From Death to Life - Oct. 19th, 2025

Passage: Luke 8:49–56 (KJV)

Luke 8:49–56 KJV

49 While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. 50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. 51 And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. 52 And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. 53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. 54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. 55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. 56 And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

Central Idea of the Text (CIT): Even after Jairus’s daughter died, Jesus demonstrated His divine authority over death by calling her back to life, validating His word and urging faith in the face of hopelessness.

Sermonic Proposition: Because Jesus Christ has authority over death itself, we must trust Him without fear and proclaim His life-giving power to a world dead in sin.

Purpose:

General: To encourage believers to deepen their faith in Christ’s power and to motivate a greater missionary zeal.

Specific: That each listener would confidently “fear not, believe only” in Jesus’s promise of life and be moved to share the gospel of His resurrection power with those who are lost.

Introduction

Death is often viewed as the final, unassailable enemy. When a loved one dies, hope seems extinguished and helpless grief sets in. Imagine a father’s anguish as he watches his only 12-year-old daughter slip away. Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, faced that very nightmare. In desperation he had fallen at Jesus’ feet, begging the Lord to come heal his dying child (cf. Luke 8:41-42). Jesus agreed to go, but along the way a crowd slowed Him and a sick woman interrupted Him. Every moment of delay made Jairus’s heart pound harder—until finally the dreaded news arrived: “Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master” (Luke 8:49). At that moment, it must have felt like all hope was lost. Perhaps some of us have felt a similar crushing despair when a situation in life seemed beyond hope.

But it is precisely in our most hopeless moments that the Lord often shines the brightest. Jesus was not troubled by this news. In fact, He had bigger plans that day than a healing—He would turn a tragedy into a testimony. This miracle, recorded in Luke 8:49–56, is far more than just the story of one little girl restored to her parents. It reveals Christ’s supreme authority over death and speaks to us today about faith and the mission we have. Remember, we are continuing our series in Luke, “Living in Light of Promise.” Jesus is about to give Jairus a promise to take hold of, a promise of life. And in the outcome, we will see why we, as Christ’s followers, can live boldly and share the gospel confidently. This third message in our Faith Promise Missions Emphasis month connects directly to our missionary calling: if Jesus can conquer even death, then the Good News we carry to the world is truly “from death to life.”

Let’s walk through the passage and watch the scene unfold. We will consider three movements in this story: Christ’s Authority Declared in a Promise, Christ’s Authority Doubted by the People, and Christ’s Authority Demonstrated over Death. Along the way, we’ll draw out historical insights, illustrate from Scripture, and apply these truths to our lives and our mission.

I. Christ’s Authority Declared | A Promise in the Face of Hopelessness (Luke 8:49–50)

A. The Hopeless Report (Lk. 8:49)

1. The arrival of the messenger (v. 49).

– Bad news delivered: “Thy daughter is dead.”

“While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master” (Luke 8:49). Just as Jesus was finishing speaking to the woman He had healed, a messenger arrived from Jairus’s house with devastating news.

2. The assumption of limitation (v. 49b).

– “Trouble not the Master”—they presumed death was final.

The wording “trouble not the Master” reveals the common assumption: now that the girl is gone, even Jesus can’t do anything. In their minds, death was final. Why bother Jesus any further? We can almost hear the resignation: “It’s too late. Don’t inconvenience the Teacher any more.” To them, Jesus’s power had a limit—it could maybe heal the sick, but death was beyond hope.

B. The Heavenly Response (Lk. 8:50)

1. Jesus intercepts despair with His word (v. 50a).

– “Fear not”—the antidote to panic.

At that very moment, “when Jesus heard it, he answered…Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole” (Luke 8:50). Here our Lord speaks a clear word of promise and command. First, the command: “Fear not: believe only.” Jesus knew the fear that was assaulting Jairus’s heart—the same fear that grips any parent or any person facing a seemingly hopeless crisis.

2. Jesus instructs faith over fear (v. 50b).

– “Believe only”—faith as the sole requirement.

He calls Jairus (and us) from fear to faith. Essentially, Jesus is saying, “Do not be afraid of what you hear or see; just keep on trusting Me.” Notice, He doesn’t elaborate or explain how things will work out; He simply redirects Jairus to trust His word.

3. Jesus issues a divine promise (v. 50c).

– “She shall be made whole”—guaranteed restoration.

Then comes the promise attached: “and she shall be made whole.” In the face of an absolute catastrophe, Jesus gives Jairus a sure promise of healing and restoration. The phrase “made whole” (Greek sōthēsetai, from sōzō) means to be saved or healed. It’s the same term Jesus used for the woman who had just been cured: “Thy faith hath made thee whole” (Luke 8:48). Here it implies the girl will be completely restored. What a gracious word of hope this must have been to Jairus! Jesus essentially says, “Only trust Me, and I promise your daughter will live.” This is Christ declaring His authority over the situation before the miracle happens. No one but God could rightfully make such a promise in the face of death—and Jesus does so calmly and confidently. He is, in effect, staking His divine authority on His word.

Put yourself in Jairus’s place. Moments ago, his world crashed down. Now Jesus looks him in the eye with unwavering calm: “Don’t fear—just believe—I’ve got this.” Jairus had initially shown faith by coming to Jesus; now that faith is being stretched and tested. Will he continue to trust Jesus even when circumstances scream that it's too late? This is a pivotal decision point. It reminds us of another time Jesus challenged someone to trust despite despair. In John 11, when Lazarus died, our Lord told Martha, “Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” (John 11:40). Faith must often precede sight. Jairus hasn’t yet seen the outcome, but he has Jesus’s promise. This is what it means to live in light of promise—taking Christ at His word even when all evidence is to the contrary.

C. The Historical and Spiritual Perspective

1. Cultural background of mourning and finality.

Historical Insight: In the first-century Jewish context, death was accompanied by the immediate beginning of mourning rituals. By the time a messenger could arrive to say, “she is dead,” the professional mourners would already be gearing up. It was customary to hire flute players and wailing women to lament loudly when someone died[1][2]. This culture treated mourning almost as an art form, with people literally teaching others how to wail (Jeremiah 9:20). Imagine the scene at Jairus’s home: the wails and funeral songs likely starting, neighbors crying—all signals that it’s over. Yet before Jairus even reaches that house of mourning, Jesus intercepts his despair with a firm word of promise.

2. Faith patterned after Abraham and Elijah: believing the impossible.

Biblical Illustration: Throughout Scripture, God often gives a word of promise in hopeless situations and calls people to trust Him. Think of Abraham: God told him that he and Sarah would have a son in their old age. When Sarah heard it, she laughed in disbelief at first (Genesis 18:12). It seemed impossible, hopeless—she was long past childbearing. But the Lord said, “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” (Gen 18:14). He gave a promise, and Abraham chose to believe God’s word, “being fully persuaded that, what [God] had promised, He was able also to perform” (Romans 4:20–21). In time, Isaac was born—the promise fulfilled. Jairus is in a similar moment: he has to decide if he believes nothing is too hard for the Lord, even raising the dead. Another example is when Elijah told the widow of Zarephath, “Fear not”, and to trust God’s word during a famine. She obeyed in faith and saw God miraculously provide (1 Kings 17:13–16). Over and over, the pattern emerges: “Fear not—trust God’s promise.”

3. Trust Christ’s word before you see results; “Fear not, only believe.”

Application: Dear brothers and sisters, Jesus’s words “Fear not: believe only” echo to us today. We all face moments when circumstances seem irreversible and hope seems gone. It might not be the death of a child (though it could be), but perhaps the “death” of a dream, the collapse of health, a broken relationship, or a lost soul we’ve been praying for. In ministry and missions, we sometimes encounter what appear to be hopeless cases—people hardened in unbelief, or unreached nations in spiritual darkness. It’s easy to grow fearful or cynical, thinking, “Nothing more can be done; don’t bother.” But the Lord says: Do not be afraid; only believe. Trust My power. Trust My timing. When God gives a promise, we must choose to live in the light of that promise, even before we see how He will work it out. He has promised, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5) and “my word…shall not return unto Me void” (Isaiah 55:11). He has assured us that “with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37).

For Jairus, “believe only” meant literally trusting Jesus to do what only God can do. For us, it may mean trusting Jesus through a grim diagnosis or persevering in prayer for a lost family member. In the context of our Missions Emphasis, it certainly means stepping out by faith to fulfill the Great Commission. When Jesus calls us to take the gospel to all nations, He precedes that call with a promise: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth… and, lo, I am with you alway” (Matthew 28:18, 20). That is His word to us. Are we acting on it without fear? Faith Promise giving, for example, is an area where Jesus says “fear not, only believe.” We may worry, “If I give sacrificially or commit to a missionary endeavor, will I have enough?” But if Christ is truly able even to conquer death, surely He can provide for the work of missions. Fear not! Trust Him. The same voice that said, “she shall be made whole” to Jairus says to us: “the gospel shall be victorious, lost souls shall be saved, only believe and obey.” We must not insult our Lord by assuming any situation or any person is beyond His reach. Instead, let’s take Him at His word. Christ’s authority declared in His promises demands our faith.

Jairus, to his credit, does not turn away or collapse in hopeless grief. He continues with Jesus to his home, clinging to that promise. Now we move to the next scene, where that faith is immediately challenged by the scorn of unbelief.

II. Christ’s Authority Doubted | The Scorn of Unbelief (Luke 8:51–53)

A. The Controlled Setting (Lk. 8:51)

1. Jesus restricts the witnesses (v. 51).

– Peter, James, John, and the parents only.

Upon arriving at Jairus’s house, Jesus confronts a tumult of mourning. Verse 51 tells us: “And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.”

2. Purpose of limitation: to foster faith, not spectacle.

Jesus limits the witnesses of what He’s about to do. Only His inner circle of three disciples and the girl’s parents are allowed inside with Him. Meanwhile, verse 52 paints the scene: “And all wept, and bewailed her.”

B. The Cultural Scene of Mourning (Lk. 8:52)

1. Professional mourners and loud lamentation (v. 52a).

The funeral is in full swing. Matthew’s Gospel notes there were flute players and a noisy crowd lamenting (Matthew 9:23). This was typical for that culture, even a poor family would hire at least a couple of musicians and mourners to loudly wail over the deceased. Jairus, being a synagogue ruler, likely had a sizeable group present, crying and carrying on. This display was meant as an honor for the dead, but it could also be quite showy. In fact, mourning had become such a ritual that professionals were trained for it[1].

2. Jesus interrupts the commotion with comfort (v. 52b).

– “Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.”

Into this mournful chaos, Jesus speaks a startling statement: “Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth” (Luke 8:52b). Can you imagine the hush that might have fallen, at least for a moment? The mourners knew a dead body when they saw one. The girl had certainly died; Luke the physician is writing this account and he doesn’t dispute the reality of her death. In fact, the text explicitly says they knew she was dead (Luke 8:53). Yet Jesus declares she is “not dead, but sleeping.” What did He mean?

By saying “she sleepeth,” Jesus was using a biblical metaphor for death that emphasizes its temporary nature in God’s eyes. He was not denying that she had physically died; rather, He was hinting that this death would not be permanent, it was like sleep because she would be awakened again. Often in Scripture, especially for believers, death is referred to as “sleep” because the body appears to be asleep and because there will be an awakening at the resurrection (e.g. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, John 11:11). Jesus used the same phrase about Lazarus: “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep” (John 11:11). The disciples didn’t get it then and the mourners don’t get it now. To Jesus, the girl’s death is nothing more final than an ordinary nap, because He has the power to wake her! This is a subtle proclamation of His authority over death. Only the Lord of life could rightly view death as a reversible sleep.

C. The Cynical Reaction (Lk. 8:53)

1. Scoffing unbelief replaces weeping (v. 53).

The crowd, however, responds with incredulity and mockery. “And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead” (Luke 8:53). Their weeping quickly turns into derisive laughter. Can you picture the cynical grins or even angry chuckles? To them, Jesus’s statement was absurd, perhaps even offensive, as if He were in denial or making light of the family’s grief. This reaction actually tells us a couple of things. First, it confirms the reality of the girl’s death: these people knew a corpse when they saw one, and they were so certain of it that they scoffed at any suggestion otherwise. Second, it exposes the utter unbelief in their hearts. Here is Jesus, the miracle-working Teacher, but they’ve drawn a line: He might heal the sick, but He cannot bring back the dead. To them, Jesus’s word sounded ridiculous, and so they mock Him openly.

We should pause and consider the dramatic contrast being shown. Inside that house we have two very different responses to Jesus’s words. On one hand, Jairus and his wife have heard Jesus say “Fear not, believe only,” and they are holding on to hope, however fragile, following Jesus into the room. On the other hand, the crowd of mourners responds to Jesus’s word with unbelief and ridicule. It’s a picture of faith versus scorn, believers versus skeptics. The same scenario plays out today whenever the gospel is preached: some believe and hold to Christ’s promise of life, while others laugh it off as folly. The Apostle Paul experienced this in Athens, when he preached that God raised Jesus from the dead, “some mocked” (Acts 17:32). To the Athenian philosophers, resurrection sounded like nonsense. In fact, Scripture says the message of the cross is “foolishness” to those who are perishing (1 Corinthians 1:18). Here, Jesus hasn’t even raised the girl yet, He’s merely hinted at it, and already the idea is met with scorn.

2. Their mockery confirms death’s reality yet exposes faithlessness.

Historical/Cultural Insight: The quick shift from loud wailing to laughter at Jesus’s expense reveals something about these mourners. If they were genuinely grief-stricken family members, they might have been confused or even angry at Jesus, but laughter suggests a certain mercenary or insincere element—likely the hired mourners who didn’t personally know the girl. They could turn the emotions on and off. One moment they simulate despair; the next they ridicule the Lord. In that culture it was not unusual for mourners to be paid and even professional, but it’s telling that they have no interest in Jesus’s words except to mock. Unbelief often comes packaged in scorn and cynicism. When people do not understand Christ’s power, they may resort to ridicule. We must also note Jesus’s response to this public derision of His promise: “And he put them all out” (Luke 8:54). The Lord would not perform this miracle in the midst of scorners. He removes the unbelieving crowd from the room, likely to silence the commotion and create an atmosphere of faith and reverent expectation. Only the faithful few remain to witness what He will do. This reminds us of a similar scene in Acts 9, when Peter came to pray over the body of Dorcas: he first “put them all forth” (all the weeping widows), then prayed and said, “Tabitha, arise,” raising her from death (Acts 9:40). Sometimes the Lord separates the faithful from the scornful when He is about to work, perhaps so that the faith of a few will not be shaken by the doubt of the many.

3. Sarah’s laughter turned to joy: God turns doubt to delight.

Biblical Illustration: The scorn of unbelievers in the face of God’s promises is a recurring theme. When Jesus said “she’s sleeping,” the crowd laughed. Go back to the Old Testament: when God told 90-year-old Sarah she would have a son, what did she do? She laughed within herself (Genesis 18:12). It was a laugh of incredulity: “Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?” But the Lord heard it and gently rebuked, “Wherefore did Sarah laugh? … Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” (Gen 18:13-14). Sarah denied laughing out of fear, but God knew. Interestingly, when the promise came true and Isaac was born, Sarah laughed again, this time with joy, saying “God hath made me to laugh” (Gen 21:6). Her laughter of doubt was turned to laughter of delight. Here in Luke, the mourners laugh at Jesus in doubt, but in a few minutes their mocking will be silenced by overwhelming astonishment. Another instance: when Jesus went to His hometown Nazareth and declared Himself the fulfillment of prophecy, the people basically scoffed, saying “Is not this Joseph’s son?” (Luke 4:22). Their unbelief led Jesus to do very few miracles there. Scorn shuts the door to experiencing Christ’s work. In Proverbs 3:34 we’re told God “scorneth the scorners: but giveth grace unto the lowly.” The lowly, believing Jairus and his wife would see grace; the proud scorners would be shut out.

4. Silence the voices of unbelief; trust Christ despite ridicule.

Application: How do we react to Christ’s words and works? Are we among the believing or the scornful? It’s easy to shake our heads at those laughing mourners, but unbelief can creep into our own hearts if we are not careful. When God’s Word declares a truth that challenges our natural understanding, do we trust it or inwardly scoff? For instance, the Bible teaches that Christ can give spiritual life to the deadest sinner, that “the gospel of Christ…is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Romans 1:16). Do we believe that, or have we quietly adopted the world’s skepticism that people don’t change or that certain individuals are beyond hope? Perhaps the world around us mocks the idea that Jesus is the only way of salvation or that He literally rose from the dead. They might laugh at our missionary zeal as foolishness: “You really think preaching about a crucified Jew from 2000 years ago can change lives today? Ha!” We’ve all seen that attitude. But we must not let the scorn of the unbelieving crowd deter us from clinging to Christ’s promise. Unbelief may laugh, but faith waits to see the Lord work. Jesus excluded the scoffers; similarly, we need to put out the voices of doubt in our minds and in our midst, and allow the Lord to work through our obedience.

In a missions context, this might mean not listening to the voice that says, “The Muslim world will never believe the gospel” or “This city is too secular to ever see revival” or “Our church can’t possibly send missionaries to that country, too dangerous, too difficult.” Those are the scoffing mourners speaking. Yes, those places and people are dead in trespasses and sins, but our Savior specializes in raising the dead! So let’s not join the laughter of unbelief. Instead, we continue to weep for the lost in compassion but simultaneously believe in Christ’s power to save them. When Jesus said the girl was “sleeping,” He implied that this story isn’t over. Likewise, as long as we have the gospel, no lost person’s story has to end in death.

Finally, consider also the personal application: Jesus told the weeping folks, “Weep not.” Of course, in human terms, their mourning was natural. But He spoke that because He knew what He was about to do. In our lives, how often do we weep and despair when God is on the verge of doing something marvelous? “Weep not,” says the Lord, trust Me. Perhaps you’ve been praying for a prodigal child or for an unsaved loved one. You’ve shed many tears. Don’t give up in despair, Jesus can still speak life. Keep praying, keep believing. Don’t let a hardened moment cause you to laugh bitterly and say “It’s no use.” The Lord might surprise you yet. He will have the last laugh over death and Satan, amen? Psalm 30:5 reminds us, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” For Jairus and his wife, their darkest night is about to turn into morning light.

So far, we have seen Christ declare His authority with a bold promise and we have seen that authority doubted and ridiculed by the unbelieving. Now we come to the climax: Jesus will demonstrate His authority in undeniable fashion.

III. Christ’s Authority Demonstrated | Victory Over Death (Luke 8:54–56)

A. The Personal Touch of Compassion (Lk. 8:54)

1. Jesus expels the scoffers (v. 54a).

The skeptics have been cleared from the room. A hush falls. Picture this intimate scene in verse 54: “And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.” There lies the little girl, still and pale. Her grieving mother clings to Jairus, tears still wet on their faces, hope and fear mingled in their eyes. Peter, James, and John watch intently, having never seen Jesus raise someone from death (this is the first instance recorded of Jesus raising the dead, the widow’s son at Nain in Luke 7 may have happened shortly before, but these three disciples likely didn’t witness that).

2. He takes the child’s hand (v. 54b).

– Contact that transmits cleansing, not defilement.

Jesus, with calm authority, takes the child’s lifeless hand in His own. That act itself is noteworthy. Touching a dead body according to the Law would render a person ceremonially unclean (Numbers 19:11). But Jesus is the Holy One who cannot be defiled. Instead of the death making Him unclean, His touch imparts life! Just as the woman in the previous passage found that touching Jesus’s garment brought her healing instead of impurity passing to Him, so here Jesus is not contaminated by death, He overcomes it. With a firm yet gentle grasp, our Lord holds the child’s hand.

B. The Powerful Word of Command (Lk. 8:55)

1. The simple authority of His speech (v. 54c).

– “Maid, arise”—divine command, not ritual.

Then He speaks: “Maid, arise.” Mark’s Gospel preserves the Aramaic words Jesus spoke, “Talitha cumi,” meaning “Little girl, I say unto thee, arise” (Mark 5:41). There is no lengthy incantation, no struggle, no drama, just a simple command. The same voice that stilled the storm with “Peace, be still,” the same voice that commanded demons to flee, now calls to the dead. Remember, Jesus had declared the girl was only “sleeping,” and now we see why: He wakes her with a word, as easily as you might wake your child in the morning saying, “Honey, it’s time to get up.” Such is the effortless authority of Christ over even our greatest enemy.

2. Immediate restoration of life (v. 55a).

Immediately, verse 55 reports the astonishing result: “And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.” In that instant, the barrier between life and death is shattered. The girl’s spirit, which had departed, returns to her body. She inhales a breath, her eyes open, color floods back into her cheeks. She sits up and then stands, completely well! There’s no lengthy recovery, no weakness; she gets up at once. This was a total restoration of life and health.

3. Practical confirmation—feeding the child (v. 55b).

– Physical evidence of complete wholeness.

Jesus then gives a practical instruction: “Give her something to eat.” This detail might seem minor, but it has significance. For one, it proves she is truly alive in a normal physical sense (ghosts don’t eat, and a body brought back from death isn’t a phantom). Also, after any serious illness (and certainly after death!), the body would be weak and in need of nourishment. Jesus shows tender care for the girl’s well-being. He attends not only to the spectacular miracle but also to the simple needs of life. Our Lord’s compassion operates on all levels. Incidentally, Jesus eating food after His own resurrection similarly demonstrated the reality of His risen body (Luke 24:42-43). Here, the girl’s eating would assure the witnesses that this was no illusion—she is truly back from the dead and ready to rejoin normal life.

C. The Parental Astonishment and Private Charge (Lk. 8:56)

1. The parents’ holy amazement (v. 56a).

Verse 56 then says, “And her parents were astonished.” Can you imagine the flood of emotion in that room? Moments ago, these parents were shattered by grief. Now they are overwhelmed with joyful amazement. The term “astonished” in Greek is a strong word indicating great wonder or ecstasy. Truly, Jesus had turned their mourning into dancing, their sackcloth of grief into garments of praise (Psalm 30:11). We can picture Jairus and his wife hugging their daughter, perhaps laughing and weeping for joy at the same time, while the three disciples stand speechless in awe of Christ. This is the power of our Savior on full display, resurrection power. The One who earlier said “only believe” has proven Himself completely trustworthy. Not one word of Christ falls to the ground.

2. Jesus’ command for secrecy (v. 56b).

– Purpose: humility, timing, avoidance of misplaced zeal.

Interestingly, the passage ends with, “but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.” This might sound surprising. Why would Jesus command silence after such a tremendous miracle? Wouldn’t this kind of news glorify God and lead more to believe? To understand, we recall that Jesus at this point in His ministry often urged people not to broadcast His miracles. There were practical reasons: He did not want to ignite a frenzy of misguided messianic expectations. Many Israelites were looking for a political Messiah who would use miraculous power to overthrow Rome. Jesus came first to suffer for our sins in humility. If reports spread that He was raising the dead, the crowds might try to crown Him king by force (cf. John 6:15). Also, massive crowds seeking miracles could hinder His movement and ministry (Mark 1:45). In this case, the miracle happened privately with only a few witnesses. No doubt people would soon figure it out when the girl walked out of the house alive! But Jesus charges the parents and disciples to keep it as quiet as possible. There is a timing to His self-revelation. Ultimately, after His own resurrection, Jesus would indeed commission His followers to tell everyone about His power over death, but until that hour, He often imposed what scholars call the “messianic secret.”

D. The Doctrinal and Missional Implications

1. Christ’s deity confirmed—only God “maketh alive.”

Now, let’s unpack the significance of what we’ve just witnessed. Jesus has authority over death. This cannot be overstated. In the Old Testament, the power to give life or take it was reserved to God alone. “I am He…there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive” says the LORD in Deuteronomy 32:39. Hannah sang, “The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up” (1 Samuel 2:6). By raising this girl with a word, Jesus is plainly demonstrating His divinity and Messiahship. It fulfills what was prophesied of Messiah’s era, the dead would be raised (Luke 7:22, echoing Isaiah 26:19). In the context of Luke’s Gospel, this miracle is one of a series where Christ shows His dominion over every realm: He calmed the storm (power over nature), cast out a legion of demons (power over the spiritual realm), healed a chronic disease (power over sickness), and now raises the dead (power over death). Truly, there is no limit to His might. It’s also a foreshadow of the greater victory to come when Jesus Himself would rise from the dead, conquering sin and death for all time. Jairus’s daughter was raised back to mortal life (she would later die again some day), but Christ’s own resurrection would be to immortal life, securing our eternal hope.

2. Preview of His own resurrection and ours.

Biblical Illustration: We can compare this miracle to other resurrections in Scripture. In the Old Testament, the prophets Elijah and Elisha each, by God’s power, raised a young child who had died (1 Kings 17:21-23, 2 Kings 4:32-37). But in those cases, the prophets stretched themselves out and prayed repeatedly for the child. Here, Jesus simply speaks and life returns. His authority is personal and direct. Later, Jesus would also raise the widow’s son at Nain (Luke 7:11-17) and His friend Lazarus after four days in the tomb (John 11). Each time, it is the voice of Jesus that calls the dead to life. In fact, Jesus declared in John 5:28, “the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth.” Glory to God, one day all the dead will rise at Christ’s command, the saved to resurrection life! What we see in Jairus’s house is a preview of that ultimate resurrection power. Furthermore, it points to the spiritual resurrection that Jesus gives to sinners. Every salvation is essentially the dead hearing the voice of the Son of God and living (John 5:25). Paul wrote, “And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). When a lost soul trusts in Christ, the same power that lifted that little girl up pulses into that heart, bringing new life where there was death.

Consider also that Jesus returned this girl to her parents. In Luke 7, when He raised the widow’s only son, He “delivered him to his mother” (Luke 7:15). Our Lord reunites and restores broken families and broken hearts. Ultimately, at the future resurrection, what reunions will occur! Believers who have mourned the death of loved ones will embrace them again because of Christ’s triumph. This hope should fill us with comfort (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Christ’s authority over death means death does not have the final word for those who are in Him. He said in John 11:25, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” Jairus and his wife literally experienced that truth in their daughter. We too will experience it, spiritually now and physically at the last day.

3. Missionary motivation—carry the message of life to the world.

Application: How do we respond to such a demonstration of divine power? First, let it strengthen your faith and erase your fears. Jesus told Jairus, “Fear not,” and then proceeded to do the impossible. We have no need to fear even the most final of enemies, death, because our Lord has shown His mastery over it. Hebrews 2:14-15 tells us that through His own death and resurrection, Christ has “destroyed him that had the power of death… and delivered them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” You don’t have to be in bondage to the fear of death or any other fear. The risen Christ says in Revelation 1:18, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore… and have the keys of hell and of death.” The keys are in Jesus’s hand! He decides, He rules. As believers, this gives us unshakable hope. We sorrow when death visits, but not as those without hope (1 Thess. 4:13). We serve a Savior who gives life, abundant life now and eternal life to come (John 10:28). Let this truth encourage anyone today who is grieving or facing mortality. Christ is the Life-giver; rest in Him.

4. Because He lives, we go; missions is the proclamation of resurrection power.

Secondly, Christ’s victory over death propels us outward in mission. Why? Because our message to the world is that Jesus can raise the dead! Every person outside of Christ is like that little girl, dead, spiritually lifeless. The house of this world is filled with the mourners of sin and hopelessness. But we have the good news that there is One who conquers death. When we go forth to witness or when we send missionaries, we do so with confidence that Jesus’s authority backs us up. Remember how Jesus charged Jairus’s family to tell no one? That was a temporary command for that moment. Now, in our day, Jesus charges us to tell everyone! After His resurrection, He said, “Ye shall be witnesses unto Me…unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). We are not to keep quiet about this power; we are to spread the news that there is life in Christ. The world may scorn or laugh as we mentioned, but some will listen and be made alive.

Think about the mission field: countless millions sit in the shadow of death, having no hope (Isaiah 9:2). False religions and secular philosophies are like those paid mourners—making noise, giving an appearance of meaning, but ultimately offering no solution for death. Only Jesus Christ, the risen Lord, has the authority to say to the dead, “Arise!” When we proclaim the gospel, we are essentially extending Jesus’s hand to a lost soul and speaking in His Name, “Arise from your death; Jesus will save you.” And miracle of miracles, dead souls rise! Have we not seen it? Every conversion in this church is a miracle of someone going from death to life. How can we keep such power to ourselves? We must tell it abroad.

This is why we emphasize missions and why we challenge one another to give by faith to support missionaries. We believe that Christ’s authority over death is the hope of the nations. As one hymn says, “O Church, arise and put your armor on, hear the call of Christ our captain… and as the gospel is proclaimed, His Spirit gives new life!” We invest in missions because we know Jesus can raise those who are dead in idolatry or atheism or false hope and give them eternal life. The Apostle Paul said that Jesus “hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10). That is exactly our theme: from death to life through the gospel. Christ’s resurrection power is missional; it urges us to shine the light of life in the darkest places.

So, in light of Luke 8:49-56, what is God calling us to do? For some, He may be whispering again, “Fear not, only believe,” regarding a personal trial—you need to renew your trust in Him. For others, He may be stirring your heart for the mission field, near or far, saying, “Go and tell of My power over death.” For all of us, He certainly calls us to worship and adore Him who holds the keys of life and death. Let the astonishment of Jairus and his wife be ours as well—marvel anew at Jesus. He is the Resurrection and the Life!

Conclusion

A. Summary of Truths

1. Christ declared His authority by promise.

The account of Jesus raising Jairus’s daughter teaches us that no situation is hopeless when Christ is present. Even death must yield to the command of our Savior. In this narrative, we saw Jesus declare a powerful promise, “Fear not: believe only,” challenging Jairus (and us) to unwavering faith.

2. Unbelief mocked His authority in scorn.

We saw human unbelief doubting and mocking that promise, a stark warning against cynicism. And ultimately, we saw Jesus demonstrate His divine authority by conquering death itself, turning tears to joy.

3. Christ demonstrated His authority by raising the dead.

The central truth could not be clearer: Jesus has authority over death, and He uses that authority to bring life to those who trust Him.

B. Call to Faith

1. “Fear not, only believe”—personal trust for every trial.

Now we must ask: How will we live in light of this promise? If you are a believer, will you live daily with the calm assurance that your Lord is greater than every fear, even the fear of death?

2. Faith over fear in ministry and missions.

Will you choose faith over fear, even when you receive bad news or face daunting challenges? Jesus says to you, “Fear not, only believe.” Take that to heart this week. When anxiety or despair starts to creep in, remember Jairus and hear Jesus’s voice speaking courage to your soul.

C. Call to Mission

1. Proclaim the One who brings life out of death.

Moreover, will you take seriously the missionary mandate that flows from Christ’s victory over the grave? We have the only message that gives eternal hope. There are multitudes like that little girl, dead and awaiting someone to bring Jesus into the house. Perhaps God is calling you to be more fervent in evangelism, or more committed in praying for and financially supporting missions.

2. Invest by faith in the gospel’s advance to every nation.

Our Faith Promise commitments, our outreach efforts, our willingness to go next door or to the ends of the earth—all of it should be fueled by this confidence: Christ’s life-giving power is real and available to all who believe. Let’s not be silent. Jesus told Jairus’s family to keep quiet then, but He tells His family (the church) to shout it from the rooftops now! We cannot hold back the greatest news in history. As the hymn says, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow… Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living just because He lives.” There are people out there for whom life will suddenly be “worth the living” when they meet the living Christ through our witness.

D. Invitation Appeal

1. To the lost: “Awake thou that sleepest.”

Finally, if anyone hearing this has not personally trusted in Jesus, let me speak to you: You are spiritually as lifeless as that young girl was physically. But the Lord of life is standing by, ready to take you by the hand. He says in Ephesians 5:14, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” If you will turn from your sin and call on Him in faith, He will save you, He will raise you to new life. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again so that you could be freed from the eternal death your sin earns. Don’t remain among the scorners or the indifferent. Come in faith to Jesus, and hear Him say to your heart, “Arise.” He will give you a life you’ve never known before, abundant life now, and eternal life with Him.

2. To the church: Live and give in the power of His resurrection.

Church, what a Savior we have! Death bows at His feet. As we conclude, picture Jairus’s house once more: where there was sorrow, now there is laughter (the right kind of laughter, joy and amazement). Where there was death, now a twelve-year-old girl runs and hugs her mom and dad. Outside, the mourners who had scoffed stand dumbfounded as life triumphs. This is our Jesus, the Prince of life, the Compassionate Savior. Let’s leave today astonished and worshipful, like those parents, and let’s leave obedient, ready to share Christ’s life with a dying world.

The third Sunday of our missions month reminds us: the same authority that raised a little girl is behind the Great Commission. We do not go in our own power; we go in the power of the One who gives life to the dead. So strengthen your hearts—no fear, just faith. Let’s boldly invest in getting the gospel out, praying and giving and going, because Jesus can and will call many from death to life through our obedience.

May we, First Baptist Church of Westminster, truly live in light of this promise. Christ has conquered death, let us trust Him fully and proclaim Him fervently. The world must hear that there is hope “from death to life” in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Let us pray.

HYPERLINK "https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BT7YqO0UmI8XSO3RHUlTUEeybviWqI7_" \h[1] [2] 03 Luke 7.11-17 Historical-Cultural, Contextual, Theological, and Application Research.docx

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