While he was still speaking, a man from the ruler's house came and said, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more." But Jesus on hearing this answered him, "Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well." And when he came to the house, he permitted no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and bewailing her; but he said, "Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, "Child, arise." And her spirit returned, and she got up at once; and he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed; but he charged them to tell no one what had happened. Luke 8:49–56 (RSV)
'Your child is dead' are words no sane parent ever wants to hear. The devastation that invades a family when a child dies disrupts everything. It brings grief that is the stuff of nightmares. A marriage often dies with the child. Who could laugh at such a time?
Yet, when Jesus announced that Jairus' daughter was merely sleeping, someone laughed. Amid heart-rending sobs, someone laughed at Jesus. It may have been that the overpowering sorrow of the moment burst forth in laughter at the suggestion that the child was not dead.
We take death more seriously than we do the promise of the resurrection. Our eyes behold the power of death, and it seems laughable that anything or anyone could undo it. The world thinks it the ravings of a madman to hint that anyone could reverse death's course.
It matters little who laughed in Jairus' house that day. Their laughter only reflected the world's wisdom, not God's. It was telling all who could hear that hope was gone. It did not find willing ears in Jesus.
Their laughs did not deter Jesus. He took the child's hand, speaking to her, she heard His voice through the veil of death. The dead do not hear the laughter of the world. They hear the voice of the Savior who calls them from the grave into the marvelous light of the Father.
We know that our sorrows will one day become joy. We confess that Jesus has indeed risen from the dead. He is victorious over this final foe of our race, so the hour will come when our sobs will become laughter.