“While 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.” Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” When 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. Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭49‬-‭56‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We pick up the story of Jairus and his dying child again. 

In the interim, Jairus’s daughter died. What did the father feel about the interruption that lead to his child’s death? Was he angry, bitter against the woman, especially because it was a woman who had caused the delay? Little did he know that Jesus was weaving a complex situation into a perfect process. 

Jesus was about to step into a home where death had occurred. As a rabbi, it was unlawful for Him to do so. When the sick woman touched Him, she had automatically made Jesus “unclean” according to the law. Jesus asked…loudly…twice, “Who touched me?” Didn’t He know? Of course He knew! 

He wanted to ensure that the people around Him would know that He was ceremonially unclean. Therefore, for Him to go into the room where a dead body lay wouldn’t matter because He was already “unclean”!

Jesus took with Him His three most trusted disciples and the parents of the child as witnesses to what He was about to do. Just as the healing of the woman was connected to the prophetic word about His tallith, so the tallith would again play a central role in the healing of the little girl. 

“But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up.”

What did Jesus say to her? The words in Aramaic are translated, “Child, get up!” However, if we examine the words carefully…

“He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭5‬:‭41‬ ‭

…they can mean either…

“Talita koum!…”Child, get up!”…or

“Tallith, ha koum!”…“The tallith is here,” depending on the punctuation…

Which translation is more likely?

Since we have already seen how the faith of the woman was in the prophetic word about the Messiah’s wings…kanaph…the corners of the tallith…

“But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays (wings…kanaph – corners of the tallit – prayer shawl). And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.”

‭‭Malachi‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…Isn’t it logical that Jesus would refer to His tallith as the symbol of her healing as well? 

Of course, Jairus, as a man well- educated in the Tanach, the Hebrew Scriptures, would immediately get the connection. Is that not the reason for Jesus’ warning…

“Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.”

As usual, Jesus’ method was to convince people that He was the Messiah by aligning Himself with prophecy rather than by what one person told another.  

So, we have an amazing story of two suffering people, beginning twelve years previously and woven together into one continuous whole. Together, they bear witness, again, to the readers of Scripture that what Jesus had done perfectly confirmed who He was, the Messiah, the Son of God. 

To be continued…