START WITH SCRIPTURE:
Mark 5:21-43
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OBSERVE:
Jesus is very busy. He is traveling around the countryside of Galilee preaching and healing. He has crossed the Sea of Galilee in a boat with his disciples. In the process, he had tried to catch a quick nap while in the boat when a violent storm arose and the panicked disciples cried out for his intervention. Effortlessly he had calmed the winds. Then, on landing on the Gentile shores of the Gerasenes, Jesus had cast demons out of a man who was living desperately and wildly among the tombs, and Jesus sent the legions of demons into a herd of pigs which then drowned themselves in the Sea of Galilee.
On his return by boat to the Jewish side of the lake, his busy pace resumes. A large crowd gathers around him. And then Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, pleads with Jesus to come and heal his critically ill daughter.
Does this intervention by Jairus suggest that Jesus has gained credibility with local Jewish authorities? Or is this the last, desperate attempt by a father to find healing for his sick daughter? Or perhaps both?
In any event, Jesus agrees to accompany Jairus to his daughter’s side. But Jesus’ ministry is often interrupted by other events. The woman who has had a hemorrhage for twelve years reaches timidly for the hem of his garment.
Note the disparity — the leader of the synagogue pleads openly for Jesus to come to his daughter’s aid. On the other hand, this woman is extremely reticent. In part, this may reflect the attitude toward gender that existed at this time. A man, especially in an important role in the community, could come openly and boldly and ask for help from Jesus — albeit, the text does tell us that Jairus fell at his feet, suggesting great humility. But a woman? And what the translation doesn’t make clear is that hemorrhage was likely a menstrual flow that didn’t stop — for twelve years! According to Mosaic Law, such a condition made this woman ritually unclean. For her to touch Jesus would be to defile him, according to their customs!
No wonder she was so reticent! And yet, she overcame her hesitation.
What follows is deep sensitivity and compassion on Jesus’ part. He is so keenly sensitive spiritually and interpersonally that he is:
aware that power had gone forth from him.
He seeks out the person who has touched him, because there has been a connection. How could he identify one person in that pushing, reaching crowd that had touched him?
But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth.
Jesus makes the spiritual connection. This is not merely an act of healing on his part, but an act of faith on hers:
“Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
When Jesus heals, it is holistic — body and spirit.
Jesus then completes his mission at the home of Jairus, where family and friends are grieving and loudly lamenting. The girl has died in Jairus’ absence. Jesus himself now makes a statement of faith:
“Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.”
The response of the people there was scornful laughter, and Jesus asserts his authority:
he put them all outside.
He would not permit skeptics and scoffers to distract from his work.
He takes only the girl’s parents, and his followers, and enters the room where the little girl lies dead. In one of the most tender moments in Scripture, the Gospel says:
He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about.
Jesus is extremely sensitive and practical:
and told them to give her something to eat.
As a curious sidebar, we note that this little girl was twelve; the woman with the hemorrhage had suffered with her condition for twelve years.
Of more importance, though, is what Jesus tells the witnesses:
He strictly ordered them that no one should know this.
This is the “Messianic Secret” that is especially prominent in the Gospel of Mark. Jesus is not ready to be fully disclosed as Messiah.
APPLY:
There are two key perspectives in this account of Jesus the healer. On the one hand, we see the desperation of faith. Those who are suffering, or watching loved ones suffer, can’t waste time and energy with doubt and theological discussions. All they can do is reach out to Jesus for help.
Sometimes theological discussion is a luxury. Faith begins not with questions — not that there’s anything wrong with questioning — but faith begins with crying out to God.
Second, we see in Jesus a challenging example of ministry. We may prefer a regular routine, a predetermined schedule — but ministry doesn’t come at us in that way. When people have needs, they may break through calendars and day-timers, and cross boundaries.
May we have the flexibility that Jesus has as we respond to the needs of others.
RESPOND:
I confess that in 35 years of ministry, what has been most difficult for me at times is the interrupted nature of ministry. My priorities have been upended by a personal crisis, an accident, a tragedy, an illness, a death.
Following Jesus means suspending my own agenda and my own plans and following the flexible flow of ministry.
Lord, when we are desperate to touch the hem of your garment, or for you to visit a house of death, you come to us. May we be your agents of ministry also, and respond to real need when it arises. Amen.
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