35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him.
Message: The Laugh of Unbelief
Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.
Jesus is on his way to Jairus to see his daughter. He has been stopped by a woman suffering from a hemorrhage for 12 years. She touches him, she communicates to Jesus what she did and why, confessing to him and she is healed from the disease. While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” Thus, while Jesus is still speaking, someone comes forward to say that the daughter Jesus is going to see is dead, so they think there is no reason to trouble Jesus (the Teacher) further.
But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” It is unknown who this person was, but Jesus turns to Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue to offer words of comfort. His response to Jairus is "Do not fear, only believe." Thus, in Jesus' response is the idea that Jesus has authority over life and death. Jesus can do anything. let Jesus decide what he will do. Along the way, we do not need to fear the outcome.
And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. The crowd was present around Jesus when the woman with the hemorrhage was healed, but for this situation, only Peter, James and John would be allowed to come. There could have been many reasons, but Jesus trusted that witnesses were important and needed and they would share with others then what Jesus did. It wasn't important and necessary for everyone to see what Jesus would do. Plus, the girl was dead (supposedly) and perhaps it was a private matter now.
They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. Evidently, there was a custom in those times for people to wail loudly and weep over a death. There were even specific people, perhaps hired to mourn over the dead. There was a great commotion going on, perhaps another reason why Jesus only asked 3 of his disciples to come with him.
And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. In a phrase, Jesus removes the sting of death and instead introduces the idea of an awakening that will occur of the girl.
The responses of Jesus are normal, given the circumstances. They seem funny and odd to us, but we know more now than those at this time, in these settings. These verses remark that the daughter is dead, Jesus should not waste his time, people were already wailing and weeping, and Jesus' remark that she was just sleeping produced laughter. Jesus, however, has a specific purpose in mind and these people are really just distractions.
Promise: Jesus remarks that they only need to believe in Him and not look at the situation from man's point of view. Our confidence needs to be in what only God can do in situations. There is no need to be bothered or worry. We only need to believe.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for having a mission on this earth and for working in a way that is amazing to us. I struggle at times to make sense of things because I look at life too much by natural means. Help me to trust You for the outcomes of life and to continue to worship You and praise Your name.
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