My Dear People, 

Today the narrative deals with Jairus, a synagogue official and his daughter who has died.  While Jesus is on His way to the house of Jairus, a sickly woman touches the hem of His cloak and is instantly healed. She had a strong faith. Contrast this with the dismissive attitude of one of the messengers who said to Jairus: “Your daughter has died–  why trouble the teacher any longer?”  But the gospel clearly establishes; Jesus wants to be troubled! And those who “trouble” Him are the ones who will experience His healing power. 

Because of their comments, Jairus’s heart must have filled with anguish at the fatal delay caused by the ill and hemorrhaging woman. But Jesus ignores the unbelieving messengers and reassures him. Do not be afraid; just have faith (literally, “only believe”). With this word, He is calling Jairus to lay hold of a deeper faith than he has had so far. The situation has worsened since he first approached Jesus. Before, his daughter was merely sick; but now he is asked to believe that Jesus can conquer death itself. As Jesus indicated a moment ago (vs. 34), faith is the disposition that opens the way for His mighty works to be accomplished. 

Jesus brings with Him only the inner circle of disciples, the three who will accompany him at other key events: at the transfiguration (9:2), on Mount of Olives (13:3), and at the agony in Gethsemane (14:33). Their presence here is a signal that what is about to happen is another key moment in Jesus’ mission, giving a glimpse of His divine identity. When they arrive at the house they meet with  commotion, people weeping and wailing  loudly. The tumult may indicate the presence of hired mourners, a common practice among the ancients. Unlike stoic modern Westerners, the ancient Jews mourned the death of a loved one with elaborate rituals, including loud groans and wailing (Jer. 9:17), dirges (Jer. 9:17), flute playing (Matt 9:23), even shaving the head and stripping off clothes (Jer 16:6; Ezek. 24:16-24).

Jesus’ response to the hubbub is enigmatic: The child is not dead but asleep. Was he denying that she had already passed away?  No, sleep is his characteristic way of referring to death (John 11:11-14 see Dan. 12:2), which continued into early Christian usage (1 Cor 15:51;  1 Thess 5:10). Jesus is calling His listeners to recognize that death is not the ultimate end of human life; it is only a temporary phase from which all will be awakened at the resurrection. His raising of the dead girl would be a sign that despair and terror at the finality of death are no longer an inevitable part of human life (see Heb 2:14-15). But in response to His call to faith the mourners ridiculed Him (a verb that suggests scornful laughter). The child’s tragic death has no solution, in their limited view. Jesus sent them all out, since unbelief creates a climate that hinders His mighty works (see Mark 6:5-6).

Mark records the actual words spoken by Jesus in Aramaic, indicating the memorable impression this event made on the eyewitnesses. Taking the child by the hand, as He had done for Peter’s mother-in-law (1:31), Jesus speaks with authority: Little girl, I say to you, arise! The verb for arise, egerio, is the same word used for Jesus’ resurrection (16:6), and often appears in His healing as a sign that they foreshadow His ultimate victory over sickness, death, and all effects of sin. The girl arose immediately. In reaction to this breathtaking demonstration of power, the greatest miracle that Jesus performed so far, the witnesses are utterly astounded. They recognize that the overcoming of death itself is something only God can do, a sign of the new creation promised in Scripture (Isa. 23:8; Ezek. 37:13).

Jesus’ command that she be given something to eat adds a note of tenderness and realism; He knows that the little girl’s body needs nourishment to recover strength. The episode concludes with strict orders that the miracle not be disclosed. Considering the mourners and the crowd that have been following Jesus, that would be a difficult command to carry out. But perhaps Jesus means that they should avoid undue publicity and celebrate their joy within the privacy of their home. A rumor that He has raised a dead child to life could lead to a superficial acclaim that would only hinder the understanding of His messiahship. 

The raising of Jairus’s daughter is the climax of the series of miracles recounted in this section of Mark. Each one increasingly reveals Jesus’ power to overcome death. He has rescued His disciples from near-certain death in the storm on the lake, delivered a man whose existence was a living death among the tombs, restored to health a woman whose life was draining away, and raised a dead girl to life.

 In each case, the way to experience Jesus’ saving power is to reject fear and yield to faith, a deeply personal faith that comes into living contact with Him. Mark is preparing his leaders to grasp the magnitude of Jesus’ ultimate conquest of death in His resurrection, the prelude to the resurrection of all believers to eternal life. 

(Source from the Gospel of  Mark by Mary Healy)

Yours in Christ, 

Fr. Vincent Clemente