Jesus Raises Jairus' Daughter
Talitha cumi — a little girl called back from death by the hand.
Jairus, a synagogue ruler, begs Jesus to heal his dying daughter. On the way word comes that she has died, but Jesus says, be not afraid, only believe. He takes her by the hand and says, Talitha cumi — damsel, arise — and she gets up and walks.
What happened
As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
Be not afraid, only believe.
And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
Talitha cumi... And straightway the damsel arose, and walked.
What it means
The story is interrupted by another — a woman healed of a long haemorrhage by touching Jesus' garment — and the delay is agonising for Jairus, because during it his daughter dies. Yet the interruption sets up the greater miracle: Jesus is never too late, even when death has already come.
Jesus' words to the grieving father are for every believer facing the worst news: be not afraid, only believe. He clears the mourners out, takes the child's cold hand — again the willingness to touch what others would not — and speaks to her as gently as a parent waking a sleeping child: Talitha cumi.
Mark preserves the Aramaic words Jesus actually spoke, as if the moment was too precious to translate. That Jesus calls death sleep, and wakes the girl with a word, reveals his authority over the grave — and his tenderness within it. His final instruction, that something should be given her to eat, shows the same care for a child's ordinary needs as for her life itself.