In one city where Jesus came, the daughter of the leader, or ruler, in the synagogue was dying. Her father had no doubt heard Jesus teach, and knew the miracles He had done for so many, and he hurried to Jesus, asking Him to come to his house and heal his little girl.
But before they reached the home, messengers came to say the girl had died. They said, “Trouble not the Master.” They thought it was too late for Jesus to help, But the Lord knew differently: He told the father, “Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.”
They went on to the home, and found the friends and relatives weeping and bewailing the girl’s death. These people cried aloud when there was a death, because they knew death had come into the pleasant earth God had made, because God was disobeyed. Now, people decorate the room, and the dead person, to hide that death is a sad thing.
Power Over Death
Then by the law of God whoever touched a dead person was “defiled,” or “unclean” not fit to enter the temple or worship God, until cleansed as the law required, (Numbers 19:1-131And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 2This is the ordinance of the law which the Lord hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke: 3And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face: 4And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times: 5And one shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn: 6And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer. 7Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even. 8And he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even. 9And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin. 10And he that gathereth the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: and it shall be unto the children of Israel, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them, for a statute for ever. 11He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days. 12He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean. 13Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him. (Numbers 19:1‑13)). But even the animal, without spot, or blemish, slain for their cleansing, was a symbol of Christ. He would by His own death deliver them from fear of death and cleanse them from the sin which caused death (Hebrews 2:14-1514Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14‑15)).
Even then Jesus had power over death, and did not hesitate to go near or touch the dead. He was holy and could not be defiled (Hebrews 7:2626For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; (Hebrews 7:26)). So that day He went into the room, and took the little girl by the hand, and said to her, “Arise.” Her spirit came again to her body; and she arose to the great joy of her father and mother.
The Lord did not want this great act told, perhaps so that people would not follow Him merely to see a miracle. But He brought great comfort to the father and mother who believed Him.
Jesus spoke of the girl as “asleep.” In our day those who die trusting Christ, their bodies are said to be “asleep” in Him; and their spirits already “present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Before He comes to call His people to meet Him in the air, there are still needy ones to save, as that day He and the anxious father could not pass quickly on the way, because of the crowd, and He stopped to speak to one poor woman.
Power Over Disease
This woman had had a serious sickness a long time, and no doctor could help her. She had heard of Jesus, and she thought if she could only touch His clothes, His power would heal her. So she pressed close behind Him in the crowd and touched the hem of His garment. Her great trust was rewarded; she was healed immediately.
But Jesus knew He had been touched by one who was needy, and He asked who had done it. The woman feared He was displeased, and trembled as she knelt before Him and told Him. But Jesus spoke most kindly to her: “Daughter (a friendly name), be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.”
Further Meditation
1. Under the law what happened to someone who touched a dead person?
2. The power of disease and death are all around us in our world. How should we respond when one or the other touches our own family? What resources has God given to us to face these big problems?
3. One particularly difficult circumstance in life is when a very young child dies. If you or a loved one have experienced it, you might find Your Little One Is in Heaven by J. B. Marchbanks to be a real help.