Matthew 9:18-19 "While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples."
Matthew 9:23-26 "And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land."
While Jesus was teaching about not putting new wine in old bottles, a ruler of the synagogue came to Jesus. He immediately bowed before Jesus (worshipped). We know by reading Mark 5:21-37 and Luke 8:40-50 that this man’s name was Jairus. His young daughter was dying when he left home and was dead by the time he got to Jesus.
Jesus heard Jairus’s petition and went with him to his house. When He arrived there, the place was full of mourners. Scholars tell us that it was common for professional mourners to be involved when someone in a Jewish household died. This served to let the neighbors know that there had been a death. By the time Jesus arrived, there was a great noise of mourning. The fact that they laughed at Jesus demonstrated both their ignorance of who He was and their lack of close ties to the family.
Jesus had everyone except for Peter, James, and John to leave the room. The term “put forth” indicates that they were not simply asked to leave but that they had no choice but to leave. Once the people were dismissed from the room and the noise had quieted, Jesus took the girl by the hand and she rose up alive. Mourning and making fun of Jesus was turned to rejoicing and amazement.
Dear ones, no matter what we are facing in life, the situation is never too far gone for Jesus to make an impact. Sometimes things are so noisy with our own doubts and fears as well as those of others we forget to trust. Those who scorn Jesus will not see when He works in our lives. Those who are brought to trust Him will spread His fame with the testimony of His life-giving power. May we hold fast to our faith in Him.