Luke 8:51-53

Jairus’ faith is evident in his continuing on with Jesus and allowing Him to enter his house. Perhaps Jesus only allowed Peter, John, and James (cf. Luke 9:28; Acts 1:13) to accompany Him and the girl’s parents because the girl’s room was probably small. Perhaps Luke used this order for these disciples because of Peter and John’s prominence and partnership in the leadership of the early church. Another reason Jesus admitted only these few people may have been to make the little girl feel less conspicuous when she "awoke." [Note: Morris, p. 161.] More significantly His command to keep this incident quiet indicates that He did not want the unnecessary publicity that would inevitably accompany a second resuscitation (cf. Luke 7:11-17). By saying euphemistically that the girl was asleep (Gr. katheudei) Jesus was implying that her death was only temporary (cf. John 11:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). Jesus was expressing God’s view of death, not man’s. Obviously she had died because her spirit had departed from her body (Luke 8:55). It is interesting that these mourners who knew of Jesus’ prophetic powers and gift of healing refused to allow the possibility that He might be right. This attitude shows their lack of faith.