Amongst Disease
Opening Prayer
Lord of all, I will pursuit in my pursuit of You until You give me all that I need. I trust You.
Read Mark 5:21-34
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
[21] 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. [22] Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. [23] 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.” [24] So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. [25] And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. [26] 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. [27] When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, [28] because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” [29] Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. [30] At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” [31] “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” [32] But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. [33] Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. [34] He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What are similarities and differences in the stories?In this passage, Jesus finds himself amongst real need, with two very different people throwing themselves at his feet. This is a story within a story – and fear and faith will be a key component in the outcome of both. Mark builds up suspense. First we hear the anguished pleas of someone important, Jairus (22), one of the rulers of the local synagogue, begging Jesus to save his dying little daughter (23). But we are then interrupted by the silent and yet equally desperate need of a marginalized woman who has suffered menstrual bleeding for 12 years (25). Jesus does not favor one over the other. Nor does he turn away, even though once again he finds himself among the “unclean”. The little girl is dying, and a dead body will render Jesus unclean (Numbers 19:11–20). The woman with the flow of blood is perpetually unclean according to Jewish rules of ritual purity (Leviticus 15:25–31) and would have been excluded from Temple worship. This uncleanliness probably explains the woman’s desire not to be noticed. Once again Jesus brings acceptance, healing and wholeness.
Apply
Jesus does not distinguish between those we view as important or unimportant. Follow his example.
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