The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-04-24
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties TauGht by n Study of the Inter
national Sunday school Lesson Appointed for
May L. SfsLuke san H. 1854

81 N LA M EDII A1lON.
Practical Duties TauGht by Study of the Inter-
national Sunday school Lesson Appointed for
May 4. SfsLuke, san, IL, 1876,
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from tho Holy Scriptures as
Indicated above.l
SUBJECT: RESTORATION TO LIFE OF THE
DAUGHTER OF JAGRUs.
l. Preliminary.
We now study our Saviors 10th miracle. It
is the second case of his raising to life the dead.
The first miracle of that kind was tho one per-
formed on the only child Of the widow of Main.
The miracle which is our present lesson, was
the eighth performed by Christ at Capernaum.
The first was tho great draft of fishes; the
second, the healing of the demonac; the third,
the cure of the mother-in-law of ST. Peter; the
fourth, the restoration to health of tho para
lytic; the fifth, the wtHored hand the sixth,
the centurons servaD& tho seventh, the case
of another demoniac.
We have three accounts of this miracle. St.
Matt, o: IL, 10, % %; st. Mark, 5: 22-24, IS
49, st. Luke 8:41, az, 40 st. The most full
report is that by st. Mark. st. Matthew's is
the brieiest. He does not mention the name
OF the father, nor which three of Christ's dis
ciples accompanied him. nor the age of the
girl, nor indeed whether she were alivo when
the father left home. nor the fact that he went
into room alone, save the presence of three
Of his disciples and the parents of tho child.
These omissions are the more singular from the
fact st. Matthew must have known all about
the facts at the time of their occurrence while
SITS. Mark and Luke were Obliged to learn of
them indirectly aud after considerable interval
of time. The three reports were all written
not far from A. d. 60, or about 30 years after
tho facts took place.
T;ns
Christ restored to life the daughter Of Jalrus,
A. ID. q.
4. Place
The home of st. Matthew was In Capernaum.
To it Jairus went to solicit Christ to help him.
Jesus accordingly went to the residence of the
ruler. We do not know how far it was from
that of st. Matthew. We learn that on the way
Christ performed a miracle, and we can infer
some distance.
5. Jairus.
1t is quite evident the father Of the deceased
girl was man OF some prominence. Jairns
was one tho rulers of the synagog in Caper-
naum. He was a Jew. St Matthew says Of
him that he was " a certain ruler" implying he
was one of number st. Marks account shows
plainly he was one Of the rulers Of tho syna-
Cog" Acts, ID: 10, makes it evident each syna-
cog had "a number of rulers. But st. Mark,
.. 80, speaks Of him as the ruler. Perhaps one
Of the rulers was the principal, the ruler
The synag0g was u place for Jewish worship
when the devOtee was not in near the temple.
Sacrifices, however, could be offered only at
Jerusalem Synagogs were very convenient
since the temple was Mt great distance from
many places. The questions of st. John, Z: 26
Is, show that rulers Of synagogs wn,. eminent
men. The officers of such places of worship
were chosen with care. Men OF years, piety
and special qualifications were selected The
OItruu K Ing the rg5t in papuiiar gfffs
was called the ruler, the archisynagogus, and
probably such was Jairus.
6. The Deceased
Tho girl raised to life was about II years old
We do not know from what disease she died,
nor how long she had been i'll. The father did
not seek Christ till hope Of recovery through
human physicians WAS lost. When the father
left his house his daughter was at the point
Of DEATH" (St. Mark, B 3d. was "adying,n
tSt. LUX, 3 49, She is called maid, little
daughter, damsel, maiden lSee the three ac-
counts) These terms all imply girlhOod st.
Mark says she was II years old st. Luke states
she was about IL years old. st. Matthew does
not mention her age. The Talmud says that
female below IL ia a little girl, but if she DO
only one day over IL she is young woman
The name of tho girl is not given. She was an
only daughter. The heart of Jairus WAS fixed
on her.
T. The Mnsirels.
ST. Matt, o %, calls the mourmers minstrels.
In ST. Mark, 5: IS they are described rs being the
ones who "wept and walled greatly Compare
II, Luke, y. 81 They were professional hired
mouruers, praeticing on musical instruments,
using flutes IN particular in the cases of chill
dren and louder instruments in instances OF
Of adults. They in special were the persons
who laughed at Christ's intimation that the
girl WAS not dead. The explanation of their
ridicule was that he interfored with their bust
ness. They were howlers They sung sad and
vociierous dirges, accompanying their songs or
screams by mournful striuged or pipe music
Making this business, they became very
skillful.
See Fec, 10 3; Jer, 9: IT 81; 10 ST; As: SO;
Eze., - IL; Am. 5: IS Josephus b., 3, O. ).
In pagan nations the hired mOurners used TO
mutilate themselves. The Jews were forbidden
such practice. lev, 10: %; Dcu., II: l. >
Contrast Jer., l6 q, ~ Aud yet the Hebrews
were excessive in funeral demonstrations
They expressed sorrow in various external
ways-tossing earth on head u Sam, / y;
going unanOinted "a p head covered
u.s. 30l; barefooted tidem.); ashes on head
(l3 49,; garments rent (idem., lag; Job,
/: 90; 2 l2l face covered e Sa., 10: A.; I'M
dressed feet 10: pa; untrimmed beard (ideml;
unwashed clothes (idem.l shaved head Job,
/; 20) dust on head Job ? :l2J
The poorest Jew was obliged To hire two ppers
ana one mourning woman Tor funeral. Greeks,
Romans, Anglo-Saxons Cloths. Icelandcrs had
professional mourners and used funereal in
struments of music, or rather noise. Children
of Jews in their plays used 10 initiate funeral
walters. (St. Matt, ii l6)
h. De Hesse Wartegg says in the New York
Sun, speaking OF Venezuelan peculiarities: Zone
of the most curious customs OF the country is
dancing in the house of mourning. As soon as
life departs the dead is clad in white and laid
upon his bed. Relatives are invited to come
musicians ordered, aud dancing, singing
and amuaements are kept up necessarily until
the inteTment has taken place This Is done
with view TO distract tho family of the de-
ceased, and to drive their grief away Even
passers-by, unknown to the family, are allowed
10 enter and TO take part in these strange
amusements Of the living in the presence of tho
dead"
s. The Miracle.
The author of the miracle was Christ He IA
styled Jesus and Master. lie was dining at the
residence of st. Matthew. While so engaged
IL ruler, Jairus, went and solicited him 60 90
and cure his daughter. He had some faith
but Christ tries TO keep il up TO full pitch. and
hence he exhorted him. BE not afraid, only
believe" (St. Mark, 5 So compare ST. Luke.
8 50) He means keep up your belief DO not
permit it to lessen for moment. He com.
Piled with the request of the ruler as to going
To the house. 10 was not needful for him to GO,
He could euro or rusu the denl In Il. frnp, a