Jairus, a synagogue leader, is a significant figure in the New Testament due to the miraculous restoration of his daughter to life by Jesus Christ. This event is recorded in the Synoptic Gospels: Matthew 9:18-26, Mark 5:21-43, and Luke 8:40-56. Jairus's account is a profound testament to faith and the divine authority of Jesus over life and death.

Background and Context

Jairus was a ruler of the synagogue, a position of considerable respect and authority within the Jewish community. His role likely involved overseeing the synagogue's services, maintaining order, and possibly teaching. Despite his status, Jairus approached Jesus with humility and desperation, driven by the dire condition of his only daughter, who was about twelve years old and on the brink of death.

The Plea for Help

In Mark 5:22-23 , Jairus's plea is recorded: "Then one of the synagogue leaders named Jairus came, and seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet and pleaded with Him urgently, 'My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be healed and live.'" This act of falling at Jesus' feet signifies Jairus's recognition of Jesus' authority and his faith in Jesus' power to heal.

Interruption and Delay

As Jesus set out to follow Jairus to his home, a large crowd pressed around Him. During this journey, a woman suffering from a bleeding condition for twelve years touched Jesus' garment and was healed (Mark 5:25-34). This interruption, while demonstrating Jesus' compassion and power, delayed His arrival at Jairus's house.

The Message of Death

While Jesus was still speaking to the healed woman, messengers arrived from Jairus's house with devastating news: "Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher anymore?" (Mark 5:35). This message tested Jairus's faith, as the situation seemed beyond hope.

Jesus' Assurance and the Miracle

In response to the news, Jesus encouraged Jairus, saying, "Do not be afraid; just believe" (Mark 5:36). Upon arriving at Jairus's home, Jesus encountered mourners weeping and wailing. He assured them, "The child is not dead, but asleep" (Mark 5:39), a statement met with ridicule due to their certainty of her death.

Jesus took only Peter, James, John, and the child's parents into the room where the girl lay. In a moment of divine authority, He took her by the hand and said, "Talitha koum!" which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" (Mark 5:41). Immediately, the girl stood up and began to walk around, to the astonishment of all present.

Significance and Theological Insights

The restoration of Jairus's daughter is a powerful demonstration of Jesus' authority over death, affirming His identity as the Son of God. This miracle not only highlights Jesus' compassion and willingness to respond to faith but also serves as a foreshadowing of His own resurrection and the promise of eternal life for believers.

Jairus's account encourages believers to maintain faith in Jesus' power, even in seemingly hopeless situations. It underscores the importance of approaching Christ with humility and trust, confident in His ability to bring life and restoration.Matthew 9:18,23-26
While he spoke these things to them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay your hand on her, and she shall live.
Nave's Topical Index

Mark 5:22-43
And, behold, there comes one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,
Nave's Topical Index

Luke 8:41-56
And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and sought him that he would come into his house:
Nave's Topical Index

Jairus' Daughter.
... the ruler's house, who said to Jairus, "Thy daughter is already ... when Jesus heard
it He turned to Jairus and said ... Only believe, and she shall be restored to life ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the new testament/jairus daughter.htm

Raising of Jairus's Daughter. --And of the Widow's Son at Nain.
... he spoke to the maiden the life-inspiring words ... in the case; false, because he had
restored the maiden ... miracle akin to the raising of Jairus's daughter, which is ...
/.../section 134 raising of jairuss.htm

The General Observations are These.
... house of Jairus was the greatest concourse of the three. There were not indeed so
many present at speaking the word, when his daughter was restored to life. ...
/.../section i the general observations.htm

Answer to Mr. W's Fourth Objection.
... Speaking of Jairus's daughter, he says: p.27. ... If she was really dead, (as she certainly
was) and was restored again to life, it is with all men of sense ...
/.../section iv answer to mr.htm

Particulars
... it had been most unreasonable to disswade Jairus from troubling ... not died instead
of their own daughter; three of ... was the cause of her sorrow, restored to life. ...
/.../section ii particulars.htm

Answer to Mr. W's Third Objection.
... Jesus might have immediately healed the daughter of Jairus (as ... viii.) upon Jairus's
coming to him, and desiring him ... whom they wished to have restored again to ...
/.../section iii answer to mr.htm

Conclusion
... raised person to her, to whom his life was the ... was her son or another, that was restored
to her ... with that I observed before in the account of Jairus's daughter. ...
/.../section iii conclusion.htm

Of the Absence of any Antagonism Between Matthew and Mark, or ...
... be an exception, in the recital of which the evangelist has mentioned by name Jairus,
the ruler of the synagogue, whose daughter Jesus restored to life. ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter lxv of the absence of.htm

The Reward of the Righteous
... to be a mere man) came to the house of Jairus, in order to raise his daughter from
the ... Many of those who have been restored to life (no less than eleven ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 99 the reward of.htm

Answer to Mr. W's Second Objection.
... of what use and advantage were their restored lives to ... persons, whom Jesus cur'd
or restor'd to life. ... And of Jairus's daughter, and of the widow of Naim's son ...
/.../section ii answer to mr.htm

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