Matthew 9:18-26 Raising a Dead Girl

While He was saying these things to them, a synagogue official came and bowed down before Him, and said, "My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live." Jesus got up and began to follow him, and so did His disciples....When Jesus came into the official's house, and saw the flute-players and the crowd in noisy disorder, He said, "Leave; for the girl has not died, but is asleep." And they began laughing at Him. But when the crowd had been sent out, He entered and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. This news spread throughout all that land. [Matthew 9:18‭-‬26 NASB]

Jesus repeatedly showed His contempt for the hypocrisy of the religious establishment. In this passage He demonstrates that He has compassion for the leaders of that establishment. It was a synagogue official who came to Him. When Jesus saw the man's pain and humility, He responded with grace. There was no reprimand nor vindictiveness. He might have said, "It is you religious leaders who are persecuting and denying me. And now that you have a need, you come to Me?" He didn't say anything like that. He simply got up and followed the man.

As for the official, he demonstrated great faith. He said, "My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live." How many of us dare to ask Jesus to raise the dead? And of those, how many pray in faith that Jesus will actually do it? He didn't ask Jesus if He could do it. He made his need known to Jesus and said, "she will live."

Jesus responded at once and came to the official's house. Notice the mention of flute players and a noisy crowd. These were probably paid mourners. It was the custom of the time to pay for people to mourn a death. Even the very poor paid for mourners. The minimum was "two flute players and one wailing woman". As a synagogue official this man would have been wealthier, so he had a crowd. their lack of true sympathy was revealed by their reaction to Jesus. They began laughing at Him. They went from weeping and wailing to scornful laughter in the blink of an eye.

Even as He responded with grace toward the grieving father, he responded with scorn toward the hypocritical "mourners". Just as He drove the merchants and money changers from the temple, so he drove the professional mourners from the home of a grieving family.

Then He did what the official asked of Him. "He entered and took her by the hand, and the girl got up."

Jesus didn't go around raising dead people. But He responded to this father's faith, and raised his daughter.

If you need a miracle in your life, don't hesitate to ask Jesus, just because you've never seen it done before. Jesus is God. All things were made by Him, and He has the power of creation. Pray in faith that the God of creation will do mighty things in your life.