Who Is Jesus? God Who Raises the Dead

Luke 8:40–56

Luke 8 has been answering a central question: Who is Jesus?

The disciples asked it after Jesus commanded the wind and the waves: “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?” (Luke 8:25). The demons answered by identifying Him as the Son of the Most High God (8:28). Now, in Luke 8:40–56, Luke takes the question even further. Jesus demonstrates authority not only over creation and demons, but over sickness and death itself.

Two Desperate People

When Jesus returned from the country of the Gerasenes, a large crowd was waiting for Him. Among them was Jairus, an official of the synagogue. Despite his position and reputation, Jairus fell at Jesus’ feet and pleaded with Him to come to his house. His twelve-year-old daughter was dying.

His position no longer mattered. His desperation brought him to the feet of Jesus.

But as Jesus went with him, the crowd pressed tightly around Him, and another desperate person appeared.

A woman had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years. According to the Mosaic Law, such a continual discharge rendered her ceremonially unclean (cf. Leviticus 15:25–27). Yet she believed that if she could simply touch the fringe of Jesus’ garment, she would be healed.

She approached Him from behind, touched His garment, and immediately the hemorrhage stopped.

Jesus asked:

“Who is the one who touched Me?”

Peter found the question strange because everyone in the crowd was pressing against Jesus. But Jesus was distinguishing ordinary physical contact from a touch made in faith.

The woman finally came forward trembling and confessed publicly what she had done.

Jesus answered her with remarkable tenderness:

“Daughter, your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

The power was not in the garment. The fringe was not a sacred object possessing healing power. Jesus specifically directed attention to her faith.

This is important in an age when religious teachers sometimes attempt to sell supposed “anointed” objects, oils, cloths, water, or other material things as though spiritual power resides in them. Jesus teaches something entirely different.

Faith was directed toward Him.

The garment did not heal her.
Jesus did.

“Do Not Be Afraid—Only Believe”

While Jesus was still speaking to the woman, someone arrived from Jairus’ house:

“Your daughter has died; do not trouble the Teacher anymore.”

One can imagine the devastation of Jairus. He had believed Jesus could heal his daughter while she was alive. Now she was dead.

But Jesus immediately said:

“Do not be afraid any longer; only believe, and she will be saved.”

Jairus was now being called to trust Jesus beyond anything he had originally expected.

The delay caused by the woman had not placed Jesus behind schedule. Death itself had not made Jesus too late.

“Child, Arise”

When Jesus arrived at the house, He allowed only Peter, John, James, and the girl’s parents to enter with Him.

The house was filled with mourning. Jesus told them:

“Stop crying, for she has not died, but is asleep.”

Jesus was not denying that the girl was physically dead. “Sleep” anticipates what He was about to do. For Jesus, her death would not be permanent. He was going to awaken her.

Those present laughed at Him because they knew she was dead.

Jesus ignored their ridicule.

He took the girl by the hand and said:

“Child, arise!”

Then Luke records:

“And her spirit returned, and she stood up immediately.”

Notice what Jesus did not do.

He did not plead for power.
He did not perform a ceremony.
He did not pray for God to raise her.

He simply commanded her to arise.

And the dead obeyed Him.

That is the theological climax of the passage.

Jesus exercises authority over death itself.

His tenderness is also evident immediately afterward. He commanded that something be given to the girl to eat. The One who possesses authority over life and death also concerned Himself with the ordinary physical needs of a twelve-year-old girl.

Who Is Jesus?

Luke has been steadily answering the question.

The wind obeys Him.
The sea obeys Him.
Demons recognize Him.
Disease yields to Him.
And now death obeys Him.

Jesus is not merely another teacher, prophet, miracle worker, or religious leader.

He is God who raises the dead.

And the proper response to Him remains the same command Jesus gave Jairus:

“Do not be afraid any longer; only believe.”