Luke 8:49-56

Butler's Comments

SECTION 5

In Eternity (Luke 8:49-56)

49 While he was still speaking, a man from the ruler's house came and said, Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more. 50But Jesus on hearing this answered him, Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well. 51And when he came to the house, he permitted no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. 52And all were weeping and bewailing her; but he said, Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping. And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54But taking her by the hand he called, saying, Child, arise. 55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once; and he directed that something should be given her to eat. 56And her parents were amazed; but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Luke 8:49-53 Only Believe: Jairus had been following Jesus closely all the time. No doubt Jairus was growing more anxious for his daughter's life moment by moment. While Jesus was still speaking to the woman healed of her issue of blood Jairus was standing next to Jesus in the pushing, pressing multitude. Suddenly, pushing through the crowd, came someone from Jairus-' house (he was the ruler of a synagogue in Capernaum and a very important man of the community) blurting out the shocking news, Your little daughter is dead, do not vex the teacher any longer. There was no doubt on the part of the messenger that the little girl was dead for he used the Greek word tethneken, a perfect tense verb which indicates the child had died before he left the house and was even now dead. Jairus must have been pestering Jesus constantly to hurry up to this house for the Greek word skulle (trouble) literally means to flay off the skin of someone and so in a figurative way means to agitate, vex, annoy, distress.

Jesus, hearing the shocking announcement, spoke directly to Jairus (Gr. apekrithe, answered him), rather tersely, Do not fear, only believe and she will be saved. The Greek word translated well, is sothsetai, the future tense of sodzo, meaning, to save, to make whole. It is the same word Jesus used with the woman with an issue of blood. Jesus did not explain how the child would be saved or who would do the savingHe implied that Jairus was simply to trust Him and all would be well. Arriving at Jairus-' house, Jesus entered the house with only Peter, John and James, and Jairus and his wife (cf. Mark 5:37). Inside the house was pandemonium; flute players (Matthew 9:23), a tumult (Mark 5:38), and a crowd of people weeping and bewailing the child loudly (the Greek word, thorubon, translated tumult in Mark 5:38-39, literally means, loud, deafening noise, confusion). Confusion, loud wailing, flutes playing funeral dirges, and rooms packed with curiosity-minded people was in no way conducive to the majestic, yet privately tender thing Jesus was about to do, so He put them all outside (Mark 5:40), He commanded them (Gr. anachoreite, imperative mood), You all withdraw (Matthew 9:24) for she is not dead but is sleeping.

Jesus knew He was going to clear the house of all the confusion and noise by ordering the mourners outside. What he was going to do needed to be done, for the sake of the parents and the girl, as privately as possible. This was no time for even more confusion and uproar, well-intentioned though it might be. At the same time, Jesus wanted eyewitnesses to the event whose personal involvement might not later be challenged as it might if the father and mother themselves were the only witnesses. These three disciples would be impersonal and objective in their observance. Furthermore, it is evident from Luke 8:56 that Jesus wanted as little publicity of this miracle as possible because it would simply attract more and more multitudes seeking only healing, and intensify official opposition, (cf. also Matthew 9:26). If people wanted to believe and trust Jesus for forgiveness and salvation, He had already done enough miracles. Jesus did not have to heal every single sick person in the world to establish His power and faithfulness to keep His promise to forgive. As a matter of fact, the more physical healing that took place, the more people tended to seek it and neglect the cleansing of their souls unto salvation.

Why would Jesus say the child was sleeping when it was plain to everyone present she was dead? As G. Campbell Morgan puts it, From Christ's viewpoint that is not death which we call death. When the spirit has left the body, that is not death. Death is a deeper thing than that. Physical death is merely the separation of the spirit from the body. Jairus-' daughter still lived, somewhere, in another existence, absent from the body of flesh. Jesus wants everyone to know that the child is very much alive somewhere else, and that He has the power to bring her back from there to her fleshly body if He wishes. For Jesus, death is separation from God. Sin brings death in all its terrible reality. Death is separation from goodness, truth, purity, loveliness, wholeness and guiltlessness. Separation from God is by choice. Men may choose death or life. Life is by faith in God and His son. This little girl was not deadshe evidently believed in God and was still alive somewhere else. So Jesus simply used a figure of speech to describe the state of her present existence as one of rest (cf. Revelation 14:13)not unconsciousness. When He spoke to her, she heard and obeyed. Jesus has the power to speak to invisible spirits. But when Jesus said, She is sleeping the people laughed at Him. The Greek word is kategelon, literally, laughed-downin other words, they scorned Him or ridiculed Him.

Luke 8:54-56 Overwhelmingly Blessed: This miracle, as recorded by the gospel writers, demands an absolute decision about Jesus one way or another. Either He did raise this little girl from the dead or He is the world's biggest fraud. The account precludes any possibility of mythology or figurative language. Taking the girl by the hand, in the presence of her parents and three disciples, Jesus said (in Aramaic, Mark 5:41), Talitha cumi, which means, Little girl, I say to you, arise. Surely her parents knew whether she was dead or not. If Jesus simply pretended to raise her from the dead and did not, what a cruel trick He tried to play upon the bereaved parents. If she was not dead, what a cruel trick Jesus has played upon millions of believers (including His own contemporaries). If either of these propositions be true Jesus should not be considered a teacher worthy of following no matter how eloquent His doctrines. But Jesus is no fraud! He actually raised the girl from the dead.

The gospel writers record that the little girl got up immediately and walked and Jesus directed that she be given food to eat. All this proves beyond any doubt that it was a real resurrection and not a symbolic one. This was no spiritist seanceJairus-' daughter was no ghost! The parents were amazed with great astonishment (Mark 5:42). The Greek word exestesan is translated amazed but literally means, stand out from. In other words, the girl's parents were beside themselves with astonishment at what Jesus had done.

Why would Jesus enjoin the parents to tell no one what had happened? We have already discussed the probable reasons above. Matthew notes that the report of this miracle went through all that district (Matthew 9:26) so someone told. In the very next chapter of Luke's gospel we see that Jesus-' great popularity as a miracle-worker precipitates an official inquiry by the murderous Herod Antipas (Luke 9:7-9) and poses problems for the further conduct of a public ministry by Jesus (Luke 9:11-17; Mark 6:31-44; Matthew 14:13-21). These are the fundamental reasons Jesus wanted to keep a low profile as a miracle-worker.

STUDY STIMULATORS:

1.

What is the seed in the parable of the sower?

2.

What is Jesus saying generally about evangelism or proclamation of the gospel in the parable of the sower?

3.

How is the attempt of Jesus-' mother and brothers to see Him an illustration of the parable of the sower?

4.

How did Jesus evaluate the faith of His disciples during the storm at sea?

5.

How many demon-possessed men came to meet Jesus on the other side of the sea?

6.

Do you see a problem in the ethics of Jesus in allowing the demons to destroy a herd of swine? Why?

7.

In such a clamoring, pushing multitude in Capernaum, why was Jesus concerned that someone had touched Him?

8.

What implications, other than physical, did the woman's hemorrhaging have upon her life?

9.

Why did Jesus command the mourners to leave the house of Jairus?

10.

Why did Jesus say the little girl was asleep when she was dead?

11.

Why did Jesus tell the parents to tell no one what had happened?

IS THERE DEMON POSSESSION TODAY AS THERE WAS DURING THE TIME OF CHRIST'S INCARNATE MINISTRY?

By Paul T. Butler

It is my opinion that there is no demon possession of human beings today in the precise manner such as manifested in the phenomenal way it was during Christ's incarnate ministry (and perhaps as it was during the remainder of the ascendancy of the Roman empire).

It is my opinion that the binding of Satan in Revelation 20:1-6 was initiated and resulted from the redemptive work of Christ in His Incarnation. It was completed when the beast of the 4th universal empire (as Daniel predicted), Rome, fell. At that time, it is my opinion, demon possession, as manifested in the Gospels and Acts apparently was to cease. All binding of Satan is relative. He has always been bound to some degree or other due to the fact that God is Almighty. God is the only being who is Almighty. It is my opinion a part of Satan's binding has to do with the restriction imposed by God that Satan's demons are no longer able to possess human bodies as they were during the time of Christ's incarnation.

1.

To have this opinion does not mean I deny the power of Satan to deceive the minds of people today who deliberately choose to believe falsehood perpetrated by lying signs and wonders. If the definition of demon possession means simply that Satan has captured the minds of men by unbelief, I would agree.

Satan entered into Judas. (Luke 22:3 and John 13:27) but he was not what other scriptures describe as demon possessed.

2.

Do the alleged demons possessing people today ever enter into animals? (See Matthew 8:28-34; Luke 8:26-36; Mark 5:1-16.)

3.

Do the alleged demons possessing people today ever testify to the identity and deity of Christ or the messengers of Christ and what their work is? (See Acts 16:17; Acts 19:15; Matthew 8:29; Mark 1:24 and above references.)

4.

Do the alleged demons possessing people today ever speak out as recognizable separate individualsdefinitively separate from the human whose body they possess?

5.

How may demons (alleged) today be exorcised? Is the exorcism always miraculous and always instantaneous? If not, is it simply a matter of conversion by the power of the gospel regenerating the mind through preaching and teaching? When there is an unsuccessful exorcism, or casting out, are those possessed by alleged demons doomed to suffer such possession until they die?

6.

Only Jesus could give power to exorcise demons. That was a direct gift and a supernatural power. It apparently did not require being a born again believer to receive this powerJudas apparently was given this powerhe was one of the twelve (cf. Matthew 10:1; Matthew 10:8).

7.

On the other hand, many pseudo-faith-healers today, and ministers from all differing theological and doctrinal positions, claim they have cast out or exorcised demons. Whom are we to believe? Who has that power today among all who claim it? What are we to conclude from their claims? Who is to decide which are real demons and real exorcists? By what criteria?

8.

Demons in the scripture were not ecto-plasmthey were (and still are, in the abyss) real persons!

9.

The psychic powers of the human mind over matter have been well documented. What some think is demon possession could very well be such psycho-somatic phenomena. Voodooism, etc., may be classified under this heading.

10.

The most destructive power of the devil is not possession of a human body but a mind or soul (cf. Matthew 10:28). It appears that while demons possessed bodies of some humans during Christ's incarnationthe mind or soul of that person was not possessed. Demons merely troubled humans (Luke 6:18); they drove people to do, physically, what they did (Luke 8:29).

11.

Of all the miraculous gifts the Corinthian Christians were given, exorcism of demon possessed was not among them (I Cor. ch. 12-14).

12.

How do we know when someone is demon possessed? What is the criteria by which distinction is made between demon possession and epilepsy, mental illness, perverted maliciousness and crazed murderousness (e.g. Hitler, de Sade, etc.)?

13.

Is it not possible that all the mania for the occult and the practice of it is being used by the devil to get people to think he has powers which he does not really have (Revelation 13:13-15)?

14.

If demon possession could only come to those who were willingwas the little daughter of the Syro-Phoenician woman a willing victim? In other words, demon possession had nothing to do with the willingness of the possessed. Therefore, exorcism was not done by conversion but by the exercise of divine authority in a miraculous way.

15.

It seems apparent that only Jesus and the apostles, or specially endowed disciples (Luke 10:1-42) could exorcise demons. This they did, not by conversion but by miracle. There is no evidence from the scriptures that this miraculous power could be given by any other than Christ Himself and that while He was in His incarnate ministry.

16.

If miracles of healing, speaking in foreign languages, prophecy, including discernment of spirits (1 Corinthians 12:10), etc., ceased with the end of the New Testament era and the death of the apostles (or the ones to whom the apostles imparted these gifts), so that we can only be certain of the documented miracles of Scripture, then the same principle ought to be applied, for the same reason, to demon possession and exorcism. Otherwise, we are in a quandary to decide about -modern claims of demon possession and exorcism among religious groups from one end of the doctrinal spectrum to the other. There are also pagan exorcists making claims.

17.

There really is not any documentation of demon possession in the Old Testament such as occurred during the Incarnation (with an exception or two, e.g. King Saul).

18.

It appears, then, that demon possession in the precise manner in which it occurred during Christ's incarnate ministry was uniquely for the purpose of affording historical evidence that Christ (and His apostles) possessed the Sovereign Spirit of Godthat their message was one of victory and power over Satan and all of hell.

19.

A recent case in point, excerpts from article in Joplin, Mo., Globe, 3-8-81:

Catholic priests were attempting to rid an 11 year old boy in Brookfield, Conn. of demons. (The boy's name is unknown.)

A 19 year old friend was watching these sessions, challenged the demons to take me on. Control me. Leave this boy alone, acc. to tape recordings of the sessions. Arne Johnson was the friend.
Johnson allegedly stabbed to death a co-worker (Alan Bono) after Bono had quarreled at Bono's apartment.
Johnson is now pleading that he is not responsible for his acts because of demonic possession.
Ed and Lorraine Warren, who worked on the Amityville Horror case were asked to help the boy who appeared to be possessed (the 11 year old boy). The Warrens said they found movement of objects and frightening manifestations in the house. The Warrens said the boy was indeed possessed, and he seemed to be possessed off and on, 24 hours a day, said one family member. Tape recordings the Warrens made of some of the sessions have the boy making guttural and hissing sounds, cursing his mother, and threatening to stab and kill those present in the room.
Photographs of the sessions show family members attempting to restrain the boy, who the Warrens said seemed to have superhuman strength.
A priest named Virgulak was called to investigate the case; he has made several reports to the bishop of the diocese, but no public reports. He has declined to discuss the reports but said no formal exorcism has ever been requested or performed on the boy.
There were prayer sessions called a deliverance which is supposed to be a lesser form of exorcism that does not require approval of the bishop.
The Warrens say Johnson's attempts to help the boy were amateurish because the only way to order demons out of a person is by using the name of Jesus Christ.
Mrs. Warren said, ... (Johnson) he challenged what was within the child to take him onand none of us ever do that, not even priests. Problems with this account:

a.

Based on a number of begging the question statements such as, appeared to be., seemed to be., seemed to have., no public reports., supposed to be., approval of the bishop..

b.

In the name of Jesus means in the Bible, by the authority of Jesus. Does Roman Catholicism have the authority of Jesus to exorcise? The name of Jesus is to be used in exorcism by only those authorized to use it (cf. Acts 19:13-16). Whom are we to believe now has that authorization? What credentials do they present for it? Do such exorcists agree doctrinally with the Word of the Holy Spirit in the Bible? If not, are we to believe they have the power of the Spirit?

20.

There are two Old Testament prophecies, clearly Messianic, which predict the cessation of sorceries and soothsayers (Micah 5:12-13), and unclean spirits or demon-possession (Zechariah 13:2). Homer Hailey, in his book, A Commentary on the Minor Prophets, pub. Baker, sums up Zechariah 13:1-6 in these words, A fountain for sin and uncleanness will be opened for all the people. At that time the falsehood of idols will cease, prophesying will be discontinued, and the unclean spirits will pass out of the land. Mr. Hailey contends that Zechariah 13:1-9 is entirely Messianic and says, Once the foundation was laid and the new revelation was complete, the need for prophets would cease. Daniel indicates the same in a strong Messianic prophecy, when he said of the anointed one, the prince, that He would bring in everlasting righteousness, and seal up vision and prophecy. Likewise, unclean spirits, the antithesis of the prophets, would cease. In the conquest of Christ over Satan and his forces, unclean spirits have ceased to control men as they did in the time of the ministry of Christ and the apostles.

Of course, these prophecies from Micah and Zechariah do not preclude the attempts of human beings and Satan to try to deceive the world that demon possession and sorceries are still supernaturally viable. We believe the Bible clearly indicates what is alleged today to be supernatural demon possession is no longer a possibility. Lying wonders and deceiving signs remain very much a possibility so long as men and women refuse to believe and love the truth and prefer to believe what is false (see 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; 2 Timothy 4:3-4, etc.).

21.

The crucial and ultimate question about modern (alleged) demon possession is: Whose testimony is reliable? Whose testimony is inerrantly, infallibly reliable besides the testimony of the Scriptures? None! Any man today, without the inerrancy and infallibility of the Holy Spirit to verify his experience and accredit his testimony may be either deceived or a deceiver.

Applebury's Comments

Raising Jairus-' Daughter From the Dead
Scripture

Luke 8:49-56 While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Teacher. 50 But Jesus hearing it, answered him, Fear not: only believe, and she shall be made whole. 51 And when he came to the house, he suffered not any man to enter in with him, save Peter, and John, and James, and the father of the maiden and her mother. 52 And all were weeping, and bewailing her: but he said, Weep not; for she is not dead, but sleepeth. 53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he, taking her by the hand, called, saying, Maiden, arise. 55 And her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately: and he commanded that something be given her to eat. 56 And her parents were amazed: but he charged them to tell no man what had been done.

Comments

While he yet spake.Jesus was still speaking to the woman who had just been miraculously healed when one came from Jairas-' home to give him the tragic news, Thy daughter is dead. Perhaps we now see why Jesus had not let that miracle go unnoticed. The messengers said hopelessly, Do not trouble the Teacher.

But Jesus hearing it, answered him.He had already given them a reason to hope. Now He said, Fear not; only believe, and she shall be made well. He wanted them to believe what they had seen and to have hope that He would perform this miracle also.

And when he came to the house.He allowed only Peter, John, and James, and the father and mother of the child to enter the house with Him. The crowd had already seen the wonder of healing the woman in their midst. Jesus did not work miracles merely to be spectacular. His miracles were done primarily to prove that the message He taught came from God. See Hebrews 2:3-4.

All were weeping.Inside the house, He met the usual mourning that accompanied death. He said to the mourners, Stop crying. She did not die, she is sleeping. That turned their mourning to scornful laughing, for they knew she was dead.

But he, taking her by the hand.Without further rebuke, Jesus gently took the hand of the dead child and said, Child, arise. Luke simply adds, Her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately, and He directed them to give her food.

And her parents were amazed.Nothing is said about those who had laughed at Him in the presence of death. Did anyone of them have the grace to apologize to the Lord? Were they ashamed of what they had done? Did they acknowledge the miracle as the woman in the crowd had done? The parents were amazed. Thus in simple words, Luke tells about the effect of this wonderful miracle. Their gratitude must have been unlimited, but Jesus told them to say nothing of what had happened.

Summary

Jesus and His disciples were on one of the many tours that took them through the villages and towns of Galilee. Certain women whom He had healed accompanied them and ministered to the group.
On one occasion a crowd gathered and He taught them in parables. The parable of the sower showed them that the Word of God is the seed. Four classes of hearer were described by Jesus, but the ones who heard and understood produced the harvest.
The parable of the lamp explained that Jesus intended them to understand His words, for a lamp lets people see. He warned them to be careful how they heard.
On another occasion when He was teaching, His mother and brothers asked for Him; but He said that those who hear the word of God and do it are the members of His family.
The pressures of His busy ministry made it necessary for Him to get away for some rest from time to time. Jesus and the disciples got into a boat, and Jesus said, Let's go to the other side. As they set out, He fell asleep. A sudden storm was about to sink their boat. The fearful disciples awoke Him. He rebuked the winds and waves and a calm set in. In reverent wonder they said, Who is this who speaks to the winds and waves and they obey Him?
They were met by a demon-possessed man as they landed on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus cast out the legion of demons and allowed them to enter a herd of swine that was feeding nearby. The swine rushed over the cliff and drowned in the sea. People came to see what had happened and were amazed to find this one whom they had never been able to control sitting calmly at Jesus-' feet. Fear seized them and they asked Jesus to leave. As He was getting into the boat, Jesus said to the man, Go to the people of your house and city and tell them about the great things God has done for you.
The daughter of a ruler of the synagogue was dying. Jairus, the father, asked Jesus to come to his home and help him.
On the way, a woman from the crowd that was following touched Him and was immediately healed.
On arriving at the home of Jairus, they were told that the child was dead. Jesus took Peter, James and John and the parents and entered the house. Taking the girl by the hand, He said, Child, arise. Her spirit returned and she arose. He said, Give her something to eat, but say nothing to anyone about what has happened.

Questions

1.

Where did Jesus conduct His teaching ministry?

2.

What do the Scriptures indicate about preaching in the great centers of population?

3.

What did Jesus and the disciples preach?

4.

How were they supported?

5.

What are the known facts about Mary Magdalene?

6.

How explain her loyalty to Christ?

7.

What is a parable?

8.

Why did Jesus speak in parables?

9.

What do the four types of soil represent?

10.

What is represented by the seed?

11.

How did the disciples learn the meaning of the parable of the sower?

12.

What bearing does this have on understanding figurative language of the Bible?

13.

What is meant by mysteries of the kingdom?

14.

What lesson is taught by the parable of the sower?

15.

How does the parable of the Lamp continue the lesson of the parable of the Sower?

16.

What lesson is taught by the parable of the Lamp?

17.

What was the attitude of Jesus-' brothers toward Him during His ministry?

18.

Why did Jesus and the disciples start across the sea?

19.

What changed their view?

20.

What lesson did Jesus teach about spiritual kinship?

21.

What is known about storms on the Sea of Galilee?

22.

What effect did the miracle of stilling the storm have on the disciples?

23.

Why did Jesus ask, Where is your faith?

24.

Where is the country of the Gerasenes?

25.

What proof that the man was demon-possessed?

26.

Why did the people ask Jesus to leave?

27.

What did Jesus say to the man who wanted to go with Him? Why?

28.

Who was Jairus?

29.

What did he ask Jesus to do?

30.

What happened on the way to his house?

31.

Why did the woman in the crowd have faith that Jesus could heal her?

32.

How does this differ from the lack of faith that kept the disciples from casting out the demon from the epileptic boy?

33.

Why did Jesus ask, Who touched me?

34.

When did they learn that the daughter of Jairus was dead?

35.

Why did He say, Fear not; only believe, and she shall be made well?

36.

Why did He limit those permitted to enter the home?

37.

What did He do in raising the child from the dead?

38.

What was the effect of the miracle on the parents?

39.

What restriction did Jesus place on them? Why?

40.

What about those who had laughed at Him in the presence of death?