Mark 5:43
And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Jesus' command for secrecy (the 'Messianic Secret' in Mark) served multiple purposes: preventing premature popular messianic movement that would force political confrontation before appointed time, avoiding mob enthusiasm that would hinder teaching ministry, and managing expectations about His messianic identity (suffering servant, not military deliverer). The request was practically impossible—how hide that a publicly dead girl now lived? Yet it delayed widespread sensational reports long enough for Jesus to continue ministry in the region. The command to feed her reflected Jewish understanding that eating proved resurrection—ghosts didn't eat, but resurrected bodies did. Later, Jesus Himself ate fish after resurrection to prove His bodily reality (Luke 24:41-43). The mundane detail (give her food) after cosmic miracle (raising dead) illustrates the incarnation's mystery: fully divine (conquers death) yet fully human (cares about child's hunger). Early church fathers noted the progression: Jesus raises the dead, then ensures she eats—similarly, He gives spiritual life (regeneration) then provides spiritual food (Word and sacraments) for growth.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Jesus' balance between cosmic power (raising the dead) and mundane care (feeding the hungry) inform Christian ministry priorities today?
- What does Jesus' concern to limit sensational publicity teach about pursuing faithful obedience over public acclaim or impressive results?
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Analysis & Commentary
And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat. Jesus' response to the miracle reveals His priorities. 'He charged them straitly' (διεστείλατο αὐτοῖς πολλά, diesteilato autois polla) means He strongly commanded or strictly ordered them. 'That no man should know it' (ἵνα μηδεὶς γνοῖ τοῦτο, hina mēdeis gnoi touto) seems paradoxical—how could they hide a public death and resurrection? Jesus sought to limit sensational publicity that would hinder His ministry and turn Him into mere miracle-worker rather than Messiah. He wanted focus on His teaching and identity, not spectacle-seeking.
'Commanded that something should be given her to eat' shows beautiful pastoral care. After demonstrating cosmic power over death, Jesus attends to practical need—feeding a hungry child. This reveals Jesus' character: sovereign power combined with tender concern for basic human needs. Eating proved she was genuinely alive (not ghost or vision), provided needed nourishment after illness/death, and returned her to normal family life. The detail illustrates incarnational theology—Jesus cares about both eternal souls and temporal bodies, spiritual needs and physical necessities. His ministry addressed whole persons, not disembodied spirits. This balance challenges both hyper-spirituality that ignores physical needs and materialism that ignores spiritual realities.