On Line Bible Study - For the week March 23 - 29, 2009

Lesson 380

Mark 5:21-43 Again, we have a lengthy passage that we will summarize - two miracles occur, one inside the other:

21. Jesus has crossed the sea and come home again. A crowd has gathered.
22. A synagogue leader (Jairus) comes, falls at his feet ...
23. ...and appeals to him to come and lay his hands upon his "dear daughter" so that she might be saved (healed).
25. As he goes, a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years ...
27. ... had heard about Jesus, comes up behind him, and touches his garment.
29. Instantly the bleeding stops, and she knows she is healed.
30. Aware that power has left him, Jesus asks: "Who touched my clothes?"
33. The woman comes, fearful and trembling, falls at his feet, and tells him the whole truth.
34. Daughter, your faith has saved you; depart in peace, and remain healed.
36. Overhearing the synagogue leader's friends telling him his daughter had died, Jesus says: Don't be afraid. Just have faith.
38. There was a great commotion at the house when Jesus arrives.
39. The child is not dead, but only asleep.
40. They laughed at Jesus.
41. Young lady, I say to you rise up.
42. Right away, she got up and walked. She was 12 years old. People were astonished.
43. Don't tell anyone. Give her something to eat.

There is a lot going on here. Let's pick out several important components.

Note the importance of faith. The last time Jesus was in the synagogue the officials plotted to kill him. (See Mark 3:6.) But apparently, not all the synagogue leaders were so inclined, for this one approaches Jesus and falls at his feet in supplication. He believes Jesus can save / heal his daughter. The woman who had been subject to bleeding for 12 years also has such faith in Jesus' power that she is convinced she only has to touch him. Faith must take the place of fear - not only for these two persons, but for all of us.

Jesus defies the norms. In both cases - the little girl who ultimately dies prior to Jesus' arrival, and the woman who is hemorrhaging - Jesus comes into contact with those who are ritually unclean. Their very touch will render him the same. Are we as willing? Also, Jesus exhibits no hesitance in going with Jairus, even though synagogue leaders had plotted to kill him. Would we be so generous toward those who had plotted against us?

The status of women . . . Isn't it interesting that the number "12" is used - first to tell us how long the woman had been suffering from bleeding, and later to tell us how old the daughter of the synagogue leader was? Scholars speculate that there is a connection between the two. 12 years old would be the age at which a young woman would be eligible for marriage. And the woman who had been suffering for 12 years would have been unable to bear children. In the Jewish world a woman's worth was greatly tied to her ability to bear children. Jesus restores dignity to one, and insures dignity will come to the other. Also, notice in verse 34 that Jesus refers to the woman as "daughter" - that is, he sees her as a member of his family. Remember Mark 3:34-35, when Jesus states: Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother. Jairus has his daughter returned to him; Jesus proclaims the woman to be a daughter. Is the evangelist trying to drive the point home that "God's will" is for us to have faith in Christ?

One final point ... Jesus' disciples seem to be incredulous when he asks: Who touched my clothes? And the people laugh when Jesus states the child is asleep. We might not come right out and laugh; but is our lack of faith every bit as obvious to God?

We begin our consideration of Chapter 6 next time.