What Happens After Death? Lessons from Jesus Raising Jairus’ Daughter

In our daily meditations on the Scriptures, we continue reflecting on Jesus's supernatural works. Today, we examine the raising of a young girl from the dead:

Jesus’ Authority Over Death (Luke 8:49-56)

⁴⁹While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore” ⁵⁰Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” ⁵¹When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. ⁵²Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” ⁵³They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. ⁵⁴But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” ⁵⁵Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. ⁵⁶Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened (Luke 8:49-56).

Is Death Just a "Sleep"? Understanding the Greek Context

Jesus told Jairus, the synagogue leader, “Don’t fear; only believe, and she will be healed” (v. 50). When they reached his house, professional mourners were already present, weeping and crying over the girl’s death. Jesus said to them, “Stop mourning; she is not dead but asleep.” They ridiculed him, knowing she had died (vs. 52-53). The Greek word for "laughed" in verse 53 describes a scornful, belly laugh full of ridicule toward Jesus’ words. They weren’t novices at funerals; they knew she was dead, and this was no coma. What did Jesus mean when he said Jairus’ daughter was sleeping? The Holy Scriptures make it clear that those in Christ’s household of faith never truly die. They may have their bodies laid in the ground, but believers remain alive at the moment they depart from their bodies. Let's briefly explore what happens after death.

Soul Sleep vs. Presence with the Lord

Some people believe that when a Christian dies, their soul sleeps, unconscious, until Christ comes for them at the resurrection. The Bible includes a few passages where Jesus refers to death for a Christian as “sleep.” Here’s one of them:

¹¹After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up." ¹²His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." ¹³Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep (John 11:11-13).

Christ intentionally waited two days before He even left for Lazarus's tomb (John 11:6). The Lord aimed to demonstrate to the skeptics that He has authority over death. Jews believed that a dead person's spirit could linger near their body for up to two days before moving on to the afterlife. Lazarus was not merely sleeping in the tomb; he was truly dead. Here’s what Jesus said regarding those who have placed their trust in Christ:

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die (John 11:25-26).

People are considered dead only if they have not entered a relationship with Christ (Ephesians 2:1, 5). The Scriptures state that, at this moment in heaven, there are the spirits of just men made perfect (Hebrews 12:23). In another passage, at Christ’s return, “God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him" (1 Thessalonians 4:14). Their bodies remain in the grave, but the unseen part of our nature, that is, our spirit, is very much alive and with the Lord.

The Spirit and the Body: The Driver and the Car

When I get into my car, it’s dead until I turn on the ignition. It won’t do anything at all without me driving it. In the same way, the real me consists of a spirit and soul that "drives" my body. Each person lives on beyond death. There’s more to life than just this body of flesh.

At a funeral, we bury something, not someone; it is the house, not the tenant, that is lowered into the grave. Verna Wright.

Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands (2 Corinthians 5:1).

To Be Absent from the Body is to Be Present with Christ

Paul the Apostle wrote: “We would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). Paul fully expected that the moment he was released from his body, he would go directly to be with the Lord. For those who believe in Christ, the body is "asleep" until the Lord's return. To be "absent" from the body means one's spirit goes to its eternal home—either heaven with the Lord or hell, separated from God for eternity.

A Beautiful Transition: Her Spirit Returned

The Lord took Jairus and his wife into the room with Him, along with His three closest disciples: Peter, James, and John.

⁵⁴But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” ⁵⁵Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat (Luke 8:54-55).

When Jesus took the daughter's hand and told her to get up, Luke tells us that her spirit returned (v. 55). What a beautiful sight it must have been for those parents as her eyes flickered open, and she beheld the face of the Lord Jesus. Many of us reading these words will one day close our earthly eyes and see the Lord Jesus as we transition into eternal life. Where had the little girl been? Her body was lifeless on the bed before the Lord, yet her spirit had been elsewhere—with the Father in heaven. I hope to see you there. Keith Thomas

Continue Your Journey…

If you found this meditation meaningful, there is so much more to explore about God’s plan in the Gospel of Luke series, click on 18: The Sick Woman and the Dead Girl.

YouTube video teachings at: https://www.youtube.com/@keiththomas7/videos