(I follow a prescribed daily reading that
includes an Old Testament story, a Gospel story, and a New testament letter.
I’ll mostly connect us to the gospel, so,we’re becoming familiar with the story
of Jesus).
Scripture: Mark 5:21-43
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat* to the other side, a great crowd gathered round him; and he was by the lake. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged 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.’ So he went with him.
And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.’ Immediately her haemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ And his disciples said to him, ‘You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, “Who touched me?” ’ He looked all round to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’
While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, ‘Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?’ But overhearing* what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe.’ He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, ‘Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.’ 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. 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 (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Observation: Jesus is becoming known in the villages around the Galilee region as a teacher and a healer. Crowds have begun to follow him. His activity has taken on the flow of a movement or a campaign. His activity is both public (crowds) and personal (one-on-one). Increasingly, he risks his reputation by actively engaging with outcasts. The bleeding woman in the story would have been ineligible for marriage and generally cut off from community as cursed. A sick and dying child, though tragic for her family, was not uncommon. Most families would have known the loss of children. Jesus walks in solidarity with the most vulnerable; women and children. Both were facing impossible circumstances; with no other help available to them. Jesus allows himself to be interrupted in order to bring restoration. Jesus ignores social norms and barriers to show mercy and justice. Jesus breaks Jewish laws when he is touched by the bleeding woman and touches the dead girl. He says, “Daughter your faith has healed you.” And “Do not fear, only believe.”
Application: Jesus represents God’s intentions for humanity. God intends for the most vulnerable to receive help and healing. Suffering and death are not God’s intentions for us. Faith is the willingness to accept what God alone is able to give: Life. Women and girls are still unjustly mistreated in the world, and continue to be the most vulnerable people on earth. Who is vulnerable around us today? How can we enter into their story to bring mercy, healing, and hope? Who is touching you or in need of your touch? Who needs you to go with them?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you came to rescue the vulnerable from suffering and death. We pray for women and children in need of health care. Amen.
Scripture: Mark 5:21-43
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat* to the other side, a great crowd gathered round him; and he was by the lake. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged 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.’ So he went with him.
And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.’ Immediately her haemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ And his disciples said to him, ‘You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, “Who touched me?” ’ He looked all round to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’
While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, ‘Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?’ But overhearing* what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe.’ He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, ‘Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.’ 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. 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 (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Observation: Jesus is becoming known in the villages around the Galilee region as a teacher and a healer. Crowds have begun to follow him. His activity has taken on the flow of a movement or a campaign. His activity is both public (crowds) and personal (one-on-one). Increasingly, he risks his reputation by actively engaging with outcasts. The bleeding woman in the story would have been ineligible for marriage and generally cut off from community as cursed. A sick and dying child, though tragic for her family, was not uncommon. Most families would have known the loss of children. Jesus walks in solidarity with the most vulnerable; women and children. Both were facing impossible circumstances; with no other help available to them. Jesus allows himself to be interrupted in order to bring restoration. Jesus ignores social norms and barriers to show mercy and justice. Jesus breaks Jewish laws when he is touched by the bleeding woman and touches the dead girl. He says, “Daughter your faith has healed you.” And “Do not fear, only believe.”
Application: Jesus represents God’s intentions for humanity. God intends for the most vulnerable to receive help and healing. Suffering and death are not God’s intentions for us. Faith is the willingness to accept what God alone is able to give: Life. Women and girls are still unjustly mistreated in the world, and continue to be the most vulnerable people on earth. Who is vulnerable around us today? How can we enter into their story to bring mercy, healing, and hope? Who is touching you or in need of your touch? Who needs you to go with them?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you came to rescue the vulnerable from suffering and death. We pray for women and children in need of health care. Amen.
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