and trembling with fear[1], threw herself at His feet, and confessed for what cause she had touched Him. Jesus mildly said to her: “Daughter[2], thy faith hath made thee whole. Go in peace!”
While[3] He yet spoke, a messenger came from the house of Jairus, saying: “Thy daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Master any further.” The father groaned in anguish, but Jesus said to him: “Fear not! Believe only, and she shall be safe.” On reaching the house, they saw the mourners[4] weeping and lamenting over the dead girl. But Jesus said: “Why make you this ado and wailing? The damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.”[5] And they laughed Him to scorn [6]. Then, going in with the afflicted father and some of the disciples to where the dead girl lay, and taking her by the hand, He said: “Talitha cumi”; that is, “Maid, arise!” Immediately her spirit returned, she rose and walked, and they gave her to eat. The fame of this miracle went abroad through the whole country.
COMMENTARY.
Proofs of our Lords Divinity: I. The wonderful cure of the sick woman showed our Lord’s Omnipotence; for it could only be a divine
- ↑ Fear. At having ventured to touch the Holy One.
- ↑ Daughter. Far from blaming her, our Lord commended her faith, and lovingly called her "Daughter”, thus shedding heavenly consolation and peace upon her soul.
- ↑ While. The episode of the infirm woman had somewhat delayed our Lord on His way to the house of Jairus. We can imagine how displeasing this interruption must have been to Jairus; for his daughter lay at the very point of death, and he feared that she might die before Jesus could reach her. On the other hand, his faith must have been strengthened by the miracle which he had witnessed, and he may have said to himself: “If this woman has been made well by the mere touch of Jesus’ garment, my daughter will most certainly be cured, when He lays His Hand on her.” Thus he stood, wavering between hope and fear, when one of his household brought him the message: “Thy daughter is dead, do not trouble the Master any further — do not press Him to go to thy house, for He can do nothing now.” This was indeed a severe trial of Jairus’ faith; but our Lord at once spoke words of encouragement to him.
- ↑ The mourners. Namely relations, acquaintances, and mourners who were always summoned by the Jews to lament over the body of the dead.
- ↑ Sleepeth. Jesus said this, because He intended to call the dead maiden back to life.
- ↑ To scorn. They were sure the child was dead, for several among them had actually seen her die. They could not understand our Lord's words “She sleepeth”, because they did not believe that He was able to call her back to life. On account of their unbelief they were not worthy to witness the miracle, and Jesus went alone with the child’s parents and His three apostles, Peter, James and John, into the chamber of the dead.
