These messengers bring devastating news, but their words reveal a common perception of Jesus: they see him as a skilled healer for the living, capable of easing suffering, but not as someone with power over death itself. They believe his role as a "Teacher" or "Master" ends where life ends, highlighting a gap in their understanding of his true authority.
While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
As Jesus is speaking with Jairus, the synagogue ruler whose daughter is gravely ill, messengers arrive from Jairus's home with devastating news. They tell Jairus that his daughter has died, implying that any further effort or distress for Jesus is now pointless since the situation is beyond hope. This message arrives at a critical moment, immediately after a woman's persistent faith had already drawn Jesus's attention and power.
The worst possible news arrives just as Jesus is about to bring life. How does Jairus, the grieving father, respond to this devastating message?
Jairus's daughter is on the brink of death, and he pleads with Jesus to come heal her. But as Jesus is speaking with a woman who touched His garment, messengers arrive with the crushing news: 'Your daughter is dead.'
These messengers, likely household servants or relatives, seem to have given up hope. Their question, 'Why trouble the Teacher any further?' reveals a common understanding of Jesus at the time: a powerful healer, yes, but only while life still flickered. They saw no point in bothering Him now that death had claimed her.
A Shift in Focus
What's remarkable is Jesus's immediate response to Jairus after hearing this news: 'Do not fear; only believe.' (Mark 5:36). He doesn't rebuke the messengers or dwell on the finality of death. Instead, He redirects Jairus's focus from the hopeless news to the power of faith.
This moment teaches us that faith isn't about having all the answers or never receiving bad news. It's about our response when the worst happens. It’s about choosing to trust God's power even when circumstances scream the opposite.
The messengers’ words, 'Why trouble the Teacher any further?' carry a surprising weight. What did they really mean by 'trouble,' and what does it reveal about their perception of Jesus?
The word used for 'trouble' here implies an exertion, a disturbance, or even a wearying effort. The messengers saw Jesus as a skilled physician, perhaps, but one whose abilities had limits. Once death occurred, they believed any further attempt to involve Him was simply a pointless disturbance.
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Beyond Human Limits
Their perspective is understandable from a purely human viewpoint. They hadn't witnessed Jesus raise the dead before, or at least, not in a way that had become widely known or believed by them. They saw Jesus's journey with Jairus through a crowd, the potential delay, and the seemingly insurmountable obstacle of death itself, as an unnecessary 'trouble' for someone who could only help the living.
This highlights a profound truth: What looks like 'trouble' or an impossible burden to human eyes is often where God's power is most dramatically displayed. Jesus, however, saw no 'trouble' in confronting death; it was simply another arena where His authority extended.
Understand the original words
archisynagōgos · Greek Noun
One who exercises authority, specifically the leader of a synagogue responsible for the oversight of religious affairs and the local community of believers.
didaskalos · Greek Noun
A term of address, primarily used for a master or instructor; in the Gospels, it is a respectful title for Jesus, acknowledging his authority to teach divine truth.
phobou · Greek Verb
An imperative command to cease from alarm, agitation, or dread, often given in the face of impossible human circumstances to redirect trust toward God's power and presence.
pisteue · Greek Verb
A foundational act of trusting, relying upon, and committing oneself to God or His messenger; it implies a total dependence on His truth and authority rather than visible circumstances.
archisynagōgos · Greek Noun
The leader of a local Jewish congregation responsible for the administration and oversight of the synagogue building and worship services.
The news of the daughter's death arriving while Jesus was still speaking highlights the desperation of the situation and the messengers' lack of faith in Jesus's ability to help someone already deceased.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus's Ministry in Galilee
Jesus travels throughout Galilee, teaching, healing, and gathering followers. This period sees numerous miracles, including the healing of the sick and casting out demons.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jairus, a synagogue ruler, seeks Jesus's help
Jairus, a respected leader in the local synagogue, learns of Jesus and desperately seeks Him out to heal his dying daughter.
c. AD 27-30
Interruption by a woman's healing
While Jesus is on his way to Jairus's house, a woman with a chronic hemorrhage touches His cloak and is instantly healed, causing a brief delay.
c. AD 27-30
News of the daughter's death arrives
Messengers arrive from Jairus's home with the devastating news that his daughter has died, implying it is too late for Jesus to help.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus raises Jairus's daughter
Jesus proceeds to Jairus's house, dismisses the mourners, and raises the twelve-year-old girl back to life, demonstrating His authority over death.
This passage immediately precedes Mark 5:35 in Luke's Gospel and contains a similar message about the daughter's death, highlighting the contrast between despair and Jesus' instruction to 'Fear not; believe only, and she shall be made well'.
John 11:11-14Jesus' statement that Lazarus is 'sleeping' when he is actually dead mirrors the reaction here, where the messengers and mourners mock Jesus' claim that the girl is 'not dead but sleeping', showing a similar misunderstanding of Jesus' power over death.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52The idea of death being like 'sleep' is a powerful metaphor for the resurrection, as Jesus uses it here and as Paul later elaborates in explaining the nature of the resurrection, connecting physical death to a temporary state before awakening.
Matthew 9:23-24This parallel account in Matthew describes the musicians and the crowd mourning, just as in Mark, and highlights their ridicule when Jesus says the girl is only 'sleeping', underscoring the human tendency to dismiss Jesus' supernatural power when faced with what seems like an irreversible reality.
pooleMark 5:35: "While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?"
Ver. 35-43. There is nothing in this history needeth further notes for explication, than what we gave in the notes on Matthew, to which I here refer the reader; See Poole on "Matthew 9:18" , See Poole on "Matthew 9:19" , See Poole on "Matthew 9:23" , and following verses to Matthew 9:31 . There is nothing more unaccountable in a…
gillMark 5:35: "While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?"
While he yet spake,.... The above things to the poor woman, in commendation of her faith, and for her future encouragement, peace, and comfort in soul and body: there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain that said. The Vulgate Latin renders it, "from the ruler of the synagogue", and which is indeed the literal ve…
These messengers bring devastating news, but their words reveal a common perception of Jesus: they see him as a skilled healer for the living, capable of easing suffering, but not as someone with power over death itself. They believe his role as a "Teacher" or "Master" ends where life ends, highlighting a gap in their understanding of his true authority.
As Jesus is speaking with Jairus, the synagogue ruler whose daughter is gravely ill, messengers arrive from Jairus's home with devastating news. They tell Jairus that his daughter has died, implying that any further effort or distress for Jesus is now pointless since the situation is beyond hope. This message arrives at a critical moment, immediately after a woman's persistent faith had already drawn Jesus's attention and power.
As Jesus is speaking with Jairus, the synagogue ruler whose daughter is gravely ill, messengers arrive from Jairus's home with devastating news. They tell Jairus that his daughter has died, implying that any further effort or distress for Jesus is now pointless since the situation is beyond hope. This message arrives at a critical moment, immediately after a woman's persistent faith had already drawn Jesus's attention and power.
"While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believ…" — These messengers bring devastating news, but their words reveal a common perception of Jesus: they see him as a skilled healer for the living, capable of easing suffering, but not as someone with pow…
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Last reviewed October 2026
