Power of Life from Death

Mark 5:21-43

A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed

21 Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea. 22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live." 24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.

25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 28 For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well."

29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?"

31 But His disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'"

32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."

35 While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue's house who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?"

36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid; only believe." 37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 

38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. 39 When He came in, He said to them, "Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping."

40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. 41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, "Talitha, cumi," which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, arise." 42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. 43 But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.

Jesus returned to the other side of the lake, the western side, likely to Capernaum in Galilee (Luke 8:26).  Once again a large crowd gathered to meet Him for healing of body and soul as they heard of how He did all things well (Mark 7:37).  Jairus, a ruler in the synagogue of Capernaum, met the Lord and fell to His feet with an urgent plea to save his young daughter of twelve years who seemed to be on her deathbed.  He knew if Jesus laid His hands on her that she would be made well just as so many others had been at His command over sickness and death.  Jesus did not say anything that scripture records for us, but He did accompany Jairus back to his home to see the girl.  Along the way to the house a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years came with the faith that told her she need only touch His clothes and would be healed from what no earthly physician could ever do.  Only the great Physician could heal both body and soul (Matthew 9:12-13, Mark 2:17, Luke 5:31-32).  That is why when she was healed that Jesus told her first that her faith made her well and then that she was healed and could go in peace with God as others had likewise done (Luke 6:17-19).  Jesus felt the power go from Him to heal her in answer to her faith that He was able to make her well (Luke 6:19) and had asked the rhetorical question of who touched Him, knowing fully well it was her in order to hear her testimony of faith as a witness to others as well.  Immediately the news came to Jairus that his little girl had died and that he should not bother the Lord anymore.  Jesus answered, “Do not be afraid; just believe (have faith as the woman just demonstrated).”  He took along the closest disciples to see the man’s daughter and told the mourning family and friends not to be sad any longer because she was only asleep and not dead.  This was figurative of course, as she really was dead, but Jesus could wake her from death to life by His divine power and authority (John 17:2).  The crowd ridiculed the Lord for saying such things until He took her by the hand and commanded her to get up from that grave and eat something to demonstrate it was no trick or illusion.  The crowd turned from jeering to amazement at witnessing His work of bringing the dead to life (John 5:24, 2 Timothy 1:10) as no mere man can do!  ‘What man is this!’ they must have exclaimed as the disciples did crossing the lake (Mark 4:41) and seeing His power over nature demonstrated.  Jesus also told them to keep the matter to themselves but of course that was to test their faith to speak boldly at the risk of angering the religious leaders.  He wanted them to bear witness of the results of trusting Him for healing of the body as an avenue to the real need of the soul’s healing that we sinners all need from the Great Physician.  He alone has the power to give life from death.