Jairus

February 26, 2019

Jesus said that she was sleeping (Lk 8:52-8:52)

“They were all weeping.

And wailing

For her.

But Jesus said.

‘Do not weep!

She is not dead,

But sleeping.’”

 

ἔκλαιον δὲ πάντες καὶ ἐκόπτοντο αὐτήν. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν Μὴ κλαίετε· οὐκ ἀπέθανεν ἀλλὰ καθεύδει.

 

Luke said that all the people were weeping and wailing for the young girl (ἔκλαιον δὲ πάντες καὶ ἐκόπτοντο αὐτήν).  However, Jesus told them (ὁ δὲ εἶπεν) not to weep (Μὴ κλαίετε).  She was not dead (οὐκ ἀπέθανεν), but sleeping (ἀλλὰ καθεύδει).  This episode of the crowd outside the house of Jairus with the dead or sleeping girl is similar to what can be found in Mark, chapter 5:38-39, and Matthew, chapter 9:23-24.  Mark said that Jesus came to the house of this synagogue leader, where he saw this crowd commotion.  The people were weeping and wailing loudly, definitely mourning for the dead young girl.  Jesus then asked them why they were making such a big tumult?  Why were they weeping?  The girl was not dead, but only sleeping.  Matthew said that Jesus arrived at this leader’s house, where he saw the mourning flute players.  This is the only time that this word for flute players (αὐλητὰς) is found in the biblical literature.  Neither Mark or Luke mentioned anything about flute players.  The crowd was agitated.  Jesus told them to go away, since the girl was not dead, but only sleeping.  How do you handle the death of others?

February 26, 2019

The favorite apostles (Lk 8:51-8:51)

“When he came

To the house,

Jesus

Did not allow anyone

To enter with him,

Except Peter,

John,

And James,

Along with the child’s

Father

And mother.”

 

ἐλθὼν δὲ εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν οὐκ ἀφῆκεν εἰσελθεῖν τινα σὺν αὐτῷ εἰ μὴ Πέτρον καὶ Ἰωάνην καὶ Ἰάκωβον καὶ τὸν πατέρα τῆς παιδὸς καὶ τὴν μητέρα.

 

Luke said that Jesus came to the house (ἐλθὼν δὲ εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν) of Jairus.  He did not allow anyone to come with him (οὐκ ἀφῆκεν εἰσελθεῖν τινα σὺν αὐτῷ), except Peter, John, and James (εἰ μὴ Πέτρον καὶ Ἰωάνην καὶ Ἰάκωβον), along with the child’s father and mother (καὶ τὸν πατέρα τῆς παιδὸς καὶ τὴν μητέρα).  This was not to be a big scene.  Mark, chapter 5:37, was similar to Luke here.  Mark said that Jesus did not allow anyone to go with him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.  These were Jesus’ 3 favorite trusted apostles.  Mark did not mention the girl’s parents like Luke, but that might be presumed.  Matthew said nothing about these 3 favorite apostles.  The other disciples and apostles were excluded from this excursion to heal the young girl.  Do you have favorite people in your life?

February 24, 2019

The only daughter of Jairus (Lk 8:42-8:42)

“Jairus had

An only daughter,

About twelve years old.

She was dying.

As Jesus went,

The crowds

Pressed in on him.”

 

ὅτι θυγάτηρ μονογενὴς ἦν αὐτῷ ὡς ἐτῶν δώδεκα καὶ αὐτὴ ἀπέθνῃσκεν. Ἐν δὲ τῷ ὑπάγειν αὐτὸν οἱ ὄχλοι συνέπνιγον αὐτόν.

 

Luke said that Jairus had an only daughter (ὅτι θυγάτηρ μονογενὴς ἦν αὐτῷ), about 12 years old (ὡς ἐτῶν δώδεκα).  She was dying (καὶ αὐτὴ ἀπέθνῃσκεν).  As Jesus went (Ἐν δὲ τῷ ὑπάγειν αὐτὸν), the crowds pressed in on him (οἱ ὄχλοι συνέπνιγον αὐτόν).  This episode about the request from the synagogue leader about his daughter can be found in Matthew, chapter 9:18-19, but there this leader said that his daughter had just died.  Luke mentioned that Jairus’ daughter was 12 years old, but dying.  Mark, chapter 5:23-24, said that she was very sick, not dead.  Mark said that Jairus, the synagogue leader, begged Jesus, saying that his little daughter was near the end of her life.  He wanted Jesus to come and lay his hands on her, so that she would be cured and live.  This synagogue leader had a great belief in Jesus.  Jesus responded immediately, without saying anything.  Jesus simply got up and went with Jairus.  However, a large crowd also followed them, so that this crowd pressed against him.  Matthew said that Jairus spoke to Jesus telling him that his daughter had just died.  There was no mention of this in other two synoptic gospels.  In Mark, she was very sick, not dead.  However, his belief in the power of Jesus was clear.  He said that if Jesus came, he could lay his hand on her.  Then she would live.  This leader had a great belief in Jesus to raise the dead.  Jesus then responded immediately, without saying anything.  He simply got up with his disciples.  They followed this leader.  Do you believe in the power of Jesus?

September 7, 2018

Everyone was upset (Mk 5:38-5:38)

“When they came

To the house

Of the leader

Of the synagogue,

Jesus saw a commotion.

People were weeping

And wailing loudly.”

 

καὶ ἔρχονται εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ ἀρχισυναγώγου, καὶ θεωρεῖ θόρυβον, καὶ κλαίοντας καὶ ἀλαλάζοντας πολλά,

 

This episode of the crowd outside the house of Jairus is similar to what can be found in Matthew, chapter 9:23, and Luke, chapter 8:52.  Mark said that Jesus came to the house of this synagogue leader (καὶ ἔρχονται εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ ἀρχισυναγώγου).  He saw the commotion of the crowd (καὶ θεωρεῖ θόρυβον), as the people were weeping (καὶ κλαίοντας) and wailing loudly (καὶ ἀλαλάζοντας πολλά), definitely mourning for the dead young girl.  Matthew also mentioned mourning flute players, but that was not here or in Luke.

September 7, 2018

Jesus takes his three trusted apostles (Mk 5:37-5:37)

“Jesus allowed

No one

To follow him,

Except Peter,

James,

And John,

The brother of James.”

 

καὶ οὐκ ἀφῆκεν οὐδένα μετ’ αὐτοῦ συνακολουθῆσαι εἰ μὴ τὸν Πέτρον καὶ Ἰάκωβον καὶ Ἰωάνην τὸν ἀδελφὸν Ἰακώβου.

 

Luke, chapter 8:51, is similar to Mark, but only mentioned them when they were at the house of Jairus.  Mark said that Jesus did not allow anyone to go with him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.  These were Jesus’ 3 favorite trusted apostles.  The other disciples and apostles were excluded from this excursion to heal the young girl.

April 8, 2018

The visit of the leader (Mt 9:18-9:19)

“While he was saying

These things to them,

A leader came in.

He knelt before him.

Saying,

‘My daughter

Has just died.

But come!

Lay your hand

On her!

Then she will live.’

Jesus got up.

He followed him,

With his disciples.”

 

Ταῦτα αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος αὐτοῖς ἰδοὺ ἄρχων εἷς προσελθὼν προσεκύνει αὐτῷ λέγων ὅτι Ἡ θυγάτηρ μου ἄρτι ἐτελεύτησεν· ἀλλὰ ἐλθὼν ἐπίθες τὴν χεῖρά σου ἐπ’ αὐτήν, καὶ ζήσεται.

καὶ ἐγερθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἠκολούθει αὐτῷ καὶ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ

 

This episode about the healing of the ruler’s daughter can be found in Mark, chapter 5:21 and Luke, chapter 8:40, except that there this leader had a name, Jairus, the leader of the synagogue.  Here, he is only called a generic leader or ruler (ἄρχων).  Apparently, this took place while Jesus was speaking to the people about his sayings (Ταῦτα αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος αὐτοῖς).  This unnamed leader or Jarius came and knelt before Jesus (ἰδοὺ ἄρχων εἷς προσελθὼν προσεκύνει αὐτῷ).  He then spoke to Jesus telling him that his daughter had just died (λέγων ὅτι Ἡ θυγάτηρ μου ἄρτι ἐτελεύτησεν).  There is no mention of her age here as in Luke, where she was 12 years old.  In Mark, she was very sick, not dead.  However, his belief in the power of Jesus was clear.  He said that if Jesus came (ἀλλὰ ἐλθὼν), he could lay his hand on her (τὴν χεῖρά σου ἐπ’ αὐτήν).  Then she would live (καὶ ζήσεται).  This leader had a great belief in Jesus to raise the dead.  Jesus then responded immediately, without saying anything.  He simply got up (καὶ ἐγερθεὶς) with his disciples (καὶ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ).  They followed this leader (ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἠκολούθει αὐτῷ).