While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. (Luke 8:49-55, ESV)

How we admire the Lord Jesus Christ. Although he was not without emotions, and could be disturbed in his feelings, he never wavered in his confidence, and he never faltered in his determination. He is our true teacher and champion.

Jairus was in trouble, or rather his daughter, who was sick and about to die. He begged Jesus to heal her, and the Lord agreed. While they were on the way, Jesus was pressed by the crowds, but the touch of curiosity and excitement proved futile. Even though he was in the flesh, he was not known or appropriated by the flesh. But then, there was a touch of faith.

In Mark’s parallel account, the woman said to herself, “If I can just touch his clothes, I will be healed” (Mark 5:28). This was not an ordinary thing to think of somebody, but she perceived his spiritual significance, and not just his physical frame. Jesus stopped, and said that someone had touched him. His disciples thought that this was a strange thing to say: “You see the people crowding against you, and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?'” (Mark 5:31). Many people touched him, but only the touch of faith mattered. It was a touch that regarded Jesus as more than an ordinary man, and more than a mere teacher or scribe.

While Jesus was still speaking, news came that the daughter had died. It was too late. Or was it? Jesus turned to Jairus and said, “Do not fear; only believe.” What kind of man was this? The people wondered the same thing when they saw him dominate demons and command the storms. He was not just another religious founder. He did not bring only theories and ethics, but he brought the truth about God, out of which came ethics and power, and salvation. Now may his people also be different. If our leader is Lord over all things, then why would we think like weaklings, or behave like the followers of false religions, only with a different name?

When he arrived, he told the people to stop mourning, because “She is not dead but asleep.” He did not mean that there was a misdiagnosis, for the girl was indeed dead. And it was not a mere euphemism, because they laughed at him. The case of Lazarus illustrates both of these points. Jesus told his disciples, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up” (John 11:11). His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” The misunderstanding shows that this was not a euphemism or a common figure of speech that others would readily grasp. Jesus then explained, “Lazarus is dead.” Thus when he said that a dead person was asleep, he did not refer to a misdiagnosis.

Rather, Jesus spoke as God would speak. Just as God called Abraham a father while he was still childless, Jesus was one who called things that are not as though they were (Romans 4:17). God can never lie, not because there are things that omnipotence cannot perform, as some would put it, but because lying is inapplicable to God, since the will, the power, the word, and the truth are one in him. If God says something, then even if it was not true before, it would become the truth.

Some Christians are faulted for imitating the Lord in this, but regardless of their errors on other matters, and there may be many, on this issue the criticism exhibits ignorance and prejudice, because this is the language of faith, and the Lord was not the only one who spoke this way. Consider the Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4). When her child died, she requested a donkey from her husband so she could visit Elisha. Her husband asked for the reason, and she said, “All is well.” When Elisha’s servant asked her “Is your child all right?” she said, “Everything is all right.” She did not deny the reality of the situation, since she instructed the servant to hurry, and when she met Elisha, the prophet perceived that she was in great distress. She said, “Did I ask you for a son, my lord? Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t raise my hopes’?” Yet she never mentioned that the child had died. Elisha went to the boy and raised him from the dead. And the woman is commended in Hebrews 11:35 along with the great men of faith.

This is not the only way to speak in faith, and a superstitious fear of stating the natural fact is unbiblical, since Jesus said that Lazarus was dead when the disciples misunderstood. Still, at least in principle, there is no warrant to criticize those who in faith call things that are not as though they were. Again, Jesus did it, and the practice was not limited to the divine mediator. At the least, we must say that faith in God is reflected in our speech. If we trust in God, our words will be filled with confidence, not pessimism. Speech that is characterized by doubt, depression, and extreme self-abasement dishonors our Lord, who is mighty and glorious. Such talk does not come from humility, but unbelief.

Jesus raised the girl from the dead, as easily as one would wake a person from natural slumber. When we implore the Lord to help us, even when the situation becomes worse and defeat appears final, it is not final to Jesus. He calls us to have the same confidence. He rebuked the disciples for being afraid in a deadly storm. He rebuked them when they forgot that he could multiply bread, and always had leftovers. Did he demand this faith only from apostles? This is one of the biggest theological scams in history, that there is an essential difference in the faith of the apostles. It is an excuse for unbelief and for untenable doctrines. Jesus rebuked the apostles for doubting that he could be crucified on a cross, stabbed by a spear in the heart, wrapped in linen and spices, shut up in a grave by a boulder, and after three days walk right back out. Are we excused from this too? Then only the apostles were Christians.

Jesus never told the apostles to trust in their apostleship, but he said, “Trust in God; trust also in me” (John 14:1). If Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, then he would still rebuke us for being afraid in a deadly storm. He would still rebuke us for being anxious about food and clothing. And he would still rebuke us for doubting the resurrection. The apostles understood this, and referred to our religion as our common faith. Stop mourning, but only believe, for Jesus Christ has come.