Mark 5_21_43 Exegesis

Mark 5:21-43 Exegesis

“The resurrection of Jairus Daughter”

The 3 accounts in Mark chapter five displays Jesus compassion for people from all walks of life and His sovereign authority over the afflictions mankind finds itself in. In this chapter Jesus comes face to face with a Gentile man who has been tormented by a multitude of demons as they have possessed his body for quite some time. He is also confronted by an elder of Israel, a ruler of a local synagogue in Capernaum whose daughter was sick and died. In this busy chapter Jesus meets a lady who has been slowly dying with a hemorrhage for twelve years. We see that each of these people have found themselves in the midst of a great storm of life (4:35-41) and each fallen to the ground at the feet of Jesus. During the most difficult times of life there is no better place to be than at the feet the Sovereign Lord and Compassionate Savior, Jesus. In this chapter Jesus shows His compassion and Power bringing salvation to those who He encounters as He proves victorious of Demons, diseases, and death.

This chapter needs to be looked at from the context of Chapter 4, As Jesus taught in parables now He is showing the disciples these truths which He revealed to them being played out. He begins teaching them the secrets of the kingdom of God and how it will certainly come about as well as how it will come about. He taught that seed (the Word of God) had to be scattered in order for it to grow but the soil had to be conditioned in order to take root. God often uses our life experiences to soften and fertilize the ground of our hearts in order for His Word to take root and bear fruit in our lives. Perhaps it is true that the difficult trials in life are a mercy in disguise and in these certain scenarios lead a sinner to acceptance of salvation.

While on the Sea of Galilee He gave the disciples a lesson about faith in the storms of life, this was a test for the disciples in which they failed but would learn a great lesson from. When storms come into your life it is an opportunity to trust in the Lord and when one trusts in Him great blessings flow. Each of these people were caught in a storm and we can see that these difficult life experiences soften the heart of the people, giving them good soil to plant the Gospel seed in. As mentioned above, the disciples are seeing these parables lived out.

The first encounter we find is with a Gentile man full of demons (see Exegesis of 5:1-21), he was certainly caught in a storm having been tormented night and day for a long yet undisclosed time. Once Jesus gave the demons permission to depart from the man and go into the swine feeding nearby, the man found himself safe and in his right mind for the first time in a long while. This experience with the reality of hell and the deliverance of Jesus made the soil of this man’s heart soft and fertile, we see him come to faith in Jesus as he begged to be allowed to follow his master. However Jesus had a different plan for him, he was to tell everyone what Jesus had done for Him. This is an interesting assignment, because Jesus often while in Judea commanded people to tell no one of what He had done for them. This is a stark contrast and the answer is not given, perhaps it was because of the multitudes that thronged Him and their demand to see signs and wonder. We see that no one obeyed Jesus’ command in Israel but this man on the other side of the lake obeyed the command to go and tell. Regardless of the reason, it is great news of hope to the gentile world that Jesus is Sovereign Lord and Compassionate Savior and they too are included in His plan of redemption!

The text that we are looking at starts in verse 21 with Jesus leaving the area of the Gaderens and arriving again on the shoreline near Capernaum. Upon His arrival there is a great crowd waiting for Him, the use of the Greek polys ochlos (much people) describes an extensive quantity of people, perhaps it is the same crowd that He left. That crowd was so large that He had to push off into a boat in order to teach and not be mobbed. The context of this speaks of a mob of people. In this mob of people a very unlikely person pushes through the people and gets to Jesus. This man’s name is Jairus (his name means “he enlightens” or “he awakes”) and he is a leader of a synagogue. The Greek noun archisynagōgos literally means leader of synagogue or local ruler of the worship community. In Jesus’ time synagogues did not have salaried Rabbis as they do today (he was a layman). The “ruler” of a synagogue was generally a man who by virtue and wisdom had risen to the top and was accepted by acclaim as a leader of a congregation. Their responsibility were typically administrative and included things such as looking after the building and supervising worship.

This man is most unlikely to have come to Jesus for help due to his position in the religious community and his relationships within that same realm, recalling the beginning scene of chapter 3 is important for establishing this fact. The last time Jesus was recorded having been in a synagogue in Capernaum He healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath (a possible set up).This healing on the Sabbath caused the Pharisees to plot with the Herodians (their enemy )as to how they could kill Jesus. The Bible does not tell us whether or not Jarius was a member of the Pharisees or if in fact the scene of chapter 3 took place in his synagogue, however his status would seemingly align himself against Jesus and with the religious rulers who wanted Him dead. It takes great courage to break through religious lines and push through peer pressure but the reward is always greater!

Mark tells us that when Jairus saw Jesus he fell down at His feet. This is the second use of the Greek verb horaō in this chapter (5:6) which is translated “see.” This action word means to take in with one’s eyes or to understand. In the case of the Gerasen Demoniac the context points to understanding Jesus’ deity but here the context points to taking in with one’s eyes. Once Jesus became visible to the ruler of the synagogue he immediately fell at Jesus’ feet. “Fell” is the Greek verb piptō it means to bow down and prostrate oneself before another. This is not the same word used in 5:6 but it describes the same action. The ruler of the synagogue humbled himself before Jesus, 1st by seeking Him out, 2nd by laying on the ground at Jesus’ feet regardless of his status in the community and with total disregard of popular opinion. This man was in the midst of a great storm of life and could care less about his image or even his financial future. Humility often precedes repentance because the proud have nothing to repent of, like the old song us “aint to proud to beg.”

While at the feet of Jesus, Jairus began to beg Him, this is the 5th use of parakaleō in this chapter (5:10, 12, 17, & 18); this Greek verb means to ask earnestly, beg, or plead. It is intensified by the use of polys (2nd use in this pericope “Crowd”) which means to great degree. I am convinced that this man’s plea was as great in not greater than the size of the crowd. We must pause and give ourselves time to take this in, here is a well to do man of the religious and social circles of Capernaum graveling at the feet of one whom his peers deem worthy of death. This man is broken and has no pride left within; he has only one thing to do, go to Jesus. This took faith! The question arises but cannot be answered, had this man not experienced the great sickness of his daughter would he have ever came and ultimately believed in Jesus as savior?

The ruler of the synagogue’s 12 year old daughter was very sick, sick unto death. The term is the Greek adverb eschatōs which translates “is at the point of death” this means “in” the point of death. Having lived only 12 years this man’s daughter is in the final moments of her life. This does not mean the possibility of death but the certainty that it is about to happen at any moment. There was no time to waste, every second mattered. His request was simple and moved by faith, “come and lay thy hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” In his time of great distress the only remedy he could find was the touch of Jesus (compare the suffering woman, the only remedy she could find was touching Jesus). This request is a request of deliverance, the Greek verb sōzō is used which means to save or deliver, often in the New Testament it is translated save, speaking of divine salvation (see Mark 16:16, Matt. 18:11, Luke 9:56) but in this context he is speaking of deliverance from physical death. But this does not negate the faithfulness found in this request, his request was not just that she will get better but so that she will live indicating a long life span.

Perhaps it is important to note that at the age of twelve this young lady was about to come of age, in ancient Israel it was not uncommon for a lady to be betrothed by age 12 or 13. It is possible that this young lady was betrothed already, however this speculation is not supported by scripture. This father saw his daughter’s loss of life in a greater aspect than simply losing her but that she will lose out on the enjoyment of life, this emphasizes the great love that he had for his daughter.

Jesus responds favorably to Jairus request following him to his house. But, the crowd followed too. The crowd was a hindrance as it pressed in on Him, certainly slowing them down. Perhaps this made Jairus all the more anxious then Jesus is stopped by an encounter with a lady afflicted with a hemorrhage. She had a menstrual flow for twelve years and by touching Jesus this would have made Him ceremonially unclean (More on the suffering lady to follow). While Jesus healed this dying lady Jairus received the tragic news that his daughter was dead. Certainly Jairus was flooded with emotions, perhaps he was angry that the lady had halted their progress, maybe he was angered at the crowd for pressing Jesus and at Jesus for stopping. Certainly he was heartbroken and sad his daughter was dead.

Those who came from his house told Jairus that all hope had been lost and to not trouble the teacher any longer because his little girl had died (some scholars see this quote as sarcasm). The Greek verb apothnēskō means physical death the final end of life, since death is so final there was need to bring Jesus to his home. Why trouble the Master/Teacher, trouble is the Greek verb skyllomai it means to harass and annoy, or to bother. Jesus had just crossed a lake through a raging storm just to save a Gentile soul, these men didn’t know the love and compassion that Jesus has for mankind. They call Him Master/Teacher and rightfully so, but have no idea who they are standing with, Master is the Greek noun didaskalos which means instructor but Jesus wasn’t simply a teacher of God’s kingdom but divine Master disguised in human flesh as the servant who would pay the ransom for the sin of men.

Jesus hears the conversation and interjects, isn’t it wonderful to know that Jesus interjects in our troubled lives, I am convinced that I never found Jesus but He found me broken and weary and inyterected bringing salvation to my soul! He gives Jairus a twofold command (note the similarities of 4:40 and 5:36) , 1) Don’t be afraid, this is the Greek verb phobeomai which means a state of fear, 2) only believe, only is the adverb monos which means alone and believe is the Greek verb pisteuō which means believe to the extent of complete trust. What Jesus is saying is the same faith that brought you to me to heal your daughter is the same faith that will resurrect your daughter. Jairus had believed that Jesus would heal his daughter now he must continue to believe the He will bring her resurrection. To man death seems so final, all hope seems lost but it was over for Jairus; Jesus is Sovereign Master and Compassionate Lord who holds authority over death and the grave.

Had Jairus not heard of what Jesus did in Nain (just 30 miles to the south west)? As Jesus entered into the city gate of Nain a funeral procession was taking place, Jesus looked at the widow who was about to bury her son, He was moved with compassion and told her not to weep, then He touched the coffin and said “Young man, I say to you arise.” The dead man sat up and Jesus returned him alive to his mother (Luke 7:11-17). The Bible teaches that after this resurrection the word went out through all Judea and the surrounding districts.

Faith isn’t simply for healing faith overcomes death, this is a truth the saints of old knew. Abraham believed that if he slay Isaac that God would raise him to life. But what we have is failure to understand who Jesus is, Jairus believed on Him as a healer now He must believe on Jesus as God. Now, they proceed to Jairus house!

When they arrive the professional mourners had already arrived and began their tasks of wailing and leading the family in lamentation. The Mishna instructs that even the poorest in Israel should hire not less than two flutes and one wailing woman. With a prominent family like this many would have gathered and gathered quickly. Decomposition happens fast in Palestine so mourners gather quickly and in this case before the father arrived. This was a great tragedy, in that ancient culture, at the age of twelve the girl was a virgin probably soon to be married (women were not able to continue in education or public employment as they do today). Young girls usually looked forward eagerly to their wedding day as the most joyous event in their life, and to die unmarried—especially just short of it—was lamented as a particularly great tragedy. The summons of the professional mourners is proof that this young lady was dead and not simply asleep or in a coma.

When Jesus arrived He was not deterred from entering into the house. This fact is remarkable as we look back on the circumstances, 1) Jairus was a leader in the religious community so by coming to Jesus and now allowing Him into his house he in stood in complete opposition to the current religious status quos. 2) Jesus had been touched by an unclean woman making Him ceremonially unclean which would have been a major issue for a leader in the religious community. 3) The girl was dead! Having Jesus in his home was an act of great faith, faith in Jesus breaks down religious and social barriers, not peer pressure, nor excommunication, or even the Law hindered Jairus from welcoming Jesus into his home.

When Jesus entered the house He questions the mourners, why are you making all this great noise? The Greek verb thorybeomai is used, which means to be upset, or to be distressed. Then Jesus announces the girl has not died (aorist) but is sleeping. Jesus does not mean that she has not physically died but He is reporting that this death is not final, He is going to raise her back to life. They began to laugh (Greek ridicule) at Jesus but He throws them out. (The Bible teaches us to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep *Romans 12:15 - how unfortunate are those who live strictly by the law). Jesus enters the room where the little girl is, taking her by the hand (note Jesus has come to fulfill the Law and His sovereign compassion moves Him to touch the dead little girl) He speak to her lifeless body in Aramaic “Talitha kum” (which Mark Translates because his readers are Romans and would not be able to understand Aramiac) which means Little girl I say to you, get up (note Luke 7)! Jesus commands the dead girl to come to life and the dead girl responds immediately and begins to walk! The people in the room… Jairus, mother, Peter, James, and John are all amazed by the resurrection of the little girl, the KJV translates “astonished with a great astonishment.” This is the Greek verb existēmi which means greatly astonished followed by the adjective megas which means much degree then followed by the noun ekstasis which means bewilderment. I can imagine the astonished spectators moved to great tears of joy and shouts of acclaim that far exceeded the earlier lamentations. In the Gospels, physical healing is most often associated with spiritual salvation, salvation came to the house of Jairus and all are saved!

So… what can we learn from this scene, when troubles come into our lives it is quite possible that God is teaching us a lesson in faith and this lesson begins and ends at the feet of Jesus Christ. There is no reason for the believer to be fearful instead we must be faithful because we see in the resurrection of the little girl a preview of our resurrection in Christ. For the beleiver Death is not final therefore we can loudly sing…. “oh death where is your sting!” Jesus is the Sovereign Lord and the compassionate Savior who has authority over death and who loves you enough to imputes upon your soul new and everlasting life.

“The Suffering Lady.”

Observations

And a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse - after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched his cloak. For she thought “If I just touch His garments I will get well.” Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned in the crowd and said: who touched my garments?” And His disciples said to Him “You see the crowds pressing in on you, and you say ‘who touched me?’” And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her “daughter your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction. “

Summary

As Jesus is on His way to Jairus’ house he encounters a woman in desperate need. She is in a storm of life, sick and dying slowly, there is none who can help her, she is a penniless outcast of society, but she hears of Jesus. She must get to Him but there is a huge crowd and since she has a flow of blood she shouldn’t be seen anywhere near, but she makes her way through the crowd and touched His cloak. As she comes, she is fearful but determined saying in her mind over and over again “If I can just touch His cloak I will be healed.” Once she touched His cloak her flow of blood stopped immediately and she knew she was healed. As the power of Christ entered the lady Jesus felt the power leave Him and stopped to ask who had touched Him. There was a mob of people touching Him however one had touched Him in faith. He looked to see who did this and there before Him was a woman in great fear because she realized what took place and in order for that to take place she realizes Jesus wasn’t an ordinary man but in fact Messiah. Jesus wouldn’t let her leave until she wa afforded the opportunity to glorify God and she fell at His feet and confessed her condition and proclaimed her salvation. Jesus gives her a word of assurance and tells her to leave in peace because she had certainly been healed.

Vs 25

The adult woman who came to Jesus had a continual flow of blood (a menstrual flow for twelve years),(noun haima – Red life fluid in humans) for twelve years. Her condition made her ceremonially unclean therefore she could not worship corporately, she was void of human contact (physically) making her lonely. Her age indicates that she was possibly married as the Greek noun gynē which is translated woman (adult female) but can also mean wife. If she was someone’s wife then we can presume that her husband has left her for these following reasons: 1) it was unlawful to touch a woman much less have sexual intercourse 2) She was penniless as Mark states “she spent all she had.” 3) Had she been married and her husband been faithful to her she would have had a companion and scripture teaches that husbands and wives share each other’s burdens and perhaps she would not have been as hopeless. There are interesting observations to be made between The suffering woman and the daughter of Jairus. Each had been called daughter, one by her earthly father (Jairus) and the other by her heavenly (Jesus the Son). One had been living for twelve years and the other dying for twelve years. Each were at the point of death, one died but was touched by Jesus the other was living and touched Jesus. One was possibly betrothed and the other possibly divorced or stranged.

Comparisons of Characters - Each were hopeless – The demoniac was overpowered by satan and clearly being destroyed, Jairus’ only daughter was bout to die, The little girl was at the point of death, and the suffering lady had been slowly dying for 12 years and was steadily getting worse. In Jesus each found hope… Salvation from there affliction and salvation of their souls.

Contrast in Characters - different walks of life – The demoniac was from the Decapolis a Greek speaking Gentile region, he was a man who had been afflicted for a longtime. Jairus was a wealthy Jewish man and a most likely highly esteemed in religious and social circles. The little girl though in a wealthy family was still the lowly of society because of her gender. The suffering lady was dirt poor and socially and religiously an outcast because of her condition.

The demoniac was unclean due to the demons and his dwelling place, the suffering lady was unclean due to her menstrual hemorrhage, the little girl was unclean due to her death.

The suffering lady believed that all she had to do was touch the hem of Jesus’ clothing and she would be healed, Jairus believed that all Jesus had to do was touch her daughter and she would be healed.

The suffering lady was healed as she touched Jesus, the little girl was healed and returned to life as Jesus spoke and rasied her up with His hands.

The suffering lady was apparently afraid when Jesus said “who touched me”, Jairus was afraid when he heard his daughter was dead.

Jairus’ daughter had lived twelve short years, the suffering lady had been dying for 12 long years.

The lady felt power into her body as she touched Jesus, Jesus felt power leave His body as she touched Him.