Mark 5:41
And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.
After Jairus begs Him to come heal his dying daughter, Jesus enters the death chamber with only her parents and Peter, James, and John after putting out the mocking mourners, takes the dead child's hand and gently tells her in her home tongue to get up. At His word life returns instantly through her whole body with beating pulse, returning breath, opened eyes, rising and walking, free from disease though weakened by long illness. This shows His power over death as the Life-Giver who restores her to life, yet she remains subject to death and will die again, unlike those raised at Christ's own resurrection to everlasting life nevermore to see death. His ordering that food be given her even amid a great miracle proves His careful concern for ordinary practical needs and His notice of the simplest things in human life. His touch and word bringing her back to health and vigor gives hope that the same Jesus can still cure the sick, for the power to heal belongs to Christ who works through His servants and blesses the means used for recovery.
Setting and Miracle
The raising took place just after the return from healing the demoniacs at Gadara, when Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, fell at Jesus' feet and begged Him to come and lay His hands on his little daughter lying at the point of death, that she might be healed and live, after she 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 compliance with the request of a haughty ruler. Though the way to the home was short, progress was very slow because the people pressed on every side eager to see Him and beg His attention and aid, while the anxious father feared being too late and Jesus stopped to minister from pity for their spiritual darkness and physical maladies.
Having declared that the damsel was not dead but slept, He put the unbelieving hired mourners who laughed His words to scorn out of the house. He entered the death chamber only with her father and mother and Peter, James, and John. Beside the bed He took the dead child's hand in His own and spoke softly in the familiar language of her home, gently telling her as a young girl to arise.
At His word life returned instantly through her whole body. There was a tremor through the unconscious form, with renewed and beating pulse, returning breath, opened eyes and wondering gaze as if from sleep, a smile, rising and joyful embrace by her parents, and walking across the room while her parents wept for joy. Though weakened by her long illness, she was free from disease and restored from death. Jesus then attended to an ordinary need by ordering that food be given her, and He charged the household to tell no one, though the news that He had raised the dead to life still spread far and near.
Teaching and Application
Taking her by the hand and speaking to her in the familiar language of her home, He gently commands her as a young girl to arise, and at once life returns to her so that she gets up restored from death though still weak from her illness. His words and action in this show His power over death and present Him as the Life-Giver who restores her to life.
Like the son of the widow of Nain and Lazarus, the ruler's daughter when raised during His ministry is not clothed with immortality but remains subject to death and decay and will die again. This is unlike those who came forth from the grave at Christ's resurrection, for they were raised to everlasting life nevermore to see death or sorrow.
After restoring her to life He attends to an ordinary need by turning to her parents to remind them that she must have something to eat, showing His careful concern for practical needs even amid a great miracle. This proves that even while taxed to the utmost by teaching and healing He noticed the simplest things in human life, heard every needy cry, and did not overlook the needs of the humblest. In this He gives nurses and physicians a pattern of thoughtful care, order, economy, and faithfulness in little things.
His touch and word brought the dying child back to health and vigor, giving hope that the same Jesus can cure the sick. The power to heal and perform mighty works belongs to Christ, who works through His servants, blesses the means used for recovery to bring success, and deserves the glory for healing.