What is the meaning of Mark 5:40? And they laughed at Him - The mourners did not merely scoff; they “laughed at Him”, openly ridiculing Jesus for saying the girl was only asleep (Mark 5:39). - Their reaction mirrors Genesis 17:17 and 18:12, where Abraham and Sarah laughed at God’s promise—unbelief confronting divine power. - Luke 8:53 records the same scene, affirming the historical reality of the laughter. - This unbelief highlights the contrast Jesus often met, as in Mark 6:3–6, where familiarity bred contempt and hindered faith. After He had put them all outside - Jesus physically removed the scoffers, creating an atmosphere of faith. Matthew 9:25 confirms, “When the crowd had been put outside, He went in and took her by the hand,” showing deliberate separation. - Exodus 33:7 pictures Moses pitching the tent “outside the camp” to meet God—removing distraction to encounter the divine. - Mark records no dialogue with the crowd; authority over the scene is entirely His, underscoring His lordship and the necessity of faith (Hebrews 11:6). He took the child’s father and mother - Jairus and his wife had pleaded for their daughter (Mark 5:22–23); Jesus now honors their personal involvement. - Parental faith is consistently highlighted in Scripture: the Syrophoenician mother (Mark 7:24–30), the father of the epileptic boy (Mark 9:17–24), and the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:17–24). - Their presence allows them to witness God’s answer to their plea, strengthening family faith for generations (Deuteronomy 6:6–7). and His own companions - Jesus brings Peter, James, and John—the same trio who will witness the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2) and Gethsemane (Mark 14:33). - Deuteronomy 19:15 requires “two or three witnesses”; their presence provides credible testimony of the miracle. - Their repeated inclusion nurtures leadership, preparing them to proclaim resurrection power in Acts 3:15 and 4:33. and went in to see the child - Jesus steps directly into the room of death, echoing Elijah in 1 Kings 17:19 and Elisha in 2 Kings 4:33–34, both of whom entered the chamber of a dead child. - His approach is personal and intentional; John 11:43 shows the same pattern when He stands before Lazarus’s tomb. - By entering, He affirms His compassion (Lamentations 3:22–23) and His authority over death (Revelation 1:18). summary Mark 5:40 records real events: scoffing unbelief, decisive removal of doubters, invitation of faithful parents and trusted witnesses, and Jesus’ fearless entry to conquer death. The verse shows that faith welcomes Christ’s life-giving power, while unbelief is shut outside. |
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