As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
Jesus spoke these words to Jairus, a synagogue ruler who had begged Him to heal his dying daughter, just after a messenger reported that the girl was dead and there was no use troubling Him further. He answered with divine pity, telling the stricken father not to give way to fear but to keep trusting Him and His power to save. The command assured Jairus that his daughter would be made whole and restored if he put away fear and believed firmly that Jesus could grant his petition even though she was reported dead. That word sustained his hope so that he pressed closer to Jesus as they hurried on, and Jesus raised the girl to life in her home. The heart of the teaching is that when fear, distress, and dark appearances arise, a person is to trust Jesus with simple and complete confidence rather than give way to fear, for faith in Him overcomes fear and will see God's salvation.
Context and Promise
The words were spoken to Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, after Jesus returned from healing the demoniacs at Gadara. Jairus fell at Jesus' feet and begged Him to come 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 went with him toward his nearby home but moved very slowly because the pressing crowd eager to see Him caused Him to stop to minister out of pity to their spiritual darkness and physical maladies, while the anxious father feared being too late. Jesus overheard the messenger report that the daughter was dead and it was useless to trouble the Master further, words that struck the father's heart like the death-knell of his hopes, and He answered with divine compassion and pity.
When Jairus was told his daughter had died, Jesus told him not to give way to fear but to keep trusting Him and His power to save her. With the command Jesus assured Jairus that his daughter would be made whole and restored, calling him to put away fear and trust firmly that Jesus was able to grant his petition and heal her even though she was reported dead. The command sustained Jairus's trust and strengthened his hope to believe still more firmly. He pressed closer to Jesus' side and stayed close to Him as they hurried on to his house, a hope strengthened by the healing of the woman he had just witnessed, and Jesus raised the girl to life there.
The raising of the dead at Capernaum in this account is recalled as one of Jesus' mighty works, remembered by the disciples as they looked again upon Galilee. The raising of the ruler's daughter during His ministry restored mortal life only and did not clothe her with immortality, so she remained subject to death and decay and death again. This is unlike those who came forth from the grave at Christ's own resurrection and ascended with Him to everlasting life nevermore to see death or sorrow. After restoring her to life Jesus turned to her parents and reminded them that she must have something to eat, providing for her ordinary need for food. This provision shows that even while the great work of redemption weighed constantly upon Him and teaching and healing taxed all the energies of body and soul, He noticed the most simple things in human life, heard every needy cry, and did not overlook the needs of the humblest, teaching order and economy and careful attention to little things.
Faith Over Fear
When fear and distress arise, trust in Jesus rather than giving way to fear. “Only believe” is a call to simple and complete confidence in God even when His dealings seem dark and cannot be understood, because He is too wise to err and too good to harm, and those who love Him can trust that He will work all things for good. Faith in Jesus overcomes fear, and by believing only, a person will see God’s salvation. When fear and heavy burdens threaten to overwhelm, trust Jesus rather than trying to bear everything alone, relying on His mercy and help and not on one’s own strength, and through that trust one will see God’s salvation.
Fear is met by believing in God, which means trusting His promises, waiting on Him, and relying on His help and wisdom in times of need, because God can do more than people ask or imagine. When faith is tested by troubling appearances, do not give way to fear but trust God’s promises, and applied to illness this calls for continued belief while praying for healing, with confidence that God can restore health and be glorified. The verse means laying hold of the merciful Healer in faith alone without fear to receive healing for the sick, for faith grasps God’s promises and brings healing. The sick are held where they are not by the Lord but by the powers of darkness, and believing means going to the Saviour and asking Him to cast Satan out on behalf of an afflicted wife.
When fear arises, faith in Jesus is the answer, and the call to believe only encourages holding to trust and courage. That same encouragement belongs to people who are spiritually hungry and to someone being prayed for. The response to fear is to believe, remain cheerful, and take courage, for belief in God’s power gives courage to face discouragement and sadness.
Jesus spoke these words to Jairus, a synagogue ruler who had begged Him to heal his dying daughter, just after a messenger reported that the girl was dead and there was no use troubling Him further. He answered with divine pity, telling the stricken father not to give way to fear but to keep trusting Him and His power to save. The command assured Jairus that his daughter would be made whole and restored if he put away fear and believed firmly that Jesus could grant his petition even though she was reported dead. That word sustained his hope so that he pressed closer to Jesus as they hurried on, and Jesus raised the girl to life in her home. The heart of the teaching is that when fear, distress, and dark appearances arise, a person is to trust Jesus with simple and complete confidence rather than give way to fear, for faith in Him overcomes fear and will see God's salvation.
Context and Promise
The words were spoken to Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, after Jesus returned from healing the demoniacs at Gadara. Jairus fell at Jesus' feet and begged Him to come 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 went with him toward his nearby home but moved very slowly because the pressing crowd eager to see Him caused Him to stop to minister out of pity to their spiritual darkness and physical maladies, while the anxious father feared being too late. Jesus overheard the messenger report that the daughter was dead and it was useless to trouble the Master further, words that struck the father's heart like the death-knell of his hopes, and He answered with divine compassion and pity.
When Jairus was told his daughter had died, Jesus told him not to give way to fear but to keep trusting Him and His power to save her. With the command Jesus assured Jairus that his daughter would be made whole and restored, calling him to put away fear and trust firmly that Jesus was able to grant his petition and heal her even though she was reported dead. The command sustained Jairus's trust and strengthened his hope to believe still more firmly. He pressed closer to Jesus' side and stayed close to Him as they hurried on to his house, a hope strengthened by the healing of the woman he had just witnessed, and Jesus raised the girl to life there.
The raising of the dead at Capernaum in this account is recalled as one of Jesus' mighty works, remembered by the disciples as they looked again upon Galilee. The raising of the ruler's daughter during His ministry restored mortal life only and did not clothe her with immortality, so she remained subject to death and decay and death again. This is unlike those who came forth from the grave at Christ's own resurrection and ascended with Him to everlasting life nevermore to see death or sorrow. After restoring her to life Jesus turned to her parents and reminded them that she must have something to eat, providing for her ordinary need for food. This provision shows that even while the great work of redemption weighed constantly upon Him and teaching and healing taxed all the energies of body and soul, He noticed the most simple things in human life, heard every needy cry, and did not overlook the needs of the humblest, teaching order and economy and careful attention to little things.
Faith Over Fear
When fear and distress arise, trust in Jesus rather than giving way to fear. “Only believe” is a call to simple and complete confidence in God even when His dealings seem dark and cannot be understood, because He is too wise to err and too good to harm, and those who love Him can trust that He will work all things for good. Faith in Jesus overcomes fear, and by believing only, a person will see God’s salvation. When fear and heavy burdens threaten to overwhelm, trust Jesus rather than trying to bear everything alone, relying on His mercy and help and not on one’s own strength, and through that trust one will see God’s salvation.
Fear is met by believing in God, which means trusting His promises, waiting on Him, and relying on His help and wisdom in times of need, because God can do more than people ask or imagine. When faith is tested by troubling appearances, do not give way to fear but trust God’s promises, and applied to illness this calls for continued belief while praying for healing, with confidence that God can restore health and be glorified. The verse means laying hold of the merciful Healer in faith alone without fear to receive healing for the sick, for faith grasps God’s promises and brings healing. The sick are held where they are not by the Lord but by the powers of darkness, and believing means going to the Saviour and asking Him to cast Satan out on behalf of an afflicted wife.
When fear arises, faith in Jesus is the answer, and the call to believe only encourages holding to trust and courage. That same encouragement belongs to people who are spiritually hungry and to someone being prayed for. The response to fear is to believe, remain cheerful, and take courage, for belief in God’s power gives courage to face discouragement and sadness.