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Mark 5:21-43

When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

By: The Very Rev. Robert S. Munday

The good news about Jesus was spreading across Galilee, and a large crowd has gathered around Jesus by the side of the Lake (Mark 5:20-21). There is the crowd gathering close to Jesus, and among them is Jairus the synagogue ruler. His daughter is dying. And so, falling at Jesus’ feet, he pleads with him to come and lay hands on her so that she will be healed and live (Mark 5: 22-23). As Jesus sets off with Jairus, the crowd is pressing in around him. In the crowd is a woman who has been ill for 12 years. From out of the large crowd she reaches out and touches Jesus because she believes that touching Jesus will be the key to her healing (5:28). And, indeed, she touches him and is instantly healed. Verse 30 tells us that Jesus felt the power going out of him and turned to see who has touched him. The woman falls at his feet, trembling with fear (5:32-33). Jesus asked, “Who touched me?” With the knowledge that Jesus displayed on other occasions, he did not need the woman to tell him that she was the one. But his asking calls for an exercise of faith on the woman’s part-owning up to her action in touching him and actually asking for what it is that she needed. When she admits her need, Jesus pronounces her healing: “He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” The detour that Jesus has taken in healing the woman is just long enough that word arrives that Jairus’ daughter is dead. As far as the household of Jairus is concerned, this is now a lost cause. The girl is dead. “Why bother the teacher any more?” they say (5:35). But Jairus had sought Jesus earnestly, falling at his feet and pleading with Jesus (5:22-23). It sounds like prayer doesn’t it? Jesus who would defeat the power of death through his own Resurrection, demonstrates his mastery over death in raising Jairus’ daughter. When Jesus says she’s not dead but asleep (5:39) they laugh at him. But Jesus takes the girl by the hand, saying, “Little girl, I say to you, get up” (5:41). Immediately, the 12 year old girl stands up and walks around (5:42). And all those who were there were completely astonished.

Which of these two accounts of Jesus’ healing power do you most relate to? Which character is closest to your present circumstances? Which character best describes your friend or neighbor for whom you are praying? Is it Jairus, needing a miracle from Jesus? Jairus was on his knees pleading with Jesus. Have you been pleading with Jesus on behalf of a need for yourself or someone you love? Jesus will answer your prayer. But as we saw from the story, the answer may not come in the way or on the timetable that we hope. There was much weeping, wailing, and grief for the girl’s family before their prayers were amazingly answered.

Or is it the woman who has been sick for 12 years? She knows that Jesus is the only one who can resolve her problems and so it is to Jesus that she goes, even though she is just one woman among any people who are pressing in on Jesus. Do you ever feel like you are surrounded by a crowd of people who all want to be near Jesus? Do you question whether Jesus takes notice of you and your need? Perhaps you wonder if Jesus would be interested in you because there are so many other pressing matters for him to deal with. Take courage from the woman who came to Jesus and received his loving, personal attention and the healing that she sought. Are you perhaps like the disciples, learning from Jesus’ great concern and his love for life and health in his people, and preparing to put into practice what you have learned? Whatever your circumstances are, know that Jesus is near and that he desires to bring life and wholeness to those who look to him in faith. When he walked among us he dealt with people one at a time. But now, through his body, the Church, and by the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling us, he ministers to all those around the world who come to know the Good News of life and salvation in Jesus Christ.