Mark 5:40

Mark 5:40, in plain English

They laughed at him. Actually laughed. But Jesus put them all outside, took the girl's mom and dad and his three disciples, and went in where the child was.

Why it's here

Jesus doesn't argue with skeptics. He removes doubt from the room and surrounds himself with faith. There's something powerful about the environments we create for God to work.

Who's speaking

Mark describes the crowd's mockery and Jesus' quiet, decisive response.

Where it sits in the story

The scoffers laughed, and Jesus showed them the door. Then, with only believing hearts around him, he entered the child's room. Sometimes faith needs a quiet room to work.

The scholarly reading

The mourners' laughter (kategelon) reveals their certainty of the girl's death and functions as a literary foil to the miracle. Jesus expels (ekbalon) the skeptics — the same verb used for casting out demons — and takes the parents and disciples inside.

Language and setting

The expulsion of mockers parallels Elisha's private raising of the Shunammite's son (2 Kings 4:32-33). Jesus creates a faith-filled environment by removing unbelief before performing the miracle.

Voice

Mark narrates the crowd's derision and Jesus' decisive response.

Significance

The mourners laugh scornfully at Jesus, but he puts them all outside. Taking only the parents and his three disciples, he enters the room where the dead girl lies.

38When they arrived at the house of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw the commotion and the people weeping and wailing loudly.

39He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep.”

40And they laughed at Him.

41Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”

42Immediately the girl got up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). And at once they were utterly astounded.

Read all of Mark 5 — A man possessed by a thousand demons, a woman who has bled for twelve years, a father whose daughter has just died — all healed in a single chapter.