Mark 5:42-43 - Exposition

Here, as in other miracles, the restoration was immediate and complete: straightway the damsel rose up, and walked . Well might the father and the mother of the maiden and the three chosen apostles be amazed with a great amazement ( ἐξέστησαν ἐκστάσει μεγάλῃ ). And then, for the purpose of strengthening that life which he rescued from the jaws of the grave, our Lord commanded that something should be given her to eat . It has often been observed that in the examples of his resurrection power given by Christ there is a gradation:

1. The daughter of Jairus just dead.

2. The widow's son from his bier.

3. Lazarus from his grave.

The more stupendous miracle is I pledge, when "all that are in their graves yet to come, of which our Lord's own resurrection is at once the example and the pledge, when "All that are in their graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth."