Mark 5:42

5:35-43 We may suppose Jairus hesitating whether he should ask Christ to go on or not, when told that his daughter was dead. But have we not as much occasion for the grace of God, and the comfort of his Spirit, for the prayers of our ministers and Christian friends, when death is in the house, as when sickness is there? Faith is the only remedy against grief and fear at such a time. Believe the resurrection, then fear not. He raised the dead child to life by a word of power. Such is the gospel call to those who are by nature dead in trespasses and sins. It is by the word of Christ that spiritual life is given. All who saw it, and heard of it, admired the miracle, and Him that wrought it. Though we cannot now expect to have our dead children or relatives restored, we may hope to find comfort under our trials.

And straightway the damsel arose, and walked,.... As soon as ever the above words were pronounced by Christ, such divine power went along with them, that the child returned to life; and raised herself up from the bed, got off of it, and walked about the room in perfect health and strength: for she was of the age of twelve years; and so, when alive and well, was able to walk; though one of this age was called a little one, as this is by another evangelist; See Gill on Matthew 9:18, and they were astonished with a great astonishment; they were exceedingly amazed at such a signal instance of the power of our Lord, even both the parents of the child, and the disciples of Christ.

Astonishment (ἐκστάσει) Better Rev., amazement, which carries the sense of bewilderment. Ἔκστασις, of which the English ecstasy is a transcript, is from ἐκ, out of, and ἵστημι, to place or put. Its primitive sense, therefore, is that of removal; hence of a man removed out of his senses. In Biblical Greek it is used in a modified sense, as here, Mark 16:8; Luke 5:26; Acts 3:10, of amazement, often coupled with fear. In Acts 10:10; Acts 11:5; Acts 22:17, it is used in the sense of our word ecstasy, and is rendered trance.

Mark 5:42 . Εὐθέως , straightway ) It was not by degrees that at last she regained her consciousness.— γὰρ , for ) She returned to the state consonant to her age.— δώδεκα , twelve ) comp. Mark 5:25 . It was at one and the same time the woman was healed [of the issue of twelve years’ standing] and the girl [of twelve years] was raised to life; the one having begun life at the same time that the other had begun her misery.

42 . And immediately her spirit came again and she arose straightway ( Luke 8:55 ), and began to walk . There is no struggle, no effort on his part, Who is “ the Resurrection and the Life ” ( John 11:25 ); we read of no “crying unto the Lord,” or “stretching himself upon the child three times” as in the case of Elijah at Sarepta ( 1 Kings 17:21 ); He “lieth not upon the child, or putteth his mouth upon her mouth, and his eyes upon her eyes, and his hands upon her hands” as in the case of Elisha ( 2 Kings 4:34 ), He speaks but a word and instantly He is obeyed. a great astonishment ] The word thus rendered denotes sometimes (1) a trance , as in Acts 10:10 , “but while they made ready, he (St Peter) fell into a trance; ” and Acts 22:17 , “while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance ,” with which comp. 2 Cor. 12:23 (ii) amazement, awe , as in Luke 5:26 , “and amazement seized all;” Mark 16:8 , “ trembling and amazement seized them;” Acts 3:10 , “and they were filled with wonder and amazement .” Here it points to a very extremity of astonishment.

Verses 42, 43. - Here, as in other miracles, the restoration was immediate and complete: straightway the damsel rose up, and walked . Well might the father and the mother of the maiden and the three chosen apostles be amazed with a great amazement ( ἐξέστησαν ἐκστάσει μεγάλῃ ). And then, for the purpose of strengthening that life which he rescued from the jaws of the grave, our Lord commanded that something should be given her to eat . It has often been observed that in the examples of his resurrection power given by Christ there is a gradation: 1. The daughter of Jairus just dead. 2. The widow's son from his bier. 3. Lazarus from his grave. The more stupendous miracle is I pledge, when "all that are in their graves yet to come, of which our Lord's own resurrection is at once the example and the pledge, when "All that are in their graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth." Mark 5:42