A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed (Mark 5:21-43)
Title: A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed
Scripture: Mark 5:21-43
21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat[a] to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him, and he was by the sea. 22 Then one of the leaders of the synagogue, named Jairus, came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 23 and pleaded with him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24 So he went with him.
And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. 25 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from a flow of blood for twelve years. 26 She had endured much under many physicians and had spent all that she had, and she was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 for she said, “If I but touch his cloak, I will be made well.” 29 Immediately her flow of blood stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my cloak?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 He looked all around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
35 While he was still speaking, some people came from the synagogue leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing[b] what they said, Jesus said to the synagogue leader, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” 37 He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38 When they came to the synagogue leader’s house, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” 42 And immediately the girl stood up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. 43 He strictly ordered them that no one should know this and told them to give her something to eat.
Message:
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, we gather to reflect on a powerful passage from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 5, verses 21 to 43. This scripture recounts two incredible miracles performed by our Lord Jesus Christ: the healing of a woman suffering from a chronic illness and the resurrection of a young girl. These stories, intertwined in a beautiful narrative, reveal to us the boundless compassion, power, and love of our Savior.
As we delve into this passage, I invite you to open your hearts and minds to the profound messages contained within. Let us consider how these ancient words speak to us today, in our own lives and struggles. How might we, like the characters in this story, reach out to Jesus in faith and find healing, hope, and new life?
Throughout this sermon, we’ll explore the themes of faith, healing, and the transformative power of Christ’s love. We’ll examine the actions and attitudes of those involved in these miraculous events, and consider what lessons we can draw from their experiences. My dear friends, let us begin this journey together, asking the Holy Spirit to guide our understanding and touch our hearts.
Setting the Scene
Let’s begin by setting the scene. Imagine, if you will, the shores of the Sea of Galilee. The air is filled with excitement and anticipation as a large crowd gathers around Jesus. People from all walks of life have come to see this remarkable teacher and healer they’ve heard so much about. Some are curious onlookers, others are desperate for help, and still others are skeptics, watching and waiting to see what will happen.
In this bustling scene, we encounter two individuals whose lives are about to be forever changed by their encounters with Jesus. First, there’s Jairus, a synagogue leader – a man of status and influence in the community. Despite his position, he comes to Jesus in desperation, falling at His feet and pleading for help. His young daughter, only twelve years old, is at the point of death. Can you feel the anguish in this father’s heart? The fear, the urgency, the hope against hope that this Jesus might be able to save his precious child?
As Jesus agrees to go with Jairus, the crowd presses in around them. It’s in this moment that we meet our second character – a woman who has been suffering from bleeding for twelve long years. Imagine the physical weakness, the social isolation, and the spiritual anguish this condition would have caused her. According to Jewish law, her constant bleeding would have rendered her perpetually unclean, unable to participate in normal social and religious life. She’s spent all she has on doctors, but instead of getting better, she’s only grown worse.
This woman, whose name we never learn, sees Jesus as her last hope. She doesn’t dare to approach Him openly like Jairus did. Instead, she thinks to herself, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” With determination born of desperation, she pushes through the crowd, reaches out, and touches the hem of Jesus’ garment.
The Woman’s Healing
What happens next is truly remarkable. Immediately, the woman feels the bleeding stop. After twelve years of suffering, she is instantly and completely healed. But the miracle doesn’t end there. Jesus, sensing that power has gone out from Him, stops and asks, “Who touched my clothes?”
Now, you might wonder why Jesus would ask such a question when He was surrounded by a jostling crowd. Surely many people were touching Him! But Jesus knew that this touch was different. It was a touch of faith, a desperate reach for healing and hope.
The disciples, practical as always, point out the obvious: “You see the people crowding against you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?'” But Jesus keeps looking around, searching for the one who had reached out to Him in faith.
Imagine how the woman must have felt in that moment. She had hoped to slip away unnoticed, healed and free at last. But now Jesus was looking for her. Was she in trouble? Would He rebuke her for touching Him when she was unclean? With fear and trembling, she falls at Jesus’ feet and tells Him the whole truth.
And how does Jesus respond? With gentleness and compassion. He says to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” What beautiful words! Jesus doesn’t rebuke her; He commends her faith. He doesn’t just heal her physically; He restores her socially and spiritually, calling her “daughter” and sending her away in peace.
Jairus’ Daughter
But while this beautiful interaction is taking place, time is ticking away for Jairus and his daughter. Can you imagine his anxiety as he watches Jesus stop to deal with this woman? Every moment counts when your child is dying.
And then, the worst news arrives. People come from Jairus’ house to tell him, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore?” These words must have hit Jairus like a physical blow. All hope seems lost.
But Jesus overhears their words and says to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” What incredible faith it must have taken for Jairus to continue on with Jesus at this point! His daughter was dead – what could Jesus possibly do now?
When they arrive at the house, they find a scene of chaos and mourning. People are wailing and crying loudly, as was the custom. But Jesus says to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” The mourners laugh at Him, unable to see beyond their grief and disbelief.
Jesus puts them all out, taking only the child’s parents and His closest disciples – Peter, James, and John – into the room where the girl lay. He takes her by the hand and says, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”
And immediately, the girl stands up and begins to walk around. Can you picture the astonishment, the joy, the utter disbelief on the faces of her parents? Their daughter, who moments ago lay lifeless, is now alive and well!
Jesus gives strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and tells them to give the girl something to eat – a wonderfully practical touch that shows His concern for her physical needs as well as her spiritual restoration.
Reflecting on the Miracles
As we reflect on these two intertwined miracles, several themes emerge that are worth exploring further. First, we see the power of faith. Both Jairus and the woman with the bleeding came to Jesus in desperate faith, believing that He could help them when all other hope was lost. Their faith was not perfect – the woman thought she needed to touch Jesus’ clothes to be healed, and Jairus initially believed Jesus needed to physically come to his house to heal his daughter. But Jesus honored their imperfect faith and responded to their needs.
This should encourage us in our own faith journeys. We don’t need perfect understanding or flawless belief to come to Jesus. He meets us where we are, responding to even the smallest mustard seed of faith.
Secondly, we see Jesus’ power over sickness and death. The woman’s chronic illness vanishes at His touch, and even death itself retreats at His command. This reminds us that in Christ, we serve a God who has ultimate authority over all creation, including our physical bodies.
Thirdly, we see Jesus’ compassion and personal care for individuals. Despite the pressing crowds and the urgency of Jairus’ request, Jesus takes the time to address the woman personally, to restore her not just physically but socially and spiritually as well. And with Jairus’ daughter, Jesus shows tender care, speaking gently to her and ensuring she’s given something to eat.
Application to Our Lives
So how do these ancient stories speak to us today? What can we learn from them for our own lives?
First, they remind us that no situation is beyond Jesus’ power to help. Whether we’re dealing with chronic problems that have plagued us for years, like the woman with the bleeding, or sudden crises that threaten to overwhelm us, like Jairus, Jesus is able to step into our circumstances and bring healing and hope.
Secondly, these stories encourage us to bring our needs to Jesus in faith. We don’t need to have everything figured out, we don’t need to approach Him perfectly. We just need to reach out to Him, trusting that He cares and He is able to help.
Thirdly, they remind us of the importance of persistence in faith. Jairus had to continue believing and trusting even when all seemed lost. Sometimes, God’s answers to our prayers don’t come instantly or in the way we expect. We need to hold onto faith even in those moments of waiting and uncertainty.
Fourthly, these stories show us the personal nature of Jesus’ care for us. He doesn’t just perform impersonal miracles; He engages with individuals, addressing their specific needs and situations. We can trust that Jesus knows us personally and cares about the details of our lives.
The Bigger Picture
As we consider these miraculous healings, it’s important to remember that they point to something even greater. Yes, Jesus has power to heal physical ailments and even raise the dead, but His ultimate mission was to address an even deeper problem – the spiritual death that affects all of humanity due to sin.
Just as Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from physical death, He offers to raise us from spiritual death to new life in Him. As He freed the woman from her chronic bleeding, He offers to free us from the chronic effects of sin in our lives.
Moreover, these miracles give us a foretaste of the ultimate healing and restoration that await us in God’s kingdom. In Revelation 21:4, we’re promised a future where God “will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
While we may not always experience physical healing in this life, we can trust that God is working for our ultimate good and that complete healing and restoration await us in eternity.
Our Response
So how should we respond to these powerful stories? Let me suggest a few ways:
First, let’s be encouraged to bring our needs to Jesus in faith. Whatever you’re facing today – chronic issues that have plagued you for years, sudden crises that threaten to overwhelm you, or anything in between – bring it to Jesus. Reach out to Him in faith, trusting in His power and love.
Secondly, let’s cultivate a persistent faith. Like Jairus, we may face situations where all seems lost. In those moments, may we hear Jesus’ words echoing in our hearts: “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Let’s hold onto faith even when circumstances seem hopeless.
Thirdly, let’s remember that Jesus cares about us personally. He’s not a distant, impersonal force, but a loving Savior who knows us by name and cares about the details of our lives. Let’s approach Him with confidence, knowing that He cares.
Fourthly, let’s be people who bring others to Jesus. Jairus came to Jesus on behalf of his daughter. Who in your life needs you to intercede for them, to bring them to Jesus in prayer or perhaps even physically bring them to church or to a place where they can encounter Christ?
Finally, let’s live in light of the ultimate healing and restoration that await us in God’s kingdom. While we may face sickness, pain, and even death in this life, we have a hope that goes beyond this earthly existence. Let’s allow that eternal perspective to shape how we live and how we face the challenges of this life.
Conclusion
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the stories we’ve explored today – of a desperate father, a suffering woman, and a young girl restored to life – are not just ancient tales. They are vivid demonstrations of our Lord’s power, compassion, and love. They invite us to approach Jesus with our own needs, to persist in faith even when circumstances seem hopeless, and to trust in His personal care for us.
As we go from this place today, may we carry these truths in our hearts. May we be encouraged to reach out and touch Jesus in faith, knowing that He has the power to bring healing and transformation to our lives. May we hear His gentle voice calling us “daughter” or “son,” assuring us of our place in God’s family. And may we, like the young girl in our story, rise up at His command, walking in newness of life.
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your incredible power and Your tender compassion. Thank You that no situation is beyond Your ability to help, no person beyond Your love and care. We bring our needs to You now, reaching out in faith like the woman in our story. We trust You with our desperate situations, like Jairus did. Give us faith to believe, even when circumstances seem hopeless. Help us to hear Your voice speaking peace and healing into our lives. And may we, like the young girl, rise up at Your command, walking in the new life You offer. We pray this in Your precious name. Amen.
Go in peace, dear friends, and may the healing touch of Christ be with you all.