She is Not Dead, But Asleep

Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn't let anyone go with him except Peter, James, and John (the brother of James). When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw much commotion and weeping and wailing. He went inside and asked, "Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn't dead; she's only asleep." The crowd laughed at him. But he made them all leave, and he took the girl's father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying. Holding her hand, he said to her, ["Talitha koum,"] which means "Little girl, get up!" And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed. Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone what had happened, and then he told them to give her something to eat. Mark 5:37-43

Statue of St Francis of Assisi at Capernaum.
Thanking God for Miracles.

 The crowd laughed at Jesus, but He sent them away and did a miracle. He brought a twelve-year old girl back to life. Imaging how thrilled her parents must have been! And the number of lives that this miracle touched may have been very amazing, especially since this was the daughter of Jairus, a leader at the synagogue in Capernaum.  Think of the reaction of those wailers—the professional mourners who had seen the little girl dead—and now she was walking around, probably playing the next day like any other child. It was a true miracle. It happened immediately. Mark, who wrote this book, records many events in Jesus' ministry that happened...immediately. Mark was not one of the twelve disciples, but a close follower of Jesus. Look closely at the text. Jesus told the parents and His disciples who were with Him...don't tell. Jesus wasn’t ready for the world to know of His miracles. He knew there would be those who would want to kill Him. Just give her something to eat. Food is important to health. They probably gave her some fruit, hummus, and bread. A good Mediterranean diet.

 

There are a few raised from the dead stories that I can think of in the Old Testament. One involves a boy who Elijah brings back to life.

Then Elijah cried out to the LORD, "O LORD my God, why have you brought tragedy to this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?" And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the LORD, "O LORD my God, please let this child's life return to him." The LORD heard Elijah's prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he revived! 1 Kings 17:20-22   

Another Old Testament resurrection is the prophecy of the dried bones being brought back to life in Ezekiel.

Then he asked me, "Son of man, can these bones become living people again?" "O Sovereign LORD," I replied, "you alone know the answer to that." ... So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army. Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, 'We have become old, dry bones--all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.' Therefore, prophesy to them and say, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the LORD. Ezekiel 37:3, 10-13

Dry bones coming back to life. That is even more miraculous than this little girl’s life being renewed.

Dry bones indicate that death happened a long time ago…and here the Lord is renewing them with muscles and everything. They will need something to eat!

            What do you learn about Jesus from the Mark 5:37-43 scripture passage?

 

Prayer ~ Lord God, Thank You for Your amazing miracles…for this family in Capernaum and for families around the world who look to You for miracles with their children’s health. Please continue to bless, heal, and allow children to be renewed in Your love and strength.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation. Hebrews 2:10

 

© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

Portions reused from Banquet With The King blog, May 8, 2018.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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