You are strongly recommended to add to your library the excellent revised edition of Harper's Bible Dictionary titled, The Harper Collins Bible Dictionary, Revised Edition, edited by Paul J. Achtemeier, with the Society of Biblical Literature (NY: Harper Collins, 1996). It is currently the best one-volume Bible dictionary in English, and it is available at Border's Books, Christian Science Reading Rooms, http://www.borders.com, or http://www.christianbook.com.

Jairus, the synagogue ruler who fell before the feet of Jesus and begged him to heal his only daughter who was at the point of death. When it was learned that the daughter had already died, Jairus was advised not to trouble Jesus further. Jesus encouraged Jairus with the words, ‘Do not fear, only believe,’ in contrast to the mourners whose lack of faith in Jesus led to derisive laughter. Jesus, by raising the young girl, manifested his power to overcome death (Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56).