“Little girl, wake up!” And just with those words, Jesus reached down into death and pulled her up into life! This painting captures the moment of that miracle right after Jesus takes her hand and right before He speaks those words. She really was dead. Mourners (who laughed at Jesus when He said she was sleeping) had placed flowers at her feet, and a fly is morbidly crawling up her arm. But for Jesus Christ, who will go on to kill death itself by His own death on the cross, it is nothing to gently ‘wake her up’ from what for humanity is the final terrifying end. How precious and tender for a God so powerful that He is above and beyond death to take the time to take one little girl by the hand and bring her back to her family. But that is what Jesus does for each of us! With the same tender attention, as if we are the only one in the room, like in this composition, he raises us individually to life… if we will take it. He took on our own sin and death – here perhaps foreshadowed by the darkness of His cloak – and brings us into light and life. Gabriel Max was an Austrian painter who, like many artists in his time, was very intrigued by spiritism and the supernatural in general which may be why he resonated with this story of death and life. His scientific accuracy is also seen in the careful anatomical rendering and the detail of the fly. He uses his signature dark, muted palette to create a simple yet powerful image of this beautiful miracle.
Based on Mark 5:22, 35-42
22 Behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, came; and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and begged him much, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Please come and lay your hands on her, that she may be made healthy, and live.”
35 While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue ruler’s house, saying, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?”
36 But Jesus, when he heard the message spoken, immediately said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.” 37 He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 He came to the synagogue ruler’s house, and he saw an uproar, weeping, and great wailing. 39 When he had entered in, he said to them, “Why do you make an uproar and weep? The child is not dead, but is asleep.”
40 They ridiculed him. But he, having put them all out, took the father of the child, her mother, and those who were with him, and went in where the child was lying. 41 Taking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha cumi!” which means, being interpreted, “Girl, I tell you, get up!” 42 Immediately the girl rose up and walked, for she was twelve years old. They were amazed with great amazement.