Luke 8:51Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Lord permitted only Peter, John, and James to accompany Him, selecting them as the most favored among His disciples who could maintain silence about the miracle. He wished to keep this revelation hidden until the appropriate moment. Much of His works remained undisclosed, possibly due to the jealousy of the Jews, to prevent them from falling into condemnation fueled by envy. We ought to emulate this approach: when faced with someone who envies us, it is prudent not to showcase our virtues before them. By doing so, we risk deepening their envy and leading them towards sin. Instead, we should strive to keep our strengths somewhat hidden from their view.

Furthermore, observe this. It is as if He is guiding us to shun arrogance, for although we are incapable of performing such remarkable deeds, when He arrived at the dwelling where the deceased girl rested, He brought along only the three blessed apostles and the parents of the girl.

They have yet to accept the resurrection foretold by Christ in the Scriptures, specifically found in Psalm 15:10, and realized through the gospel. Thus, when the Lord entered the home, He brought along several witnesses to this promised resurrection, as few initially placed their faith in the resurrection, as indicated in Mark 16:14, Matthew 28:17, and Acts 17:32.

they mourned and struck their chests. All these matters are elaborated in that chapter. The phrase 'struck their chests about her' conveys the idea of lamenting for her.

The crowd, witnessing the miracle that took place and stirred by emotions of reverence or curiosity, made their way to Jairus's home to discover what had occurred with his daughter. However, Jesus permitted none from the crowd to enter the house. As the Holy Mark writes, "leave not one of them behind" (Mk. 5:37); only the three Apostles chosen to accompany Him to Mount Tabor, along with the grieving parents, were granted entry. By excluding the multitude, Jesus imparts a lesson on avoiding worldly distractions, while allowing only the Apostles and the young woman’s parents inside, so they could bear witness to the miracle. Had even one outsider been present, unbelievers might have questioned the resurrection and would have been inclined to dispute His power, assuming He could not restore life with just a word.

As soon as the Lord finished speaking, news arrived for Jairus that his daughter had passed away. Jesus reassured him, saying, Do not fear, but have faith that I can restore her to life. Upon arriving at the house, the atmosphere was filled with turmoil. Such a scene could have posed a threat to one's faith. The Lord declared that the girl was not dead, but merely sleeping; they mocked Him for this. He sent them all away, and when He was alone with the parents and a few disciples, He took the girl by the hand and called out, 'Little girl, arise,' and she was resurrected. The parents, astonished, were instructed along with their daughter to remain silent. This directive for silence stemmed from the potential danger posed by the Pharisees and the impulsive actions of the crowd.

Only those who grasped the significance of this profound mystery could bear witness to its revelation, not the professional mourners who mocked Jesus, nor the spectators caught up in the spectacle. This is why He chose to bring only three of His twelve apostles—Peter, John, and James—who were cherished during His transfiguration and at His prayer in Gethsemane. Jesus made an exception solely for the grieving parents of the deceased.

Upon arriving at His abode, they encountered a chaotic scene filled with hired lamenters and pipers, who, through their exaggerated expressions of grief and clamor, only mocked the profound silence of genuine mourning and the solemn dignity of death. These insincere wails troubled the spirit of Christ. Stopping at the entrance to prevent the throng from accompanying Him, He entered the home accompanied only by three of His closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. Once inside, He first commanded the fruitless lamentations to cease; however, when He declared that “the maiden was not dead, but sleeping” and faced scoffing in return, He expelled the hired mourners with righteous anger.

The Lord’s return from the region of the Gerasenes, Jairus' plea for help, the healing of the woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages, and the resurrection of Jairus' daughter are chronicled in Luke’s narrative, which closely parallels that of Mark (Mark 5:21-43). Mark presents these events in a detailed manner, while Matthew offers a more concise version that still captures their essence (Matthew 9:18-26). For further understanding, refer to the notes on the specified passages. In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, it is noted that ‘the people received Him’ signifies their joyful and loving acceptance of Him.

The healing of the woman with the flow of blood served to uplift Jairus and bolster his faith in the Lord’s miraculous abilities. While Jesus was still offering His final words of comfort to her, news arrived from the ruler of the synagogue's house with the sorrowful message: Your daughter is dead; what further engagement is there for the Master? “Christ intended for them to be assured of the girl’s death so that later there would be no doubt regarding her resurrection” (St. John Chrysostom). Upon hearing this news, the Lord addressed the father: “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be made whole” (St. Athanasius of Alexandria). “He does not seek faith because He is dependent on others; rather, He is the Lord and the Source of faith.