After healing the Gadarene demoniac, Christ Jesus recrossed the Sea of Galilee to its western side, probably to Capernaum, where a multitude awaited him.
Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, whose twelve-year-old daughter was lying at the point of death, sought the Master's aid. As Jesus went with Jairus, a woman in the throng that surrounded him, who was afflicted with "an issue of blood," came behind him and touched his garment, confident that she would receive help. Her healing was immediate. (See Mark 5:21– 34; cf. Matt. 9:18–22; Luke 8:40–48.)
From Jairus' house came the message that it was now too late to trouble the Master any further. The child was dead. At once Jesus spoke to the ruler, "Be not afraid, only believe." Allowing none but Peter, James, and John to accompany him, he went to Jairus' home, only to find another crowd, noisily mourning the child's death. He put them all out, and taking only the parents and the three disciples, went to the child. "And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her [in Aramaic], Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked." (See Mark 5:35–42; cf. Matt. 9:23–26; Luke 8:49–55.)
