Luke 8:40Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Upon Jesus' return from the region of the Gerasenes, a multitude was eagerly anticipating his arrival, drawn by his teachings as well as the wonders he had performed.

For those who possess a deep understanding of the mystery surrounding the incarnation of the Only Begotten and whose intellects are enlightened by heavenly wisdom, the Spirit has instructed: 'Proclaim His praises among the nations and His wonders among all peoples.' Did He instruct them to announce the glory of our universal Savior Christ to the diverse multitude of Gentiles, the denizens of the entire earth, solely for admiration's sake and not with the intent that all should have faith in Him? Truly, I declare that it is both for His adoration and for the purpose of instilling belief that the Logos of God the Father is Himself divine, even though, as John states, He took on human form. Moreover, in another passage, He addresses the Jews, saying, 'If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do them, even if you do not believe Me, believe the works.'

Matthew, adhering to a chronological order, recounts that after speaking to the crowd, a certain ruler approached Him, kneeling and pleading, "My daughter is at the point of death; come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live." This is followed by the affirmation that the girl arose, leading to widespread news of the event throughout the region. Both Mark and Luke narrate this incident, though they rearrange the timeline, placing it after Jesus' departure from the land of the Gadarene following the expulsion of demons into a herd of swine. Mark's narrative resumes post-Gadarene: when Jesus returned by boat to the opposite shore, a large crowd gathered around Him, as He stood by the sea. Among them, one of the synagogue leaders named Jairus approached Him and fell at His feet.

As previously mentioned in an allegorical sense, in the region of the Gerasenes, Christ departed from the synagogue, and He, whom His own people did not accept (see Jn. 1:11), was welcomed by us as the long-awaited Messiah. He did not keep us, who were eagerly anticipating His arrival, in suspense for long; rather, He is always willing to return to those who earnestly seek Him.

As a generous provider and redeemer.

As the Lord made His way to the Gerasenes, the crowd in Capernaum chose to remain in the city, anticipating His return. Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, was in urgent need, as his daughter was gravely ill. Upon the Lord’s return, Jairus implored Him to rescue his daughter from the grip of death. It is noteworthy that the Lord had previously extended His compassion in Capernaum, having already healed the son of a royal merchant and the servant of a centurion at Cana. Many had already experienced His grace. Providence dictated that the arch-synagogue leader also required His assistance. However, one might question whether his faith matched that of others whom the Lord had favored.

In the account presented by the Gospel of Matthew, Jairus informs Jesus that his daughter has already passed away (ετελέυτησεν v. 18) and thus requests a resurrection. Conversely, in the Gospels of Mark (εσχάτως έχει v. 23) and Luke (αυτη άπεθνισκεν v. 42), it is noted that she was merely in the process of dying, indicating that Jairus initially sought healing for her condition, receiving news of her death afterward. Given the circumstances surrounding the ailing woman and Jairus's emotional state, it is unlikely that Jairus spoke with absolute certainty or without doubt; he likely intended to convey that by the time he left his home, his daughter was near death, and possibly had already died by the time of his arrival.

As Jesus boarded the boat alongside His disciples, He navigated back, reaching the opposite shore where Capernaum was located. In his account of the healing of the demon-possessed man in the region of Gergesene (also known as Gadarene), Matthew notes that upon entering the boat, Jesus returned and came to His city (Matthew 9:1), which is Capernaum. The same Evangelist recounts in chapter 4 of his Gospel that after departing from Nazareth, Jesus established His residence in Capernaum by the sea (Matthew 4:13). A multitude of people awaited Jesus on the shore.

Upon returning from Perea, the Savior resumed His teachings and acts of compassion throughout the towns and villages of Galilee, where a large crowd once again gathered around Him. In the midst of this, a synagogue ruler, a highly respected leader among the Jews, approached Him in a state of great distress. It’s likely that this synagogue leader was part of the group that had previously approached Jesus regarding the centurion, a proselyte who had built the synagogue. Therefore, he was already aware of the power of the One to whom he urgently appealed. Falling at Jesus' feet and speaking through his anguish, he shared that his beloved daughter, his only child, was gravely ill, perhaps even dead.

The Lord’s return from the territory of the Gerasenes, Jairus's appeal, the miraculous healing of the woman suffering from constant bleeding, and the resurrection of Jairus's daughter are recounted. The account in Luke closely mirrors that found in Mark, almost verbatim in its details. In contrast, Matthew presents a more concise version of these events, yet the essence remains quite similar. For further clarity, refer to the notes on the respective passages in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. The phrase “the people received Him” indicates that they welcomed Him with joy and affection. When the Savior says, “I felt the power go out,” this expression does not imply that His healing power unwittingly departed from Him to heal the woman. Rather, it serves to bring her act to public attention and exemplify her faith for the benefit of others.

When Jesus returned to Capernaum, situated on the western shore of Lake Gennesaret, a large crowd had gathered there, eagerly anticipating His presence. Among them was a man named Jairus, one of the synagogue leaders, who emerged from the throng. His only daughter, approximately twelve years old, was gravely ill, close to death. In deep distress, he knelt at the feet of the Lord, pleading earnestly, “My daughter is at the brink of death. Please come and lay Your hands on her so that she may be healed and live.” The esteemed Theophylact notes that Jairus demonstrated faith, albeit limited, as he sought not just a word from Jesus, as the centurion had requested, but also His physical presence and touch. Jesus accompanied Jairus to his home, along with His disciples, while a multitude of people followed closely behind, pressing around Him on the way.