By Jim Barnette, Ph.D.
Samford University and Brookwood Baptist Church, Mountain Brook
JESUS HEALS (Mark 5:22-24, 35–43)
We can approach Jesus with our needs. (22–24)
One aspect of this passage’s significance lies in the way Jesus deals with interruptions. Jesus is interrupted by Jairus, then Jesus allows Himself to be interrupted by the woman with the hemorrhage. In both cases, Jesus took time out for the personal touch. In his book “Reaching Out,” Henri Nouwen shares about a teacher friend who once remarked, “You know, my whole life I have been complaining that my work was constantly interrupted, until I discovered that my interruptions were my work.” How often are we frustrated by an interruption to our work or our play when that interruption might be a significant opportunity to offer a healing touch to a person in need?
It is worth noting that in both the case of the hemorrhaging woman and the dead girl, by biblical and traditional Jewish law, touching the person would render Jesus unclean. Jesus looks beyond tradition and uncleanness to reach out with His touch that saves these suffering souls.
We can trust Jesus when things go wrong. (35–40)
The delay caused by the interruption of Jesus’ encounter with the hemorrhaging woman must have been an agonizing test of faith for Jairus. This agony was only intensified when he receives a message from his house that his daughter is already dead. Arriving at the house, they see that preparations had been made already for the funeral. The minstrels and professional mourners were performing the initial part of the funeral ceremony. The wailing consisted of choral songs accompanied by flutes and handclapping.
When Jesus declares the girl is not dead but sleeping, the professional experts on death laugh at Him in scorn. They do not recognize that here Jesus is using the language of resurrection (1 Thess. 4:13–14; 1 Cor. 15:51). Death is called sleep not to pretend that death is not real but to deny that it is ultimate. Jesus does not say “The girl only seems to be dead” but in the presence of death speaks His word of ultimate victory over death.
We can have hope because Jesus has authority over death. (41–43)
The Aramaic phrase, “Talitha cumi,” is not some sort of magical phrase that Jesus is using to resuscitate the girl; rather, it is the simple speech that anyone in Palestine might employ in waking someone from sleep. The simplicity and tenderness of Jesus’ words is punctuated by His seeing to her practical need for food.
Jesus’ command not to report this miracle is one instance among many of what scholars call the “messianic secret.” The Jews were zealous for an earthly messianic figure who would overthrow the Romans through political and military revolt. This was not Jesus’ mission, and so He delays His full Messianic disclosure until Easter. He is the Risen Messiah!
This passage affirms that in the presence of Jesus and under His authority, death itself — real death — is but a sleep. This little girl was resuscitated, restored to life in this world, where she would die again. But let’s be clear: We are to understand the raising of Jairus’ daughter in the light of Jesus’ own resurrection. This story is not a promise to us that that when our children die, as we all do, Jesus will come now and restore them into this world. Even better, because of His resurrection, nothing, not even death, will separate us from the presence and love of the Living Christ. Beside the open casket or at the moment of our own death, we are invited to respond to the words, “Talitha cumi,” with a thrill of anticipation.
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