When
he came to the house, he didn’t allow anyone to enter in, except Peter, John, James, the father of the child, and her mother. All were weeping and mourning her, but he said, “Don’t weep. She isn’t dead, but sleeping.” They were ridiculing him, knowing that she was dead. But he put them all outside, and taking her by the hand, he called, saying, “Child, arise!” Her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately. He commanded that something be given to her to eat. Her parents were amazed, but he commanded them to tell no one what had been done
Luke 8:51-56
But Jesus hearing it, answered him, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be healed.”
Luke 8 [51.] When he came to the house, he didn’t allow anyone to enter in, except Peter, John, James, the father of the child, and her mother. All were weeping and mourning her, but he said, “Don’t weep. She isn’t dead, but sleeping.”
Luke 8 [53.] They were ridiculing him, knowing that she was dead. But he put them all outside, and taking her by the hand, he called, saying, “Child, arise!” Her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately. He commanded that something be given to her to eat. Her parents were amazed, but he commanded them to tell no one what had been done
Meaning:
Jairus had begged Jesus to come and heal his dying twelve-year-old daughter (Luke 8:40-45). On the way Jesus stopped to speak to the woman healed by touching his cloak, and while he was still speaking a messenger arrived: “Your daughter is dead. Don’t trouble the Teacher.” Jesus answered Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be healed” (Luke 8:50). Now they reach the house. Mark tells the same story (Mark 5:36-39; Mark 5:40-43), as does Matthew (Matthew 9:23-26).
- “Except Peter, John, James”
Jesus allowed only five people into the house with him: the girl’s parents and three disciples. Peter, James and John would also be the only witnesses of the transfiguration (Luke 9:32-36). Jesus chose an inner circle to see the clearest revelations of his glory, preparing them to lead the church later. He also protected a grieving family from the gaze of the crowd.
- “All were weeping and mourning her”
Mourning in Israel was loud and public. Relatives and neighbours gathered quickly, and families often hired professional mourners and flute players (Matthew 9:23). Burial normally took place on the day of death, so the mourning had already begun.
- “She isn’t dead, but sleeping”
Jesus was not denying that she had died. The mourners knew she was dead, and Luke says so plainly. Jesus meant that her death was not final; in his hands it was like sleep, from which she would soon wake. He used the same language for Lazarus: “Our friend, Lazarus, has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I may awake him out of sleep” (John 11:11). The New Testament often calls the death of believers “sleep” because of the certain hope of resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).
- “They were ridiculing him”
The laughter of the mourners shows that they were sure the girl was dead. Their scorn also shuts them out of what follows. Jesus “put them all outside.” Unbelief does not stop his power, but it keeps people from seeing it.
- “Child, arise!”
Touching a dead body made a person unclean, yet Jesus took her hand. As with the woman who touched his cloak, his life overcame what was unclean. Mark preserves the Aramaic words Jesus spoke, “Talitha cumi!” (Mark 5:41). Luke notes that “Her spirit returned,” showing that this was a real return from death. Elijah once raised a widow’s son after long prayer: “the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived” (1 Kings 17:22). Jesus raised the girl with a single command.
- “He commanded that something be given to her to eat”
Jesus’ practical care is touching. The girl was fully restored, healthy enough to eat, and Jesus thought of her needs while everyone else was overwhelmed. It also proved that she was truly alive, as Jesus himself would later eat in front of his disciples after his own resurrection (Luke 24:41-43).
- “Tell no one what had been done”
Jesus did not want to be known chiefly as a miracle worker, drawing crowds who wanted wonders rather than the Kingdom of God.
The Significance of Luke 8:51-56
- Jesus has power over death
This miracle is a preview of the resurrection. Jesus later said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). For those who trust him, death is not the end but a sleep from which he will wake them.
- “Only believe”
Jairus had to keep trusting Jesus when all hope seemed gone and when the crowd laughed. Faith is tested most when the situation looks final. Jesus asks us to keep trusting him even then.
Cross-References:
Mark 5:41: "Taking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha cumi!” which means, being interpreted, “Girl, I tell you, get up!”" Mark records the Aramaic words.
1 Kings 17:22: "Yahweh listened to the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived." Elijah raises a child.
Acts 9:40: "Peter sent them all out, and knelt down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!”" Peter, who witnessed Jairus’ daughter raised, later does the same.
Conclusion: In Luke 8:51-56 Jesus enters Jairus’ house with only the parents and Peter, John and James. He tells the mourners that the girl is not dead but sleeping, and they laugh at him. Putting them out, he takes her hand and says, “Child, arise!” Her spirit returns, she gets up at once, and Jesus tells them to give her something to eat. The miracle shows that Jesus has authority over death itself, and calls us to keep believing even when all hope seems lost.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible