Mark 5:42

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 (KJV)

Context

Mark 5:42 concludes the account of Jairus’s daughter. Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, had pleaded with Jesus to heal his dying daughter. On the way, Jesus paused to heal a woman with a bleeding condition, and messengers then reported that the girl had died. Jesus continued to the house, took the child by the hand, and commanded her to arise.

Meaning

The verse records the immediate and complete result of Jesus’s command. The word “straightway” emphasizes that the girl arose at once, not gradually. The detail that she was twelve years old confirms the reality of the miracle: a child who had been dead was now walking. Her walking demonstrated full restoration to health, not merely a return to life. The witnesses’ response, “astonished with a great astonishment,” is a natural human reaction to divine power. Their amazement underscores the extraordinary nature of the event and highlights Jesus’s authority over death itself.

Biblical connections

This miracle foreshadows Jesus’s own resurrection and victory over death. The girl’s restoration also pictures the new life believers receive through faith in Christ. Throughout the passage, faith is central: Jairus approached Jesus in desperate trust, and despite the delay, he remained steadfast. Jesus commended that faith and rewarded it by raising the girl. The event demonstrates that Jesus has power to bring healing and restoration to every area of life, physical, emotional, and spiritual.

Application

This verse encourages believers to trust Jesus even when circumstances seem hopeless. The delay caused by the woman with the bleeding condition did not weaken Jesus’s power or His care for Jairus. In the same way, apparent delays in our own lives do not mean that Jesus has forgotten us. He is able to act instantly and completely, and His word accomplishes what He promises. The appropriate response to His power is awe and wonder, deepening our faith and understanding of His authority.

Reflection

Jesus’s command brought life where death had prevailed. The girl’s rising and walking were visible signs of a greater spiritual truth: Christ brings life to the dead and restoration to the broken. As we read this account, we are invited to marvel at His power and to trust Him with our most desperate needs, knowing that He is the Lord over life and death.