But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
The words were spoken to Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue who fell at Jesus' feet and pleaded greatly for his little daughter, who lay at the point of death after the most learned physicians had given her up to die. Jesus at once went with the stricken, anxious father toward his home, though the disciples were surprised at ready compliance with the request of a haughty ruler. Though the distance was short, progress was very slow because the people pressed forward on every side eager to see the Teacher, and Jesus stopped to minister to their wants out of pity for their spiritual darkness and physical maladies, while the father urged his way through the crowd fearful of being too late.
Jesus spoke after overhearing a messenger tell the father that his daughter was dead and he should trouble the Master no further. He answered in divine compassion and pity to a suffering parent whose heart was smitten as by the death-knell of his hopes. The command to fear not and believe only is words of hope and comfort promising that she shall be made whole, restored to life and health.
Jairus's hope and confidence had just grown stronger from watching Jesus heal the afflicted woman on the way and send her away comforted and rejoicing, which convinced him more firmly that Jesus was able to heal his daughter and led him to urge Jesus to hasten to his home. When he heard the assurance, he trusted Jesus, pressed closer to His side, held on to that faith even when death appeared to end all hope, and hurried and continued with Him to the ruler's house where the child lay dead. Even the news of death does not end hope for His help.
The promise was fulfilled when Jesus raised the girl to life, demonstrating the power behind His assurance. Only the parents and Peter, James, and John were allowed into the room, and the mourners who laughed His words to scorn were sent out. He took the dead child's hand and bade her arise in her home language, and life returned at once to the pulseless form with beating pulse, returning breath, opening eyes as from sleep, sight and movement. She was left weak from long illness but free from disease, able to rise, walk, and eat food that was given her.
The raising shows that death does not prevent His power to restore, that His power can overcome death and fulfill the father's hope. The raising of Jairus's daughter stands with the raising of the widow's son at Nain and the calling of Lazarus from the tomb after four days as one display of His power to give life to the dead. It points forward to the second coming, when His voice will pierce the tombs and the dead in Christ will rise to glorious, immortal life to ever be with the Lord.
The words were spoken to Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue who fell at Jesus' feet and pleaded greatly for his little daughter, who lay at the point of death after the most learned physicians had given her up to die. Jesus at once went with the stricken, anxious father toward his home, though the disciples were surprised at ready compliance with the request of a haughty ruler. Though the distance was short, progress was very slow because the people pressed forward on every side eager to see the Teacher, and Jesus stopped to minister to their wants out of pity for their spiritual darkness and physical maladies, while the father urged his way through the crowd fearful of being too late.
Jesus spoke after overhearing a messenger tell the father that his daughter was dead and he should trouble the Master no further. He answered in divine compassion and pity to a suffering parent whose heart was smitten as by the death-knell of his hopes. The command to fear not and believe only is words of hope and comfort promising that she shall be made whole, restored to life and health.
Jairus's hope and confidence had just grown stronger from watching Jesus heal the afflicted woman on the way and send her away comforted and rejoicing, which convinced him more firmly that Jesus was able to heal his daughter and led him to urge Jesus to hasten to his home. When he heard the assurance, he trusted Jesus, pressed closer to His side, held on to that faith even when death appeared to end all hope, and hurried and continued with Him to the ruler's house where the child lay dead. Even the news of death does not end hope for His help.
The promise was fulfilled when Jesus raised the girl to life, demonstrating the power behind His assurance. Only the parents and Peter, James, and John were allowed into the room, and the mourners who laughed His words to scorn were sent out. He took the dead child's hand and bade her arise in her home language, and life returned at once to the pulseless form with beating pulse, returning breath, opening eyes as from sleep, sight and movement. She was left weak from long illness but free from disease, able to rise, walk, and eat food that was given her.
The raising shows that death does not prevent His power to restore, that His power can overcome death and fulfill the father's hope. The raising of Jairus's daughter stands with the raising of the widow's son at Nain and the calling of Lazarus from the tomb after four days as one display of His power to give life to the dead. It points forward to the second coming, when His voice will pierce the tombs and the dead in Christ will rise to glorious, immortal life to ever be with the Lord.