“And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.”
Mark 5:42 — Greek Interlinear
Church Fathers on Mark 5:42
Those who were about the ruler of the synagogue, thought that Christ was one of the prophets, and for this reason they thought that they should beg of Him to come and pray over the damsel. But because she had already expired, they thought that He ought not to be asked to do so.
It is not said that he assented to his friends who brought the tidings and wished to prevent the Master from coming, so that our Lord’s saying, 'Fear not, only believe,' is not a rebuke for his want of faith, but was intended to strengthen the belief which he had already. But if the Evangelist had related, that the ruler of the synagogue joined the friends who came from his house, in saying that Jesus should not be troubled, the words which Matthew relates him to have said,…
It was told the ruler of the synagogue, Thy daughter is dead. But Jesus said to him, She is not dead, but sleepeth. Bother are true, for the meaning is, She is dead to you, but to Me she is asleep.