What does Mark 5:39 mean?

Explanation

Mark 5:39 presents Jesus' response upon entering the house where a synagogue ruler's daughter lay.

People were mourning what they believed to be her death.

Jesus' statement, "Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth," was not only factual about her state but also metaphorical.

Literally, Jesus was asserting that the girl was not dead.

On a deeper level, He was expressing a profound truth about His dominion over life and death, suggesting that what is typically understood as final (death) is, under divine authority, as reversible as sleep.

Historical Context

This verse is part of the narrative in the Gospel of Mark, dating back to the first century AD, during the early Christian period.

It occurs within a context where Jesus performed many miracles, demonstrating His authority and divinity.

In Jewish culture, death was a definitive end, and the community’s reaction of mourning and wailing was conventional.

Jesus' statement would have been both startling and counter-cultural, challenging the contemporaneous understanding of death.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints have interpreted this verse in various ways.

Traditional Christian theology sees it as an affirmation of Jesus' divine power to give life.

In this interpretation, the verse foreshadows the resurrection and the Christian promise of eternal life.

Another interpretation sees Jesus as teaching about the Kingdom of God, where death is not an ending but a transformation.

Also, this passage is sometimes seen in the context of faith, where Jesus admonishes the lack of belief in God's power to heal and restore life.

Practical Applications

The teachings of this verse can be applied practically as a reminder to maintain faith even in seemingly hopeless situations.

It suggests that what might be perceived as an end may not be so in God's eyes. This encourages believers to trust in God's sovereignty. It can also be seen as a prompt to not to be swayed by the crowd’s reactions and to maintain an outlook of hope.

Cross-References

• John 11:11-14: "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep."
• Matthew 9:23-25: And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, He said unto them, "Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth." And they laughed him to scorn.
• Acts 9:40: "But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise.

And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up."

Language Study

The key words in the original Koine Greek of this verse warrant careful examination:

• "Ado" (θόρυβος, thorubos): This word can mean a commotion, tumult, or uproar, indicating a loud expression of grief or panic.
• "Weep" (κλαίω, klaio): This refers to the act of weeping or crying, a typical expression of sorrow.
• "Dead" (θνῄσκω, thnesko): This verb means to die or be dead.
• "Sleepeth" (καθεύδω, katheudo): This commonly means to sleep, and in the New Testament, it is often used metaphorically to refer to death as a temporary, reversible state.

The use of "sleepeth" instead of "dead" conveys the temporary nature of the girl's condition in Jesus' view.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In some ancient cultures and religions, death was also seen as a kind of sleep, with the hope of awakening or resurrection.

For example, in Ancient Greek mythology, Endymion was put into eternal sleep so that he might remain immortal.

In Egyptian mythology, death was considered a transitional phase before reaching the afterlife.

The Jewish belief at the time also held a concept of resurrection, seen in the writings of the Pharisees and the Book of Daniel (Daniel 12:2).

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, death is defined as the cessation of all biological functions that sustain life.

However, there are instances like coma or near-death experiences that challenge the boundaries between life and death. Medical science can sometimes reverse conditions that once would have been considered irreversible death, somewhat paralleling the "sleep" analogy used by Jesus.

Commentaries

Commentators throughout history have offered various insights on this verse:

• John Calvin saw Jesus' statement as a demonstration of gentle kindness, designed not to shock the mourners with a blunt declaration of miraculous intent.
• Matthew Henry's commentary suggests that Jesus was reproving the mourners for their noisy grief, which lacked hope and faith.
• The Expositor's Greek Testament notes that Jesus was intentionally using language that would not be understood by everyone, hiding the full truth from those who lacked faith.
• Modern scholars like William Barclay highlight that this statement of Jesus shows his complete assurance in his power over death and life.