But while I was still speaking to the disciples about this woman, some of the ruler’s servants came running towards us, almost out of breath, and brought the ruler the sad news that his daughter has already died.
But the ruler became very sad and said to Me, ‘Dear Master, since it is now, alas, sadly beyond all measure too late to help my dear daughter, who was everything to me, trouble yourself no further.’
At these words he began to weep aloud; for he dearly loved his twelve-year-old daughter, who was very well formed and educated, had a stature to rival a twenty-year-old girl and was also this ruler’s only child.
When I heard this from his servants and afterwards from him himself, and also pitied the ruler, who had become immeasurably sad, with all My heart, I said to him, ‘Friend, have no fear, but believe! Your daughter has not died, but only fallen asleep, and I shall awaken her.’
When the ruler heard this from Me, he began to breathe more easily.
But when we were still about a thousand paces from the ruler’s house, I told the people and those disciples whose faith was still somewhat weaker that they should all remain here; and only Peter, James, his brother and John were allowed to come along, for one could already build houses upon their faith.
When I then came into the house with the school ruler, there was a great commotion there, and according to Jewish custom there was weeping and wailing, and dirges were being sung.
But when I entered the room where the dead girl lay on an adorned bed, I addressed the many noisy people and said to them, ‘Why are you making such a commotion and weeping so violently here!? The little daughter has not died; she is only sleeping!’
Then they laughed at Me and said, ‘Yes, that is what sleeping people look like! When for about two and a half hours there has been neither breath nor pulse, and the whole body has become cold and colorless and the eye has gone out, then according to your knowledge one is sleeping!? Yes, yes, that too is indeed a sleep; but no one ever awakens from this sleep except on the Last Day!’
But I said to the ruler, ‘Get them all out; for I have no use for their unbelief here!’ The ruler did so, but the noisy crowd did not obey him, and he asked Me to help. Then I drove them all out by force, and they ran out and dispersed.
But then I went back with the ruler, the sorrowful mother and the four disciples into the chamber in which the dead little daughter lay, went at once to her bed, took her by the left hand and said to her, ‘Talitha kumi!!!’—which, translated, means, ‘Little girl! I say to you: rise!!!’
And immediately the little girl rose, sprang cheerfully and briskly from the adorned bed, walked about the room with her former liveliness and caressed her tear-stained mother and her father. At the same time, however, the cheerful little girl also felt that her stomach was empty and that she was therefore hungry and would like something to eat.
Then the parents, who had become joyful beyond all measure, turned to Me and, amid many tears of joy and gratitude, asked Me whether, and what, they should now give their daughter to eat. But I said, ‘By all means give her something to eat that she likes and that is quickly at hand!’
And there were figs and dates on a dish, and the little daughter asked whether she might eat these fruits. And I said, ‘Just eat what tastes good to you; for you are now entirely well and will no longer become ill in the future.’
Then the girl quickly sprang to the dish and emptied it almost completely. But the parents were concerned that it might harm her.
But I reassured them and said to them, ‘Do not worry; if I tell you that it can never harm her, then it will never harm her either!’ And the parents firmly believed.
But after the girl had eaten her fill and spoken her song of praise, she went to her parents and quietly asked them who I was. For while she slept on the bed, she saw the heavens open and a great multitude of radiant angels, and—she herself said—‘In the midst of the angels stood a very friendly man. He looked towards me, then came up to me, took me by the hand and said, “Talitha kumi!” And at this call I immediately awoke! And look, this man here looks exactly like the one I saw earlier in the dream among so many angels! Ah, he must be a very dear man!?’
The ruler understood his daughter’s question only too clearly; but since I had signaled to him, he merely told his daughter that she had had a beautiful and true dream which he would soon explain to her fully. And the little daughter was entirely content with this.
But I told the ruler that he should now go outside with the daughter, the mother and Me so that those waiting outside might be put to shame for their unbelief. And we went out; and when the unbelievers saw the daughter looking well and approaching them quite briskly, and beginning to ask them why they stood there so bewildered and frightened, they were still more horrified and said, ‘This is a miracle above all miracles! For the little girl was truly dead and now lives!?!’ And they wished to make this known throughout the region immediately.
But I threatened them all and commanded them, by their bodily and spiritual salvation, to keep this matter strictly to themselves. And they were silent and went away.