Mark 5:35
While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?
While Jesus was still on His way to the house of Jairus after the ruler had begged Him to come heal his dying daughter, a messenger arrived to say the girl was dead and there was no reason to trouble Him further. The report struck the father with despair as a death-knell to his hopes, but Jesus in pity answered at once that he should set fear aside and only believe, and the girl would be made whole. Jairus clung to Him in faith, and Jesus went on to the house and raised the girl to life, showing that death does not bar His power to restore. That raising was a return to mortal life still subject to death and decay, unlike those who came forth at Christ's own resurrection to everlasting life nevermore to die or sorrow. After raising her Jesus bade her parents give her food, revealing that amid the weight of redemption He still noticed the simplest human need, a thoughtful care nurses and physicians are to copy in little things.
Setting and Despairing Report
The report comes after Jesus returned from healing the demoniacs at Gadara, when Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, fell at His feet and begged Him to come lay hands on his little daughter, who lay at the point of death and had been given up to die by the most learned physicians. Jesus at once went with the stricken father, to the surprise of the disciples at His ready help for a haughty ruler. Though the distance was short, progress was very slow because the people pressed on every side eager to see Him and beg His attention and aid, and He pitied them and stopped to minister to their spiritual darkness and physical maladies, while the anxious father urged his way through the crowd fearful of being too late.
The raising took place in Capernaum, a place known for His mighty works and remarkable healings. The delay to heal the diseased woman held Jairus with deep interest without impatience as he watched, and it strengthened his belief that Jesus could heal his daughter. That healing encouraged him to believe still more firmly, so that hope grew stronger in his heart and he urged Jesus to hasten home.
While Jesus was still speaking with the crowd on the way to the house, and as He and Jairus resumed their way after the healing, a messenger pressed through the crowd from the ruler's house to report that the daughter was dead. The messenger concluded that there was no reason to trouble Jesus further and that Jesus need not be troubled further. In doing so he treated death as beyond the help Jesus could give.
Compassionate Answer and Raising
The word that his daughter was dead smote the father's heart like the death-knell of his hopes and left him in despair at the death of his hope. With a sympathizing ear Jesus caught the words, and His pity was drawn out toward the suffering parent in divine compassion. He answered the despairing news at once, urging Jairus to fear not but to set fear aside and believe only. His promise was that she should be made whole and made well.
Hearing those words of hope Jairus pressed closer to Jesus' side, and his faith carried him on with Jesus as they hurried to the ruler's house. Jesus went with him to the house and raised the girl to life, restoring her to life. That raising showed that death does not prevent His power to restore life.
Mortal Resurrection and Thoughtful Care
The death announced in Mark 5:35 was followed by a return to mortal life, not by a clothing with immortality. The daughter thus raised was not made immortal but remained subject to death and decay. This is unlike those who came forth from the grave at Christ's resurrection, who were raised to everlasting life to ascend with Him as trophies of His victory. They were redeemed from Satan to be with Him where He is, nevermore to see death or experience sorrow.
After raising the dead daughter, Jesus turned to her parents to remind them that she must have something to eat. That command shows that even while the great work of redemption weighed on Him, and teaching and healing taxed all the energies of body and soul, He heard every needy cry. He did not overlook the needs of the humblest, and He noticed the most simple things in human life. Nurses and physicians are to think of Jesus in this act and copy His thoughtful care, order, economy, and faithfulness in little things.