“But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, ‘Little girl, arise.’ Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat.” (Lk 8:54-55)

A synagogue ruler named Jairus asked Jesus to come and heal his seriously ill daughter. Jesus was on His way to heal Jairus’ daughter when the woman with an issue of blood had interrupted Him. While Jesus was healing the woman, Jairus’ faith was tested when he heard that his daughter had died. But Jesus turned to him and said, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” (v. 50) With a few words, Jesus strengthened Jairus and helped him refocus on faith and hope.

Jesus selected Peter, James, and John to accompany Him into the home of Jairus. He ordered the mourners inside Jairus’ house to leave, and in quiet privacy He took the lifeless girl’s hand and said, “Little girl, arise.” She stood and walked, and Jesus ordered that she be given food. Peter, following the example of Jesus, put all the people out before he prayed and raised Dorcas to life at nearby Joppa.

Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately (v. 55). This indicates that at death our spirit departs from our body. Our body is only a tent in which we dwell for a while on earth. Just like this encounter with a dead girl, death is no match for the command of His voice. Jesus Christ has power over death. We will all hear His voice one day. John 5:28-29 reads, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth–those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”

Jesus Christ was the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth (Rev 1:5). Jesus resurrected on the third day after He was crucified and buried. His resurrection gives us hope of our resurrection. We are no longer afraid of death, for we know that our spirit will return to a glorious body when we hear His voice.