Jairus
Jairus is a ruler of the synagogue whose daughter is dying when he meets Jesus. The narrative is preserved in Mark and Luke, and turns on the contrast between the public press of the crowd and the private room where the girl is raised. Jairus is named in connection with this single episode within the surveyed witness; the office and the act of falling at Jesus' feet stand together as his introduction.
A Ruler at Jesus' Feet
Jairus appears as one of the rulers of the synagogue. Mark introduces him by name and office in the same breath, and his first act is bodily: "And there comes one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and seeing him, he falls at his feet" (Mark 5:22). The plea is urgent and concrete — "My little daughter is at the point of death: [I pray you], that you come and lay your hands on her, that she may be made whole, and live" (Mark 5:23). Luke gives the same posture and the same request: "he fell down at Jesus' feet, and implored him to come into his house" (Luke 8:41), and adds the note that the girl was an only begotten daughter, about twelve years of age, and dying (Luke 8:42).
The Crowd and the Interruption
Jesus goes with him, and the multitude follows and thrones him (Mark 5:24; Luke 8:42). The journey to the house is interrupted by a woman who has had a discharge of blood twelve years. She comes up behind Jesus in the crowd and touches his garment, and is immediately healed (Mark 5:25-29; Luke 8:43-44). Jesus stops the procession to find her: "Who touched my garments?" (Mark 5:30); "Someone did touch me; for I perceived that power had gone forth from me" (Luke 8:46). The woman comes forward fearing and trembling, falls down before him, and tells him the truth (Mark 5:33; Luke 8:47). Jesus dismisses her with the word that anchors the larger episode: "Daughter, your faith has made you whole; go in peace" (Mark 5:34; cf. Luke 8:48). The interruption holds the Jairus story open, and the language of "daughter" and "faith" carries directly across into what follows.
The Word in the Face of Death
While Jesus is still speaking to the woman, messengers come from the ruler of the synagogue's house. "Your daughter is dead: why do you trouble the Teacher any further?" (Mark 5:35); Luke gives the same notice — "Your daughter is dead; Don't trouble the Teacher any longer" (Luke 8:49). Jesus does not heed the word that has been spoken. He says to Jairus, "Don't be afraid, only believe" (Mark 5:36), and Luke records the added promise: "Don't be afraid: only believe, and she will be made whole" (Luke 8:50). The word is given to the father at the moment the messengers' word would have ended the journey.
The Inner Room
From the public road Jesus narrows the company. He allows no one to follow him except Peter, and James, and John the brother of James (Mark 5:37; Luke 8:51 names the same three together with the girl's father and her mother). At the house there is a tumult, with many weeping and wailing greatly (Mark 5:38; Luke 8:52). Jesus' word inside is the same in both accounts: "The child is not dead, but sleeps" (Mark 5:39); "she is not dead, but sleeps" (Luke 8:52). The mourners laugh him to scorn — Luke adds, "knowing that she was dead" (Luke 8:53; Mark 5:40). Jesus puts them all out and goes in where the child is, with the father and mother and the three disciples (Mark 5:40).
Talitha Koum
He takes the child by the hand. Mark preserves the Aramaic and translates it: "Talitha koum; which is, being interpreted, Girl, I say to you, Arise" (Mark 5:41). Luke gives the same address: "Girl, arise" (Luke 8:54). The girl rises immediately and walks; Mark notes that she was twelve years old (Mark 5:42), and Luke writes that "her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately" (Luke 8:55). The amazement is "great" (Mark 5:42); the parents are amazed (Luke 8:56). Jesus' two final instructions stand together at the close of both accounts: he commands that something be given her to eat (Mark 5:43; Luke 8:55), and he charges them that no one should know what had been done (Mark 5:43; Luke 8:56).