Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman - Mark 5:21-43

Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman
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.”

35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”

36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him.

After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Reflection:
Yesterday we saw that Jesus had power and the authority to cast out a legion of demons. Today we see he had the power to raise someone from the dead. And he also healed a woman whose bleeding was getting worse and could have possibly led to death, as they did not have the machines we have today. As I read the passage today I noticed several things. And remember it is always good to pray before we read the bible, and ask the question, "God what would you like to say to me today?" God's word is living and active and continues to speak to us today, both to lead us to salvation and bring us continual healing from what ails us.

Today I noticed these things:
1. The synagogue leader came to Jesus when the chips were on the line with his 12 year daughter that had a sickness that was going to lead to death. This man who had authority in the synagogue recognized true power and authority. There is some power in a person's title, but a lot more for those who pray and act in Jesus' name.

2. The man had faith that Jesus could just put his hands on her and live. Do we have such faith?

3. As he was on the way to his house, the woman with chronic bleeding was able to touch him, which despite the crowds he was able to sense and feel. Rather than saying, "I am busy go away." He stopped and healed her because of her great faith. Jesus was never too busy to pass by someone in need, who had faith.

4. By the time he got the ruler's house the girl had died, so everyone concluded "it's too late Jesus you might as well go home she has already died!" But Jesus said fear not and believe. Again we see how faith is involved and it is never too late to call on Jesus.

5. When he got to the home he dismissed the crowds and only took with him the parents and Peter, James, and John. Out of the 12 disciples, there was the inner circle of these three guys. And on more than one occasion they got to experience things that the others did not. Jesus often limited the people who could see what he was doing, partly because it would speed up his going to the cross. And partly he was strategically preparing these 3 guys as apostles when he would leave. And when he does leave we see them doing all of the things he did. I.e. Peter raised Tabitha from the dead in Acts 9.

Application: We often get busy with the wrong things. We put tasks over people. Though tasks are not unimportant, people always take priority. As Jesus sensed the needs of people around him, he sought them out amidst the crowds. As we are led by the Holy Spirit, God will lead us to those who need deliverance and healing in our busy lives. Faith is the common denominator in all of this. We are given faith as a gift, and we exercise it in all things including raising people from the dead. There are reports on the mission field of people being raised from the dead. By the way faith is exercised in the little things, as well as the big things. Where is God calling you to exercise this kind of with today?

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