Mark 5:35-43

Analysis of 5:35-43.

a While He yet spoke they come from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying, “Your daughter is dead. Why do you trouble the Master any further?” (Mark 5:35).

b But Jesus, overhearing the word spoken, says to the ruler of the synagogue, “Don't be afraid. Just go on believing' (Mark 5:36).

c And He allowed no one to follow with Him except Peter, and James and John, the brother of James (Mark 5:37).

d And they come to the house of the ruler of the synagogue and He sees a tumult, and great weeping and wailing (Mark 5:38).

e And when He was entered in He says to them (Mark 5:39 a).

d “Why do you make a tumult and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” And they laughed him to scorn (Mark 5:39 a).

c But he, having put them all out, takes the father of the child, and her mother, and those who were with him, and goes in where the child was (Mark 5:40 b).

b And taking the child by the hand he says to her “Talitha cumi”, which is being interpreted, ‘Young woman, I say to you, arise'. And immediately the young woman rose up and walked, for she was twelve years old, and they were immediately filled with great amazement (or ‘were amazed with a great amazement') (Mark 5:41).

a And He gave them strict instructions (charged them much) that no man should know this, and he commanded that something should be given her to eat (Mark 5:43).

Note that in ‘a' they are assured that the girl is dead, and in the parallel Jesus commands that she be given something to eat. In ‘b' Jesus encourages the ruler to believe, and in the parallel his faith is rewarded. In ‘c' only the favoured three are allowed in, and in the parallel the same applies along with the father and mother of the child. In ‘d' there is great tumult, and weeping and wailing, and in the parallel Jesus asks why the tumult and why they are weeping. Centrally in ‘e' the difference is that Jesus has entered in.