Luke 8:53 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.

NIV: They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.

NASB: And they began laughing at Him, knowing that she had died.

CSB: They laughed at him, because they knew she was dead.

NLT: But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died.

KJV: And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

NKJV: And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead.

Peter, John, and James have followed Jesus as He accompanies a synagogue leader whose daughter has died. As they enter his house, people are "weeping and mourning for her" (Luke 8:49–52). They aren't friends and family come to comfort the girl's parents. They're hired mourners who have come to make a spectacle of death (Matthew 9:23; Mark 5:38).

Jesus intends to heal the girl, but quietly. He has already left the mob (Luke 8:40) and most of the disciples outside. Now He needs to get rid of the racket. He uses a common euphemism (1 Thessalonians 5:10) and tells the mourners, "Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping" (Luke 8:52). If the mourners had cared about the girl and her family, they would have either rejoiced in hope or berated Jesus for lying and being uncaring. Instead, they scornfully laugh. The girl's father is doing everything he can to keep faith that Jesus can raise the dead (Luke 8:50; Matthew 9:18). These people are not helping.

This is a common experience in life, especially for those of faith. The faith journey is difficult, and it's made more so when those who should support and encourage us choose to mock us instead. Several times, the New Testament tells us to encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 10:23–25). It's worth considering how we spend time and resources, and if those things are actually tearing us down.

Jesus kicks the mourners out (Mark 5:40). This is just a job for them, and their services are no longer required. Then He enters the room where the girl has been laid.

Luke 8:40–56 records the third and fourth examples of Jesus providing salvation from worldly hardships—this time, illness, shame, and death. Jairus begs Jesus to come heal his daughter. Along the way, a chronically ill woman touches Jesus' robe. Jesus stops, blesses her faith, and calls her "daughter." He then raises the young girl from the dead. Jairus and the woman both show their faith through their diligence and boldness to procure Jesus' healing power. Next, Jesus will imbue His disciples with His power to continue His work. These stories are also found in Matthew 9:18–26 and Mark 5:21–43.

Luke 8 includes portions of three sections of Jesus' Galilean Ministry. The women who support Jesus' ministry bridge the faithful outcasts of chapter 7 to the sower who spreads the news of God's kingdom (Luke 8:1–3). Luke 8:4–18 includes the parables of the sower and the lamp under the jar. These illustrate the importance of hearing Jesus' message with a mind to believe and obey. Luke 8:19–56 presents different faith reactions when Jesus' life, power, and authority elicit questions about His identity.

This passage continues Luke's pattern in the account of Jesus' Galilean ministry: alternating calls to discipleship with stories that describe the discipleship He expects. In Luke 6:17, Jesus transitioned from calling and training the Twelve to a more general call; in Luke 7, Jesus interacted specifically with those with less privilege in society. Chapter 8 reveals how people react when Jesus reveals who He is, mostly through miracles. In Luke 9:18–50, Jesus returns to intense discipleship of the Twelve to give them courage and faith, preparing them for the journey to Jerusalem and what they will witness there.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.