# “Not one lamb shall be found missing” by J.C. Ryle

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2026/08/13/not-one-lamb-shall-be-found-missing-by-j-c-ryle/
- Published: 2026-08-13T10:00:00-05:00
- Author: tollelege

“A great miracle is recorded in these verses. A dead girl is restored to life. Mighty
as the ‘King of terrors’ is, there is One mightier than he. The keys of death are
in our Lord Jesus Christ’s hands. He will one day ‘swallow up death in victory.’(**
Isaiah 25:8**)

Let us learn from these verses, that rank places no man beyond the reach of sorrow.
Jairus was a ‘ruler;’ yet sickness and trouble came to his house. Jairus probably
had wealth, and all the medical help that wealth can command; yet money could not
keep death away from his child.

The daughters of rulers are liable to sickness, as well as the daughters of poor
men. The daughters of rulers must die.

It is good for us all to remember this. We are too apt to forget it. We often think
and talk as if the possession of riches was the great antidote to sorrow, and as
if money could secure us against sickness and death.

But it is the very extreme of blindness to think so. We have only to look around
us and see a hundred proofs to the contrary. Death comes to halls and palaces, as
well as to cottages,—to landlords as well as to tenants,—to rich as well as to poor.
It stands on no ceremony.

It tarries no man’s leisure or convenience. It will not be kept out by locks and
bars. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” (**Heb.
9:27**) All are going to one place, the grave.

We may be sure there is far more equality in the portions appointed to men than 
at first sight appears. Sickness is a great leveller. It makes no distinction. Heaven
is the only place where “the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick.” (**Isaiah 33:
24**)

Happy are they who set their affections on things above! They, and they only, have
a treasure which is incorruptible. Yet a little while, and they will be where they
shall hear no more evil tidings.

All tears shall be wiped from their faces. They shall put on mourning no more. Never
again shall they hear those sorrowful words, “thy daughter,—thy son,—thy wife,—thy
husband,—is dead.” The former things will have passed away.

Let us learn, for another thing, how almighty is the power of our Lord Jesus Christ.
That message which pierced the ruler’s heart, telling him that his child was dead,
did not stop our Lord for a moment.

At once he cheered the father’s fainting spirits with these gracious words, “be 
not afraid, only believe.” He comes to the house where many are weeping and wailing,
and enters the room where the girl is lying.

He takes her by the hand, and says, ‘Girl, I say unto thee arise.’ At once the heart
begins to beat again, and the breath returns to the lifeless body. ‘The girl arose
and walked.’ No wonder that we read the words, “they were astonished with a great
astonishment.’

Let us think for a moment how wonderful was the change which took place in that 
house. From weeping to rejoicing,—from mourning to congratulation,—from death to
life,—how great and marvellous must have been the transition!

They only can tell that, who have seen death face to face, and had the light of 
their households quenched, and felt the iron entering into their own souls. They,
and they only, can conceive what the family of Jairus must have felt, when they 
saw their beloved one given back once more into their bosom by the power of Christ.
There must have been a happy family gathering that night!

Let us see in this glorious miracle a proof of what Jesus can do for dead souls.
He can raise our children from the death of trespasses and sins, and make them walk
before Him in newness of life.

He can take our sons and daughters by the hand, and say to them, “arise,” and bid
them live not to themselves, but to Him that died for them and rose again. Have 
we a dead soul in our family? Let us call on the Lord to come and quicken him. (**
Eph. 2:1**)

Let us send to Him message after message, and entreat Him to help. He that came 
to the succour of Jairus is still plenteous in mercy, and mighty in power.

Finally, let us see in this miracle a blessed pledge of what our Lord will do in
the day of His second appearing. He will call His believing people from their graves.

He will give them a better, more glorious, and more beautiful body, than they had
in the days of their pilgrimage. He will gather together His elect from north, and
south, and east, and west, to part no more, and die no more.

Believing parents shall once more see believing children. Believing husbands shall
once more see believing wives. Let us beware of sorrowing like those who have no
hope, over friends who fall asleep in Christ. The youngest and loveliest believer
can never die before the right time. Let us look forward.

There is a glorious resurrection morning yet to come. “Them which sleep in Jesus
will God bring with Him.” (**1 Thess. 4:14**) Those words shall one day receive 
a complete fulfilment, “I will ransom them from the power of the grave: I will redeem
them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues: O grave, I will be thy destruction.”(**
Hosea 13:14**)

He that raised the daughter of Jairus still lives. When He gathers His flock around
him at the last day, not one lamb shall be found missing.”

–J.C. Ryle, _[**Expository Thoughts on Mark**](https://amzn.to/3TpHHIM)_ (Carlisle,
PA: Banner of Truth, 1859/2012), 82-84. Ryle is commenting on **Mark 5:35-43**.

[⌊Expository Thoughts on the Gospels by JC Ryle⌉⌊Expository Thoughts on the Gospels
by JC Ryle⌉[

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