Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 5:42

"And straightway the damsel rose up, and walked; for she was twelve years old. And they were amazed straightway with a great amazement." — Mark 5:42 (ASV)

The twelve-year-old girl responded immediately to Jesus’ words. She not only stood up, she began to walk around. The five witnesses to the miracle were completely amazed. Death is an enemy (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:25–26), but it must give way to the power of the kingdom present in Jesus, the Messiah. Jesus gave two orders to the witnesses. First, they were not to reveal the facts about the miracle. Jesus revealed his messianic dignity to those who could be entrusted with it, but it was veiled to those (like the raucous mourners) who could not. Jesus’ second order was that they should give the girl something to eat —beautiful evidence of his concern for ordinary human needs.