The Life of Christ

• God looks on the heart, but man looks on the outward appearance.

Mk. 5:35 While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?”

While all of this was going on with the woman, we can only imagine Jairus’ growing impatience.

• Word then arrives that they are too late; his daughter is now dead.

• Perhaps, if there hadn't been this interruption, Jesus could have arrived at Jairus' house in time to save her.

• It appears that this alleged delay may have been a prerequisite for her healing; we remember Jesus’ purposeful delay before coming to pray for Lazarus who also died before Jesus arrived there (Jn. 11:21). Mk. 5:36 But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.”

Jairus was afraid because his faith for healing had reached its limit; knowing this he assumes his daughter is now dead.

• We also note that even though Jairus’ faith had run out, Jesus is still willing to give him an additional measure of faith.

1 Cor. 12:9 speaks of a “gift of faith.”

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Mk. 5:37 And He allowed no one to follow with Him, except Peter and James and John the brother of James.

Peter, James, and John were listed first in all three groupings of the twelve apostles.

• Peter and John would later play vital roles in leading the church after Jesus ascended; James would die as the first martyr among the Twelve.

• Jesus later takes the same three to the Mount of Transfiguration and deeper into the Garden of Gethsemane, as part of their preparation.

• They were also the most receptive to the miraculous; on Easter Sunday, it was only Peter and John who ran to the tomb after hearing of the mere possibility that Jesus might be alive (Jn. 20:4).

Mk. 5:38 And they came to the house of the synagogue official; and He beheld a commotion and people loudly weeping and wailing. When they arrived, the mourners were already singing their dirge; his house had been transformed into the “house of death.” • This would be an unusually large group of people, all members of the synagogue ruled by this man.

Mk. 5:39 And entering in, He said to them, “Why make a commotion and weep?”

Jesus ’ first order of business was to change the mindset of this environment.

* It strongly needed to be transformed from a house of death into a house of life.

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