Luke 8:49-56 While he yet spoke, there comes one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Your daughter is dead… I. That sometimes while dealing with the Saviour the storm becomes darker than before. We cry for pardon, and feel a growing sense of guilt. We pray for sanctification, and the power of corruption seems to revive. We hope for deliverance, and our difficulties multiply. II. Let us never deem importunity in prayer troublesome. III. It is never too late to apply to the Lord. IV. The way to obtain present ease, and certain relief, is to exercise faith under every discouragement. How well are "Fear not" and "Believe only" coupled together! Our Saviour could have healed the child at a distance, and with a word; but He chooses to go "to the house of mourning" — to teach us to go there. A family in such a condition is a very affecting and improving object. We melt into pity as we see the emblems of death. The world loses its hold of our minds. "Weep not: she is not dead, but sleepeth." 1. He spake modestly. Another would have said, "Come; examine this patient; see, there are no remains of life in her — you will witness, before I begin, that there is nothing to aid my operations." But He would not magnify the action He was going to perform. He sought not His own glory. 2. He spake figuratively. Sleep is the term commonly, in the Scripture, applied to the death of all believers; and it is peculiarly just. Sleep is the pause of care — the parenthesis of human woe. 3. He spake in reference to His present intention. Instead of a burial she was going to be raised to life. 4. He said this also to try His hearers. Accordingly, it showed their disposition. Here we are led to note two things. First: How much more are men governed by their natural views and feelings than by the word of truth; and how easily are they befooled in Divine things by their sense and reason! Secondly: We observe that a serious state of mind is the best preparation for Divine truth. "A scorner," says Solomon, "seeketh knowledge, and findeth it not." After they had made a declaration, which they could not retract, concerning the certainty of her death, "He put them all out"; and, as the Resurrection and the Life, lie "took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise," when, lo! the fountain of life is warmed, the blood begins to liquefy and flow, the pulse beats again; she breathes; she looks — "her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and He commanded to give her meat."This order was to show — 1. The reality of the miracle, by the use of her faculties. 2. It evinced the perfection of the miracle: she was not restored to the state in which she died — that was a state of sickness, in which food was rejected; but to the state she was in before her disease — a state of health and appetite. 3. It was also to mark the limitation of the miracle: nothing further was to be done preternaturally; but her life, which had been restored by extraordinary agency, was to be preserved, as before, by ordinary means. It also distinguished this miracle from that of the final resurrection. The resurrection will produce a spiritual body, requiring neither sleep nor food; but this damsel was raised only to a natural life, subject to the same infirmities as that of other people, and liable to die again.Let us conclude. 1. If our Saviour so amazed the spectators, and honoured Himself, by the revival of one body newly dead, what will it be when He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe; when He shall speak, and "all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth — they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation"! Again: It is worthy of remark that of the three persons whom our Lord raised from the dead, Lazarus was the loved and only brother of Martha and Mary; the young man was the only son of his mother; and the damsel the only daughter of Jairus: so touched is He with the feeling of our infirmities; so much regard does He show to relative affection. (W. Jay.) Parallel Verses KJV: While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. |
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