Mark 5:38Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

As soon as the Lord finished speaking, word reached Jairus that his daughter had passed away. However, Jesus reassured him, instructing him to not be afraid but to have faith in His power to restore her to life. Upon arriving at the house, He found it filled with turmoil. This scene posed a potential threat to belief. The Lord declared that the girl was not deceased but merely sleeping, met with laughter from the onlookers. He then sent them away, and, in solitude with the girl's parents and a few disciples, He took her hand and called out, ‘The maiden arise,’ and she was restored to life. In astonishment, the parents received the instruction to remain silent about what had occurred.

In Jewish tradition, it was common for relatives of the deceased not only to grieve their own sorrow but also to employ professional mourners who would lament for a fee. Frequently, this mourning was enhanced by the sound of musical instruments. Consequently, within the home of the departed, particularly among those of wealth, there was an atmosphere filled with weeping, cries of anguish, and the somber playing of instruments, primarily flutes. As Jesus came near the residence of Jairus, He observed the flute players and the turmoil among the people (Matt. 9:23), who were weeping and wailing loudly; the lamentation was pervasive (Luke 8:52).

Upon reaching his residence, they encountered a scene filled with hired mourners and professional wailers, who, with their insincere noise and commotion, struck their chests and disrespected the profound silence of genuine grief and the solemn dignity of death. These false lamentations stirred the spirit of Christ; pausing momentarily at the entrance to prevent the crowd from accompanying Him, He proceeded into the house accompanied only by three of His closest disciples: Peter, James, and John.

The healing of the woman with the issue of blood served to uplift Jairus and bolster his trust in the Lord's miraculous ability. As Jesus was delivering His final words of encouragement to her, news arrived from the ruler of the synagogue's house, bearing the distressing message: Thy daughter is dead; what further need has the Master? Christ aimed to ensure their certainty regarding the girl’s death so that there would be no doubt later about her resurrection. When the Lord learned of her passing, He spoke to her father: Do not fear, but have faith, and she will be made whole.