40-67 Jesus’ Authority Over Death
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Matthew 9:18-26
Matthew 9:18-26
Yesterday was World Population Day—promoted annually by the UN to promote awareness of global population issues which tends to focus on the secular, progressive issues without any reference to God. According to the world population meter (just a screen with ascending numbers)…worlds population is right at 8.3 billion people today. Also included on this meter are births and deaths which both steadily climb thruout the day (of course there are more births than deaths—as population is growing). But the portion about deaths is fairly ominous.
On average 165K people die every day—equals roughly 60 million/year. And the reality is that of those 8.3 billion people (including you and me)…over the course of the next 100 years (should the Lord tarry—postpone His return) we will all die (all 8.3 billion of us). This illustrates one of the most profound, uncomplicated and undeniable truths: all die. Death has been a universal reality for all. Death is not a respecter of persons (not partial) of wealth, status, education, upbringing, achievements or even age. Since the beginning of creation there have only been 2 exceptions: Enoch & Elijah—even the LJC died.
Of course this reality has people everywhere doing all they can to stave off death (dying process)…by aggressively managing lifestyle and diet, undergoing preventative medical screenings, or relying on emergency interventions like CPR and defibrillators. Advanced techniques include cryogenic body-cooling to halt cellular decay and longevity research, such as genetic manipulation and senescent cell therapies, aimed at slowing the aging process.
Longevity & Transhumanist Research
Genetic Modification: Researchers use gene-editing tools like CRISPR to study how to switch off aging mechanisms or repair DNA damage at the microscopic level.
Senolytics: Scientists are developing treatments to clear out "senescent" cells—zombie cells that accumulate with age and cause tissue inflammation—to rejuvenate organs.
Cryonics & AI: Organizations like the Alcor Life Extension Foundation and the Cryonics Institute freeze bodies or brains at death, hoping future medical technology can revive them.
It seems as if all that this world knows is death and though there is truly nothing we can do about this reality—people fight against death with every fiber of their being. Death is the dreaded enemy of man…scriptures says its the final enemy
26 The last enemy to be abolished is death.
While there is nothing we can do (you cannot add 1 cubit to your lifespan—Mt 6:27) there is One who has absolute authority over death—the LJC who conquered death by His own death and resurrection. That is illustrated in a miracle we encounter in our passage today in Mt 9. In fact there are 2 miracles recorded that express the deep compassion of Jesus in light of the reality of sin, suffering and death that is the human experience. These miracles are also recorded in Mk 5:21-43; Lk 8:40-56 (where the chronology is a bit different but there is no contradiction b/t the accounts). Matthew’s is the shortest account (most abbreviated) but there are advantages to seeing all 3 accounts together. For instance, we learn the name of the ruler of the synagogue in Mk & Lk—his name is Jairus. We also find out that as he approaches Jesus his daughter is sick and nearing death, but a little later someone comes from his house to announce that she has died. One other detail is that Jairus has only 1 daughter who is 12 years old…a man loosing his only daughter is terribly grieved and those who have lost a child can empathize with him…understanding the depth of his grief.
I’d like to point out 3 features of these 2 miracles of Jesus…ch 8-9 have a total of 10 miracles. Matthew’s purpose in detailing these miracles is to prove that the King (who is LJC) has the authority to rule sovereignly over the kingdom of heaven. That’s something a king must have—sufficient power/authority to carry out that rulership. So Matthew shows the authority of Jesus over sickness and disease, the forces of nature, the forces of darkness/demons, the authority to forgive sin and authority over the subjects of His kingdom. Now Matthew is going to illustrates the authority of Jesus over death.
1. Desperate Approach
1. Desperate Approach
The ruler of synagogue who comes to Jesus is named Jairus. As the ruler…he had responsibilities over the services of the synagogue. He would select the readers or teachers for any given Sabbath service. He would carefully examine the discourses of public speakers, having responsibility for maintaining order during services. He would also oversee the synagogue’s building and restoration, and represent the congregation to external authorities. Today we might simply call him a pastor. He had a prestigious position but that did not keep him from a serious trial of illness that struck his 12 year old daughter.
Jairus is desperately looking for a miracle to restore his daughter’s health. We have no idea what has caused her sickness. And if you and I get sick (to whatever degree) we’re looking for solutions. It might be temporary and can be cured with a little medication. Other times we need the help of doctors, surgeries and perhaps even a lengthy recovery. Whatever illness we’re going thru…we often lose sight of the truth that poor health/sickness can be blessing when it drives us to Jesus.
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.
Sometimes God will discipline us thru sickness (not all sickness is b/c of sin) to bring us back to Himself.
12 Blessed is the man whom You discipline, O Yah, And whom You teach out of Your law; 13 That You may grant him calm from the days of calamity, Until a pit is dug for the wicked.
Paul assures us that when this happens:
32 But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.
10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our benefit, so that we may share His holiness. 11 And all discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful, but to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
All this to say that sickness/illness (regardless of severity) should always drive us the JC…that we might learn to lean on Him in the midst of trials. Trials prove to be such an effective way of transforming us, refining us, purifying us, shaping us and making us like our Savior. But Jairus is looking for a miracle and so he comes to Jesus when he sees the Lord going about teaching. Mk’s account adds to Mt’s:
22 And one of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up, and on seeing Him, fell at His feet 23 and pleaded with Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; please come, that by coming, You may lay Your hands on her, so that she will be saved and live.”
“my little daughter”—can you see his anguish? Can you see his broken heart as he looks desperately looks for help? I want you to note that Jairus was not hard-hearted like many of his associates. Matthew says he “bowed down” before Jesus…falling at his feet. This term is often used in passages where worship is clearly being rendered…It was used of a subject who approaches his king in complete dependence and submission to one having high authority. This is the language of the worship of heaven:
10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
14 And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.
11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
16 And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God,
4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!”
Jairus was bowing before Jesus and there’s a lesson for us that humbling ourselves before our great God is the way to encounter blessings from Him. Blessing belongs to those who honor Christ rather than themselves. And there’s a statement in Mk 5:23 that shows us that Jairus recognized the greatness of Jesus. He doesn’t doubt Jesus’ healing power…he’s not the critic that many others have proven to be.
“come…lay your hands on her, so that she will be saved and live”
Graciously…Matthew 9:19 “19 And Jesus got up and began to follow him, and so did His disciples.”
Jairus exemplifies a profound trust in Jesus—reaching out to Him in our the midst of our deepest needs. His plea to Christ reflects a trust that even transcended social and religious positions—acknowledging the supreme authority of Jesus over life and death.
2. Determined Reach
2. Determined Reach
20-22
Jairus must have been greatly encouraged when Jesus began to follow him back to his house. But then there’s an interruption that delays the healing of his daughter and it proves to be a lesson Jairus must learn—to patiently wait on the Lord—for His timing is always perfect. But I get it…here comes a woman who is herself desperate for healing and determined to find it coming near to the LJC—but your daughter is nearing death and there’s nothing more urgent in that situation than getting help for the little girl.
Matthew introduces us to the woman who had been hemorrhaging for 12 years. This woman has a serious bleeding issue and in fact it had been getting worse (Mark 5:26 “26 and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse—” ). Luke adds: Luke 8:43 “43 And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone,”
She had tried everything. Now, apparently this was a common problem for women in Israel at this time. The Talmud sets forth 11 different cures for this very problem. Some were tonics or astringents and might well have been effective while others were merely superstitions. The point is, this woman tried everything, had spent everything—all her money…trying to be cured.
As Jesus was heading to the house of Jairus the size of the crowd was so large that they were pressing in on Jesus and since she could not really get His attention she thought that if she could touch the hem of his garment…she would be healed. That is a determined reach. And that’s exactly what happened.
The other gospel accounts record that when she touched the garment of Jesus:
29 And immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she knew within her body that she had been healed of her affliction.
Matthew records: Mt 9:22
Immediately before this Jesus asked:
45 And Jesus said, “Who is the one who touched Me?” And while they were all denying it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are surrounding and pressing in on You.” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone did touch Me, for I knew that power had gone out of Me.”
The power of heaven comes out of Jesus bringing healing to a suffering woman. Now, its not that Jesus didn’t know who touched Him—for He demonstrates divine knowledge and understanding time and again. But He asks the question to draw the response out of this woman who has such a remarkable faith to overcome many obstacles in finding the grace of LJC. No one is ever lost in the crowd when it comes to LJC. Luke adds:
47 And when the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling. And falling down before Him, she declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him and how she had been immediately healed. 48 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Now, come back to Jairus and its not insignificant that she came to Jesus at this moment…its almost as if Jesus has a purpose in delaying the healing of the little girl for teaching Jairus another lesson—about selflessness. I can almost hear the conversation… Jairus says Jesus, there’s no time for this interruption. But the Lord responds, “Jairus, you have lived with your little girl for 12 years, enjoying all the moments and blessings of family life…but this woman has suffered for these same 12 years…and thru these years, she has been unclean, an outcast, isolated and incurable. Jairus, this woman has no hope apart from Me…so be patient and rejoice with her in what has happened—for she is a daughter of the kingdom—showing a remarkable faith—just like you.
3. Defying Death
3. Defying Death
23-26
As the Lord was visiting with the woman, Mk & Lk inform us that someone from the house of Jairus came and reported that his daughter had indeed died. This individual told him not to trouble the Teacher anymore—I supposed that what most people were thinking it that it is too late now. Maybe they were blaming the woman for delaying the opportunity to heal. So while many had given up too quickly: its good to remember Psalm 46:1 “1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” When Jesus heard the report, he told Jairus, Mark 5:36 “36 But Jesus, overhearing what had been spoken, said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid, only believe.”” Was Jesus unaware of what had happened? Not at all (in fact, I think it is the reason why Jesus delayed His arrival—until the little girl had died)… it is the character of God to set His eyes upon His people:
7 And Yahweh said, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sufferings.
So they all proceeded to the house and when they came to it, Jesus entered the home and took only Peter, James and John with him. Matthew notes that when Jesus came into the house He saw flute-players and a there was a general scene of pandemonium in the house. It was well known that Jews put a very high price on mourning over their dead. The rabbis said “Whoever is remiss in mourning over the death of a wise man deserves to be burned alive.” So there were 3 customs of mourning over the dead that were common-Barclay notes:
Tearing of garments.
The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 1 The Awakening Touch (Matthew 9:18–19, 23–6)
There were no fewer than thirty-nine different rules and regulations which laid down how garments should be rent. The rent was to be made standing. Clothes were to be rent to the heart so that the skin was exposed. For a father or mother, the rent was exactly over the heart; for others, it was on the right side. The rent must be big enough for a fist to be inserted into it. For seven days, the rent must be left gaping open; for the next thirty days, it must be loosely stitched so that it could still be seen; only then could it be permanently repaired. It would obviously have been improper for women to rend their garments in such a way that the breast was exposed. So it was laid down that a woman must rend her inner garment in private; she must then reverse the garment so that she wore it back to front; and then in public she must rend her outer garment.
Wailing for the dead. In a house, the wailing was to be non-stop. For the reason professional wailers (women) would be hired (a custom that still exists in the middle east today).
Flute Players
The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 1 The Awakening Touch (Matthew 9:18–19, 23–6)
The music of the flute was especially associated with death. The Talmud lays it down: ‘The husband is bound to bury his dead wife, and to make lamentations and mourning for her, according to the custom of all countries. And also the very poorest among the Israelites will not allow her less than two flutes and one wailing woman; but, if he be rich, let all things be done according to his qualities.’ Even in Rome, the flute-players were a feature of days of grief.
So that’s the scene Jesus enters in to. Jesus commanded everyone to leave and told them “girl has not died…asleep.” Of course this brings a great deal of derision as the people (professional mourners—who had seen their share of death) laughed at Jesus. The question that comes up is what did Jesus mean?
53 And they began laughing at Him, knowing that she had died.
First of all, this is not about waking someone up from a nap. The girl actually died (as far as we understand death). They all knew what happens at death and this happened to the little girl. Luke confirms that when Jesus took her by the hand:
55 And her spirit returned, and she stood up immediately. And He gave orders for something to be given her to eat.
The girl really died but Jesus is speaking in a way that contradicts how the world thinks about death. It says death is the end (actually that’s what it hopes it will be—to avoid eternal wrath). Jesus confirms that death is not the end b/c the soul continues to exist—being immortal. When Jesus is speaking that the girl is only asleep he is referring to her body which to all appearances looks as though it is sleeping. He said the same thing about His friend Lazarus
11 He said these things, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him.”
Mt 9:25
Mk describes the scene a bit more fully:
41 And taking the child by the hand, He said to her, “Talitha kum!” (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!”). 42 And immediately the little girl stood up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded.
There’s actually a remarkable glimpse of the endearment of Jesus and His care and concern for this little girl. Talitha kum is an Aramaic expression—talitha is related to the word lamb. Jesus says “little lamb, arise” I find this to be a fascinating illustration of our Lord’s gentleness and when He takes her by the hand—her spirit returns and she gets up—there’s resurrection.
And the news travelled all over the place (vs 26). With Jesus mourning is turned to Joy and laughter.
When the Great Plague swept thru Europe in the 16th century, Martin Luther lost his 14 year old daughter Magdalena. Those who knew Luther would later recount the event:
Matthew—All Authority in Heaven and on Earth Hammer Away
Brokenhearted Luther knelt beside her bed and begged God to release her from the pain. Then when she had finally died, and the carpenters were nailing down the lid of the coffin, Luther screamed out, “Hammer away! Hammer away … for on the last day she shall rise again.”
Rise again—that’s the hope for all who have put their trust in LJC. He has authority over death…defying it and defeating it ultimately by His own death and in the power of His resurrection so that who die in Christ will also have hope.
Our hope is not to escape death but to know that what happens after death, when the soul is taken to be with the Lord. Jesus speaks of this:
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,
Maybe Paul is drawing from the accounts of the resurrections of this little girl and Lazarus—sleeping:
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Doug O’Donnell
Matthew—All Authority in Heaven and on Earth Hammer Away
This story before us is really just a miniature version of the great story of our salvation:17 in the death of Christ is the death of death. He takes on the curse of death that Adam brought into the world. Specifically, in the death of Christ is the death of our spiritual death (we will be forgiven our sin), and in the resurrection of Christ is the death of our physical death (we will rise again bodily). Since Christ died and rose again, we who are united to him, though we may die, will also rise again to a better life. In the words of Horatio Spafford, the hymn-writer who lost his four daughters at sea, we will rise to a life where Satan does not buffet, where trials do not come, where sea billows do not roll, and where all is finally well with our souls.
I pray these miracles of Jesus will encourage your hearts and elevate your understanding of the King of heaven…for we too have been called to bow before Him in utter dependence and submission to the one who has all authority.
