progress was slow despite the anxious father's fear of being too late.
Jairus Comes to Jesus
The man who comes is Jairus, one of the rulers of the synagogue, an elder of the Jews. He comes just after Jesus has returned across the sea from healing the demoniacs at Gadara to a great waiting multitude. At that moment Jesus is sitting at table in the house of Levi to eat, faint and weary from teaching and healing, while the people press about the door with the sick and afflicted.
He comes in great distress because his little daughter lies at the point of death, near death and given up to die by the most learned physicians. Though by standing a haughty ruler and a haughty rabbi, he humbles himself, falls at Jesus' feet, and begs greatly and beseechingly for Him to come and lay His hands on her so that she may be healed and live. His urgent appeal is for his dying daughter, trusting that touch will bring healing and life.
Jesus at once agrees with tender response to the stricken, distressed father and sets out with him for his home. That ready compliance with the entreaty of the haughty ruler surprises the disciples, while the eager, expectant crowd follows to see and touch Jesus. His heartfelt appeal moves Jesus to go with him to heal her.
Though the house is not far distant, progress is slow because the crowd presses close. The anxious father pushes on, impatient and fearful of being too late, urging his way through the pressing crowd. Meanwhile Jesus pauses to pity and minister to spiritual darkness and physical sickness, stopping to relieve suffering, meet the wants of the people, and comfort troubled hearts.
Death, Raising, and Meaning
On the way a messenger meets the company with word that the daughter is dead and Jesus need not be troubled further, but Jesus answers Jairus with the assurance to fear not and believe only and she shall be made whole, and Jairus presses closer to Jesus and hurries with Him toward the house. At the house hired mourners and flute-players have already gathered and fill the air with clamor over the loss. When Jesus declares that the damsel is not dead but sleepeth they laugh Him to scorn in unbelief, so He requires them all to leave and enters the chamber of death with only the father and the mother and Peter and James and John.
Taking the child's hand and bidding her arise, He instantly restores her life. Her eyes open as if from sleep, she arises in full life, and her parents clasp her weeping for joy. After raising her He turns to the parents and reminds them that she must have something to eat. This shows that even while the great work of redemption weighed upon Him and all the energies of body and soul were taxed in teaching and healing, He noticed the most simple things in human life and did not overlook the needs of the humblest. His reminder about food teaches order and economy and attention to little things.
Her return to life was temporary, for unlike the saints raised at Christ's resurrection she was not made immortal but remained subject to death and decay.