We continue our reflections on the supernatural works of Jesus. Today, we examine the raising of a young girl from the dead:
49While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore” 50Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” 51When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” 53They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened (Luke 8:49-56).
Jesus said to Jairus, the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed” (v. 50). When they arrived at his home, the professional mourners were already there, crying and wailing over the child's death. The Lord said to them, “Stop wailing; she is not dead but asleep.” They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead” (vs. 52-53). The Greek word translated as "laughed" in verse 53 describes a scornful, belly laugh filled with ridicule towards the words of Jesus. They were not novices at funerals; they knew she was not asleep and that this was no coma. What did Jesus mean when he said Jairus’ daughter was sleeping? The Scriptures clearly show that those who are part of the household of faith in Christ never die. They may lay our bodies in the ground, but believers in Christ remain very much alive at the point of departure from the body. Let's discuss a little about what happens upon death:
Some people believe that when a Christian dies, their soul sleeps, unconscious, until Christ comes for them at the resurrection. The Bible includes a few passages where Jesus refers to death for a Christian as “sleep.” Here’s one of them:
11After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up." 12His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." 13Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep (John 11:11-13).
Christ intentionally waited two days before He even left for Lazarus's tomb (John 11:6). The Lord aimed to demonstrate to the skeptics that He had authority over death. Jews believed that a dead person's spirit could linger near their body for up to two days before moving on to the afterlife. Lazarus was not merely sleeping in the tomb; he was indeed dead. Here’s what Jesus said regarding those who have placed their trust in Christ:
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25-26).
People are considered dead only if they have not entered a relationship with Christ (Ephesians 2:1, 5). The Scriptures state that, at this moment in heaven, there are the spirits of just men made perfect (Hebrews 12:23). In another passage, when Christ returns for His people at the rapture, “God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him" (1 Thessalonians 4:14). Their bodies remain in the grave, but the unseen part of our nature, that is, our spirit, is very much alive and with the Lord.
When I get into my car, it’s dead until I turn on the ignition. It won’t do anything at all without me driving it. In the same way, the real me consists of a spirit and soul that "drives" my body. Each person lives on beyond death. There’s more to life than just this body of flesh.
At a funeral, we bury something, not someone; it is the house, not the tenant, that is lowered into the grave. Verna Wright.
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands (2 Corinthians 5:1).
Paul the Apostle wrote: “We would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). Paul fully expected that the moment he was released from his body, he would go directly to be with the Lord. For those who believe in Christ, the body is "asleep" until the Lord's return. To be "absent" from the body means one's spirit goes to its eternal home—either heaven with the Lord or hell, separated from God for eternity.
The Lord took Jairus and his wife into the room with Him, along with His three closest disciples: Peter, James, and John:
54But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat (Luke 8:54-55).
When Jesus took the daughter's hand and told her to get up, Luke tells us that her spirit returned (v. 55). What a beautiful sight it must have been for those parents as her eyes flickered open, and she beheld the face of the Lord Jesus. Many of us reading these words will one day have that experience of closing our earthly eyes and seeing the Lord Jesus as we transition into eternal life. Where had the little girl been? Her body was lifeless on the bed before the Lord, yet her spirit had been elsewhere—with the Father in heaven. I hope to see you there. Keith Thomas
Taken from the Gospel of Luke series, click on 18: The Sick Woman and the Dead Girl.
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