"She is alive!" gasped Andrew. The child turned toward them, but the disciples shrank back as though fearful of what they saw.
"I'm hungry," she said.
Jesus gripped Jairus' shoulder gently. "Give the child something to eat now." Neither of the parents replied; but they kneeled before Jesus.
The awed disciples turned toward Jesus. Could this man who gave life to the dead be the Master they knew so well?
"For your sakes," Jesus said, "I am glad I was not here when this child died." His words struck deep into the memories of the disciples. "I have come to tell you what life really is. This child was dead and lives again. But I warn you: there is a kind of death from which no one can return. And there is true life: whoever has this life can never die."
Who is he—who is this One who raises the dead? The minds of the disciples raced, trying to grasp the meaning of what had happened.
"Fear not the death of the body; he who believes in God can never die. Just as I have given life to this little child I give eternal life to all who put their trust in God."
Who can he be—who can he be—to give eternal life?
Jesus turned to the parents of the child. "Rise!" Then he warned them and the disciples, saying: "No one must hear about this. Only you understand its true meaning." Turning to the disciples, he said, "Let us go now." Seething with excitement they could not control, the disciples followed Jesus.