There is a miracle within a miracle in this passage. When Jesus came along, death meets its match. We see how the Lord Jesus responds to human needs. Jesus has power over death.

1 – The man’s pain (vs. 18)

Notice two things about this man who comes to Jesus about his daughter.

• He was a desperate man – See Mark 5:23. His daughter is at the point of death. This important man is now desperate and comes to the Lord Jesus for help. We are all just a step from death. We do not know when it will happen. We spend a lifetime trying to forget about death.
• He was a prominent man – He was a leader in the synagogue. See Mark 5:22. His lays his dignity behind in his desperation. He came and worshipped Jesus. He threw himself at the feet of Jesus. He repeatedly made his request. See Mark 5:23. He is burdened in his heart. He comes with faith to Jesus. He had obviously tried everything else. We are to keep our eyes on Christ and not on the crisis. We are to not wallow in self-pity. We are not to live in denial. We are not to panic. We are to make our way to the Lord Jesus.

2 – The plan (vs. 19-22)

Jesus went with the man to see his daughter. The disciples went with him. Why does Jesus go to the house when He doesn’t at other times? Jesus has a plan and he doesn’t deal with all people the same way. There is a delay because of the crowds. How do you handle the delays in life? It doesn’t matter when Jesus turns up. It is never too late. The girl is dead and the people are ready to move on to other matters. They don’t want Jesus to be annoyed. You can’t annoy Jesus. Jesus is not upset if you come to Him with your problems. See Mark 5:36. Jesus says to not worry. He has a plan. The only thing we have to do is believe. Do you have a delay in your life? Here are some things to remember.

• Don’t get lost in the delay.
• Don’t equate God’s delay with God’s denial.
• Don’t take it into your hands. Stick with God’s plan. You could mess things up with your impatience.

Why does God make us wait? Why does He not just say no? God is not trying to be mean. See Isaiah 30:18. He does it to be gracious and show compassion.

3 – The power over death (vs. 23-26)

I can sympathise with you and hold out my hand to help you, but if you’re sick, I can’t heal you. If you’re dead, I can’t raise you. Christ’s power sets Him apart from all others.

• The ranting (vs. 23) – By the time Jesus had arrived at the house, the girl was dead and a funeral service was in progress. The noisy racket was quite different from what we are used to in a funeral home within our culture.
• The ridicule (vs. 24) – Their laughter was the hard laughter of mockery, as when a person laughs at someone they consider inferior. That verb is only used in this story and by all three Synoptic Gospel writers. It is the kind of scornful laughter reserved for mocking a fool. In their eyes, only a fool would think he could raise her from the dead. Although the crowd in Capernaum had seen other miracles, they still didn’t believe in Christ. He showed that He was well aware of the fact that people who see miracles don’t necessarily believe in Him.
• The resurrection (vs. 25) – Mark’s gospel records that He said to her, “Talitha cumi” (5:41), which means “Little girl, arise.” And when the girl arose, “her parents were amazed; but He charged them that they should tell no man what was done” (Luke 8:56). Evidently, they couldn’t resist telling the wonderful news about how “her spirit came again” (Luke 8:55). That she was once dead and that Jesus had brought her back to life. Jesus didn’t have to touch the little girl with His hand. He could have just said a word to heal her, but it is the way of God to be tender and loving.
• The result (vs. 26) – You can imagine what people said about Him. He has power over disease, He has power over disorders, and He has power over death.

Jesus Christ is the One who holds the keys of hell and death (Rev. 1:18). For that reason, we have no need to fear death. The poet put it this way: “No longer must the mourners weep, nor call departed children dead. For death is transformed into sleep and every grave becomes a bed.”

Categories: Matthew