Senior Class Notes – February 4, 2024

Winter – 2023-2024 Unit 2 Session 3 – Expectant Faith; Luke 8:41-42, 49-56 PSG 118-127 CSB; PSG 94-101 KJV.

February 4, 2024

The Point: Faith maintains trust in God to do what no one else can do.

Inspirational verse: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13).

Luke 8:41 And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him that he would come into his house.

Jesus returned to Galilee. He likely had met this Jairus before (pronounced as Jīrus)¹². Jesus had spoken in most of the synagogues in Galilee, and Jairus was a ruler (Greek archon; probably the chief elder who conducted the services) in the local synagogue.¹⁶ Jairus was the synagogue leader. The leader was responsible for conducting services, selecting participants and maintain order. A leader of the synagogue was a layman whose responsibilities were administrative and included such things as looking after the building and supervising the worship. Though there were exceptions (Acts 13:14-15), most synagogues had only one ruler. Sometimes the title was honorary, with no administrative responsibilities assigned.³⁶ The religious leaders in general had not given Jesus a friendly reception. But desperate, because of the illness of his daughter, Jairus turned to the one whom most of his peers rejected. Someone who should have been looking for the coming Messiah apparently turned to Jesus as a last resort.¹⁹ Jairus symbolized his humility by falling at Jesus’ feet. Jairus willing submits to Jesus’ Authority.³⁷ It would have been quite unusual for a respected synagogue ruler to fall at the feet of an itinerant preacher and beg him to heal his daughter. Jesus honored this man’s humble faith (8:50, 54-56).³³ Jairus had only one child, a twelve-year-old daughter who was at the point of death when Jesus entered Capernaum. He came to Jesus for help, asking the master to come quickly.¹³ Jairus, a “synagogue leader” of the Jews, recognizes the authority of Jesus and pleads for Jesus to come to his dying daughter’s aid.³¹

Luke 8:42 For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.

As Jesus and his disciples made Their way to Jairus’s home, they were thronged – intransitive verb: to crowd together in great numbers²⁴ – with people, each with his own special needs, and progress towards Jairus’ house was slow.¹³ The verses in Luke 8:43 to 8:48 tell of a woman with a chronic bleeding condition that is healed by touching the border of Jesus’s garment. Jesus tells her “Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.” This delay, caused by Her interaction with Jesus and the large crowd, was just long enough that Jairus’ 12-year-old daughter died before Jesus could get to her.¹² Thronged him: refers to the crowd pressing against Jesus, not Jairus

Luke 8:49 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.

At this moment, however, news reaches Jesus and Jairus that Jairus’s daughter has died.³¹ The natural conclusion was that the daughter of the synagogue leader was now beyond the help of Jesus, therefore trouble not the Master.¹⁶ Jesus knew this tried Jairus’ faith, and told Jairus to continue believing and his daughter would be made well.¹³

Luke 8:50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

Jesus is clearly not fazed by the news that Jairus’s daughter has died.¹⁷ Jesus’ response contrasts fear with belief. Fear not: believe only.³¹ However, Jesus stated that the same kind of faith that brought about the healing of the bleeding woman would bring the dead girl back to life.¹⁶ It is truly never too late with Jesus. Some have imagined that the girl had only slipped into a coma, but Luke’s later comment that “her spirit returned” (8:55) indicates she had, in fact, died. Jesus was aware of her true condition; He simply saw past it to what he intended to do.³²

Luke 8:51 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.

In this passage Peter, and James, and John, are set apart by Jesus as the inner circle of the apostles (Luke 9:28; Matt. 26:37).¹⁶ Jesus took only the parents and Peter, James, and John into the house. He preserved the sanctity of the home by not parading twelve men into this private place.¹³

Luke 8:52 And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.

Sleeping was a common metaphor for death. Here it indicates that the girl’s death was not permanent.¹⁸ Though there is a great outpouring of grief over Jairus’s daughter at the leader’s house, Jesus exhorts the people not to weep, because she is not dead – she is asleep. She was dead indeed, but Jesus knew her condition to be temporary.¹⁵ She is not dead, but sleepeth. Jesus meant that she was not permanently dead.³⁶ She is not permanently dead. She is temporarily dead, so her spirit needs to return.²⁸ The figurative use of “asleep” is a way of saying that with Jesus, death is not the end.³¹

Luke 8:53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

The sense of finality by the child’s parents and, apparently, even the apostles was so profound that the people laughed at Jesus when He seemingly denied that the girl was dead.¹⁶ As a physician, Luke wanted his audience to know that the child Jesus healed was really and truly dead. One day, Jesus will destroy death altogether (1 Cor. 15:21), but in this passage, He clearly showed His mastery over it.² Matthew tells us “He said unto them, give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.” (Matt. 9:24). When Jesus says the girl is not dead, the crowd laughs because they know she is dead. Jesus knows, however, that her death is not permanent, for He is about to raise her up from death.¹⁷ The little girl was really dead, but the death of a believer’s body may outwardly be likened to sleep, which it resembles (cf. John 11:11-14; 1 Cor. 11:30; 1 Thess. 4:13-14). The Bible teaches no such doctrine as “soul sleep” as do some. At death, an individual’s soul is either consciously:¹³

With the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:21-23)¹³ or
In torment in hades awaiting the final resurrection to death (Luke 16:23).¹³

Luke 8:54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid arise.

When Jesus commanded, Maid, arise, her spirit returned to her body.¹⁶ Mark records “And he took the damsel by the hand, and said to her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.” (Mark 5:41).¹⁶ Jesus raised the girl from the dead and her spirit reentered her body. Mark, who received much of his information from the eyewitness, Peter, records “And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.” (Mark 5:42); that she arose and walked. No one could doubt this fantastic miracle.¹³ How is a dead girl able to respond? The emphasis here is again on the powerful word of Jesus. The following three details emphasize her full restoration to life:³¹

Her spirit returns to her body.
She stands up.
She is giving something to eat.

Luke 8:55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

The statement – her spirit came again – is referencing the belief of the Jewish people that the spirit hung around the deceased body for 3 days before finally leaving the body. She indeed had died, but Jesus called and her spirit came again.¹² [According to Jewish tradition (Talmudic/Rabbinical teachings), a person is not completely ‘dead’ until 3 days have passed, when their soul departs].⁵⁴ After raising the girl, Jesus tells her parents to feed her.¹⁷ Jesus commanded that she be given nourishment. Meat means “food”¹³

Luke 8:56 And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

Astonished is a favorite expression of Luke (see also 2:47; 24:22.)¹⁵ Jesus also tells her parents not to tell anyone what has happened.¹⁷ The same Greek word in Acts 2:7, 12; 9:21 is rendered “amazed” by the KJV.¹⁵ Luke uses an emphatic term to describe how astonished her parents were at her resuscitation – existemi, which means “to lose one’s wits, to go out of one’s mind.”³² It is not known why Jesus insisted that her parents not tell about Him raising their daughter from the dead. The crowd outside knew that the girl had genuinely died. Now she was alive just after Jesus went in to see her. There could be no hiding the fact that Jesus raised her.¹⁶ Jesus told the parents not to talk about their daughter’s healing because He knew the facts would speak for themselves. Jesus was concerned for His ministry. He did not want to be known as just a miracle worker; He wanted people to listen to His words that would heal their broken spiritual lives.³³ Perhaps He did not want more people following Him merely hoping to see another corpse revived.³² Jesus has power over death but has not come to daily raise people from the dead.³¹ Perhaps Jesus feared that the Jewish leaders would want to kill her just like what would soon happen to Lazarus (Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, see John 11:1-45) “Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priest consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.” (John 12:9-11).¹²Perhaps the command for silence is directed to the faithless scoffers who wait outside (see Matthew 9:23-25). Not only do they miss seeing this outstanding miracle, but they are also denied the opportunity to hear about it firsthand. Lack of faith has many drawbacks.¹⁷ Further publicity at this time concerning a raising from the dead would have been counterproductive to Jesus’ ministry.³⁶

References: Winter 2023-2024, December 3, 2023 – February 25, 2024

(CWB) – Commentary on the Whole Bible by Matthew Henry – Marshall, Morgan & Scott, Ltd. Copyright © 1960. Copyright 1961 by Zondervan Publishing House – Grand Rapids, Michigan. 49506
(CWB#2) – Commentary practical and explanatory on the Whole Bible by Rev. Robert Jamieson, Rev. A.R. Fausset, Rev. David Brown by Zondervan Publishing House – Grand Rapids, Michigan. 49506
(ESVSB) – The English Standard Version Study Bible, Personal size. Copyright © 2008 by Crossway. Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway.
(ETB) – Explore The Book by J Sidlow Baxter. Copyright © 1960 by J. Sidlow Baxter. Published 1960 by Zondervan Publishing House – Grand Rapids, Michigan.
(HISB) – The Holman Illustrated Study Bible – The Holman Illustrated Study Bible Copyright © 2006 by Holman Bible Publishers. The Holman Christian Standard Bible Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers.
(HRTB) He Reads Truth Bible Copyright © 2019 by Holman Bible Publishers Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Based on the Christian Standard Bible Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.
(IMO) – On occasion, with the prayerful guidance of the Holy Spirit, I will make comments of my own, based on my understanding of the events. I will indicate such times with – In My O
(KJBC) – The King James Bible Commentary, Copyright © 1999 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. ©1983 by Old-Time Gospel Hour. Scripture quotations are from the Open Bible, King James version, © 1975 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
(KJSB) – The King James Study Bible, (previously published as The Liberty Annotated Study Bible and as The Annotated Study Bible, King James Version) © 1988 by Liberty University.
(LESB) Life Essentials Study Bible Copyright © 2019 by Holman Bible Publishers Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Based on the Christian Standard Bible Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.
(NCBD) – The Nelson’s Compact Bible Dictionary Copyright © 2004 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. with Scripture Quotations from the New King James Version of the Bible Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982, 1990 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
(NIDNTT) – The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology Copyright © 1967, 1969, 1971 by Theologisher Verlag Rolf Brockhaus, Wuppertal. English Language edition Volume 1 Copyright © 1975, 1986, The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.A. and The Paternoster Press, Ltd. Exeter, Devon, U.K.
(NIVBTSB) – The New International Version Biblical Theology Study Bible Copyright © 2018 by The Zondervan Corporation. Text from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. previously published as The New International Version Zondervan Study Bible.
(NIVCBSB) – The New International Version Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible Copyright © 2016 by The Zondervan Corporation text from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. published by the Zondervan Corporation.
(NIVJSB) – The New International Version Jeremiah Study Bible, Copyright © 2016 by David Jeremiah, Inc. Using the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan.
(NIVLASB) – The New International Version Life Application Study Bible, Hardcover Edition. Copyright © 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Wheaton Il. 60189. Hardcover editions are published by Tyndale house.
(NIVMEB) – The New International Version Ministry Essentials Bible, Copyright © 2014 by Hendrickson Publishers Marketing, LLC. Based on The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.
(NIVSB) – The New International Version Study Bible Copyright © 1985 by the Zondervan Corporation text from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by the New York International Bible Society.®
(NIVSB #2) – The New International Version Study Bible Copyright © 1985, 1995, 2002, 2008, 2011, 2020 by Zondervan Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546, USA. text from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.®
(NIVZSB) – The New International Version Zondervan Study Bible Copyright © 2015 by the Zondervan Corporation. Text from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.
(NKJVBGTCB) – The New King James Version Billy Graham Training Center Bible © 2004 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. with Scripture Quotations from the New King James Version of the Bible Copyright © 1982, by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
(NKJVSB) – Holman Study Bible, New King James Version Edition Copyright © 2013 by Holman Bible Publishers Nashville, Tn. Text from the New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
(PSG) – Bible Studies For life – King James Version Adults Personal Study Guide Winter 2023-2024 Volume 11, Number 2.
(QNBD) – Quick Notes Bible Dictionary based on text from the King James Version of the Bible and cross referenced with the NIV and NRSV Bibles. Copyright © 1998 by George W. Knight and Rayburn W. Ray.
(SEC) – Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible with Dictionaries of the Hebrew Bible and the Greek Testament words. Copyright © 1890 by James Strong. Based on the King James Version of the Bible.
(TATA) – The Acts of The Apostles by Charles Caldwell Ryrie Copyright © 1961 by The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.
(TDNT) – Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
(THBC) – Today’s Handbook of Bible Characters Copyright © 1979 by E.M. Blaiklock, published by Bethany House Publishers.
(TMEB) – The Ministry Essential Bible © 2014 by Hendrickson Publishers Marketing, LLC P.O. Box 3473 Peabody, Massachusetts 01961-3473.
(TZPEB) – The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, copyright © 1975, 1976 by the Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
(WIKI) Wikipedia – internet source.