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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Mark 5:35 - 5:43
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mar_5:35-43
35While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, "Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?" 36But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, "Do not be afraid any longer, only believe." 37And He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38They came to the house of the synagogue official; and He saw a commotion, and people loudly weeping and wailing. 39And entering in, He said to them, "Why make a commotion and weep? The child has not died, but is asleep." 40They began laughing at Him. But putting them all out, He took along the child's father and mother and His own companions, and entered the room where the child was. 41Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, "Talitha kum!" (which translated means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!"). 42Immediately the girl got up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded. 43And He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this, and He said that something should be given her to eat.
Mar_5:35 "'has died'" This is aorist active indicative. I am sure Jairus was very impatient! This seems to be a test of his faith or another example of Jesus' power and authority.
Mar_5:36
NASB "overhearing what was being spoken"
NKJV "as soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken"
NRSV, NJB "overhearing what they said"
TEV "Jesus paid no attention to what they said"
NIV"ignoring what they said"
The Greek root means "to hear carelessly." It can be understood as "ignore" or "overhear." This term is so ambiguous that very early the scribes changed it to the term "hear" (cf. MSS à a, A, C, D, and K), which is found in the Lukan parallel, Luk_8:50.
▣ "'Do not be afraid any longer'" This is a present imperative with a negative particle which usually means stop an act in process. The opposite of fear is faith!
▣ "'only believe'" This is another present active imperative. Such a simple, but crucial, statement (cf. Act_16:31).
Mar_5:37 "He allowed no one to accompany Him" Why Jesus had an inner group of disciples (cf. Mar_1:29; Mar_5:37; Mar_9:2; Mar_13:3; Mar_14:33) is uncertain. Mark's Gospel is the eyewitness account of Peter. This inner circle provided no special privileges because James was killed very early.
Jesus did not want His fame as a healer and even one who could raise the dead to be known. This is one of several of these types of statements in Mark, which theologians call "the Messianic Secret" (cf. Mar_5:43). He already had major logistical problems with the large crowds.
▣ "Peter and James and John" This was Jesus' inner circle of disciples (cf. Mar_9:2; Mar_14:33; Mat_17:1; Mat_26:37; Luk_9:28).
Mar_5:38 "and people loudly weeping and wailing" These were common, even expected, Jewish funeral practices. It shows that the family was expecting the death of the little daughter and had already made preparations.
Mar_5:39 "'The child has not died, but is asleep'" Sleep was an OT euphemism for death. Jesus uses it of Lazarus in Joh_11:11. Here it is contrasted with death. One wonders if Mar_5:37 is thought to be a reference to "Mark's Messianic Secret" then why did He say this to the crowd, unless He is trying to reduce the impact (i.e., the resulting rumors) of her being raised?
Mar_5:40 "began laughing at Him" This is an imperfect tense which implies the bystanders continued to laugh for an extended period of time or that they started laughing at this point.
▣ "His own companions" This refers to Peter, James, and John. In many ways Jesus' miracles were as much for the disciples' training and faith as for the people helped!
Mar_5:41 "'Talitha, kum'" This is an Aramaic phrase. The Jews of Jesus' day spoke Aramaic, not Hebrew. This would have been Jesus' mother tongue. There are several Aramaic phrases recorded in the Gospels (cf. Sabbata, Mar_3:4; Boanerges, Mar_3:17; Satan, Mar_3:23; Mar_3:26; Mar_8:33; Talitha cumi, Mar_5:41; Ephphatha, Mar_7:35; Gehanna, Mar_9:43; Mar_9:45; Mar_9:47; pascha, Mar_14:14; Abba, Mar_14:36; Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani, Mar_15:34). The fact that Mark translates it shows his target audience was Gentile.
Mar_5:42 "Immediately. . .immediately" See note at Mar_1:10.
▣ "she was twelve years old" This would have meant she was responsible to keep the law (i.e., bath mitzvah) and was of marriageable age. Boys became responsible to the Law and marriageable at age thirteen (i.e., bar mitzvah). The life expectancy was much shorter and generations of families lived together; therefore, they married much younger than today.
Mar_5:43 "gave them strict orders that no one should know about this" Jesus did not want to be known as a healer or miracle worker. He did these activities to reveal God's compassion and validate His message and authority (cf. Mar_1:44; Mar_3:12; Mar_5:43; Mar_7:36; Mar_8:26; Mar_8:30; Mar_9:30; Mat_8:4; Mat_9:30; Mat_12:16; Mat_17:9).
▣ "He said that something should be given her to eat" This is another eyewitness detail. Jesus shows thoughtfulness for the little girl. This also proves she is truly restored to physical life.
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