The Daughter of Jairus

²¹ When Jesus had again crossed over in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him near the sea. ²² Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet ²³ and repeatedly pleaded with him, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place your hands on her so that she may be healed and live.”

²⁴ Jesus went with him, and a large crowd was following him, pressing tightly against him.

³⁵ While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue ruler’s house arrived, saying, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher anymore?”

³⁶ But when Jesus heard this report, he told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.” ³⁷ He did not allow anyone to follow him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. ³⁸ They went into the house of the synagogue ruler, and Jesus saw a commotion with people weeping and wailing loudly. ³⁹ When he entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.”

⁴⁰ They laughed at him. But after he put everyone out, he took the father of the child, her mother, and those who were with him and went in where the child was. ⁴¹ Grasping the hand of the child, he said to her, “Talitha, koum!” (When translated, that means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!”) ⁴² Immediately the little girl stood up and began to walk around. (She was twelve years old.) They were completely and utterly amazed. ⁴³ Then he gave them strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and he told them to give her something to eat.