The Gospel of Mark Part 22
The Gospel of Mark • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 1 viewNotes
Transcript
21 Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea.
What a contrast with the citizen’s of Gadarenes, who had begged Jesus to leave…the citizens of Capernaum are flocking to Him in excitement - they are glad to see Him!
Also, we are about to dive into another Markan sandwich! Mark begins the passage with one narrative, gets interrupted with a second, and then concludes the first.
I. A Father’s Request
I. A Father’s Request
22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”
Synagogues were the local places of instruction and worship in ancient Jewish communities.
The synagogues were staffed by a ruler and an attendant, and both were laymen - not priests.
The attendant was responsible for the building itself and its contents. (scrolls, etc.)
The Gospel according to Mark Faith that Defies Defeat (5:21–43)
A ruler of the synagogue was the president or “head” of the local Jewish worshiping community, rosh ha-keneset in Hebrew
The Gospel according to Mark Faith that Defies Defeat (5:21–43)
The ruler of the synagogue, accordingly, was not a worship leader or a professionally trained scribe or rabbi but a lay member of a synagogue who was entrusted by the elders of the community with general oversight of the synagogue and orthodoxy of teaching.
The Gospel according to Mark Faith that Defies Defeat (5:21–43)
His responsibilities included building maintenance and security, procuring of scrolls for Scripture reading, and arranging of Sabbath worship by designating Scripture readers, prayers, and preachers.
So Jairus was a well-known person in Capernaum. The disciples that lived there would have known him, as well as most in the crowd that now surrounded Jesus.
This is important because of the striking contrast that Mark is about to unveil.
Mark 5:22 (NKJV)
22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet
Notice Jairus’ posture here before Jesus - it is one of worship.
Remember how the demoniac also fell at Jesus’ feet, but it was not in worship like here.
Despite Jarius’ high class position in the community, here he throws all prestige aside and desperately begs for help at the feet of a carpenter from Nazareth…what humility and what faith!
The question arises, “Was Jairus placing his faith in Jesus for his salvation, or simply believing by faith that Jesus could perform the healing that he was requesting?…I believe based on the second half of this sandwich that Jairus was at least in the beginning stages of faith in Jesus for salvation.
Mark 5:23 (NKJV)
23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”
The term “little daughter” is a term of endearment…like saying “my little girl”. Many fathers still see even their adult daughters as their little girl. We find out at the end that she was already 12 years old and would reach marrying age not long after that, but to him, she is so dear and his heart is breaking…and Luke tells us that this was Jarius’ ONLY daughter.
“lies at the point of death” means that literally she is on death’s doorstep.
This seems to indicate that the doctors had already been summoned and were unable to do anything (which is a theme of this passage)…and they had already given the father those dreaded words, “There’s nothing else we can do, you need to say your goodbyes.” But this father wasn’t giving up that easy.
Mark 5:23 (NKJV)
23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”
Jarius is evidencing more faith the more he speaks - he has full expectation that his daughter will be healed - it’s just a matter if Jesus will take the time to come to his house to lay His hands on her.
Notice the certainty of his request: “she will live”.
Jarius has found his answer - he only needs Jesus to do what only Jesus can do and his little girl will be ok.
This is evidence of Jarius’ faith by his words.
24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.
I love the simplicity and immediacy of Jesus’ response!
Jesus shows Himself to be “interruptible”!…He is immediately willing to go with Jarius.
This is a good example for us…are we as willing to be interrupted? We are all busy and have agendas and schedules and appointments…and all it takes is one phone call to throw the whole day off - but sometimes those interruptions ARE the MAIN THING, and everything else is just the details that can come and go…are we “interruptible” like Jesus?
This recalls the description that Jesus gave of His purpose:
38 But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.”
There is no hesitation…it is simply, “Let us go...”
Mark 5:24 (NKJV)
24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.
Previously, Jesus had asked the disciples for a boat to be placed for Him to teach those on shore from it because the the crush of the crowd…but that was for teaching. Here, Jesus is in action mode - He is willing to move through the crowd, and this sets the stage for what happens next.
II. A Daughter’s Risk
II. A Daughter’s Risk
25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.
Now the middle of the sandwich is abruptly inserted!
It’s almost shocking how Mark states this - it’s such a sudden turn of events, like reading one book and then, midway through, putting it down and picking up a different book to read.
This woman’s condition was nothing short of a living nightmare.
This “flow of blood” was likely speaking of a chronic uterine bleeding...(could have been caused by a tumor or other internal problem)...her monthly cycle that never stopped…it had been happening CONSTANTLY for 12 YEARS!
This kind of physical malady would have been hard enough to deal with on its own - constant weakness and even possibly pain…but there were other factors:
Socioreligious:
This bleeding made her ceremonial unclean.
<READ Leviticus 15:25-27>
In this state of uncleanness, she would not have been permitted inside the synagogue.
She would have been an outcast, much like a leper
Marriage & Family:
This condition would have caused any man that married her to be continually unclean, so either she was never able to marry, or if this condition started after she was married, her husband had divorced her.
She would have also been prohibited from living in her father’s home, as the ceremonial uncleanness would have effected them as well.
Financial:
In her condition, with no husband to care for her needs and no contact with her parents, she would have had to scrape out a living on her own, finding whatever work she could and probably living on very little sustenance.
And we know that no one was caring for her because it says that she had spent whatever money she did have on doctors, which drained her bank account and left her worse off than when she started. (“suffered many things from many physicians”)
27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
“When she heard about Jesus”....what had she heard?
Jesus had healed others already:
34 Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”
45 However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.
11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
5 And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.
Many sickness and diseases
Leprosy
Deformity
Paralyzation
27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
For twelve years, this woman had been suffering, made an outcast, lost her money, lost her family…all because she was “unclean” - that word no doubt rang in her ears and haunted her dreams…she had been conditioned to think of herself this way.
And then, along came Jesus - He touched a leper, He touched the downcast, and the diseased…but would He be willing to touch her?
Unlike Jairus, who was honored in the community, she was marginalized and avoided… “He is helping that synagogue ruler, so He surely won’t stop to help me. I’ll just touch the fringe of His garment…and man like this that has this kind of power…that’s all it will take…in this thick crowd no one will notice me…He won’t have to stop, and I will be healed…no one will know.
29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.
Everything was going according to plan! She was healed! Now she could just blend back into the crowd...
30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”
So much for according to plan!…This wasn’t supposed to happen!
Once again, we see that Jesus is “interruptible!”
This verse also brings up some interesting questions about Jesus Himself.
Isn’t Jesus God?
As God, didn’t He know exactly who touched Him?…and hadn’t He known that fact since before Creation?…Is Jesus’ deity being brought into question here?
First of all, the phrase “power had gone out of Him” and the fact that He knew that had happened proves His deity. (not to mention all of the evidence of deity so far in Mark!)
Secondly, Jesus was not yet in His glorified body, and although He is truly God, He allowed Himself to live within certain limits according to His state of being truly man.
If Jesus had asked this question as if He didn’t know, He would have been being disingenuous, which is nothing more than a fancy way of saying dishonest.
This question also provided the opportunity for the woman to meet her Healer.
32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.
The scene is heart-wrenching! Here is a woman who has been outcast and denied access for 12 years…Unclean!!
Yet, she is healed! What a powerful juxtaposition of emotions!… “fearing and trembling…knowing what was done for her”…the fear of having taken something without asking…but also the overwhelming joy of being healed.
Would He be angry? Would she still be outcast even though she was healed?
Mark 5:34 (NKJV)
34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
What relief! What amazing joy! No anger, no condemnation, no more outcast…no more unclean!
She took a risk, she took a leap of faith and God healed her disease.
And notice Jesus’ term of endearment: “Daughter”. She had probably not been addressed that way for a long time.
We must be careful as we seek to apply this event to our modern day lives.
Does this mean that everyone who prays for physical healing today, but is not healed, has weak faith, or no faith at all? No!
Although God does heal our physical sicknesses at times, this is not always the case…However, there is a sickness that He ALWAYS heals: our spiritual sicknesses…and when we cry out to Him by faith, He steps in and heals our sin problems.
III. A Daughter’s Revival
III. A Daughter’s Revival
35 While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”
So as Jesus is speaking these words of kindness and affirmation to the woman, another person is speaking words of doom and despair to Jarius.
Notice the immediacy of Jesus’ response:
36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.”
“As soon as”…IMMEDIATELY!
It was the woman’s faith that made her well…Jairus had just witnessed that…now this marginalized, outcast woman becomes a brilliant example to the prestigious ruler of the synagogue… “Do not be afraid; Only believe!”
mark 5.37-38
37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly.
We see Jesus’ ministry to the “inner three” - Peter, James, and John had a specific calling to be with Jesus apart from the other nine disciples.
As they approach Jairus’ home, the sound of wailing could be heard.
These were professional mourners, a guild that operated in the first century Judaism, and would later become a requirement at all Jewish funerals:
The Gospel according to Mark Faith that Defies Defeat (5:21–43)
“Even the poorest person in Israel should hire at least two flute players and one wailing woman,” said Rabbi Judah a century later.
This is a quote from the Mishna, a Jewish rabbinical commentary completed in 220 AD.
The Gospel according to Mark Faith that Defies Defeat (5:21–43)
The mourners, usually women, accompanied the bier from the house to the grave, clapping their hands together and wailing haunting laments.
39 When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” 40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying.
I love Jesus’ response here - why all the fuss?
His view of death is merely sleep!
ALSO: I believe that Jesus is setting things into place for when He has completed this particular mission - When He will demand silence about what happens. Let people believe that she was only sleeping…and maybe that was actually the case...
There are different views of this situation:
The girl was indeed clinically dead…or...
The girl was in a deep coma that made her appear dead to the first century medical doctors
So another evidence that these were not family members, as their cynical reply demonstrates.
Jesus does not stand for that and removes them all - notice His AUTHORITY on display once again - and takes the parents and His inner three and goes into the room.
41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement.
In the Aramaic phrase, “Talitha cumi” (Taw-lee-thaw Coom), Talitha is a feminine form of the word for “lamb” or “youth”... and the command “Koum” means “Arise!”
Mark’s translation here indicates that the original audience were likely not native Hebrew or Aramaic speakers.
Once again, Jesus is in full command of the situation. His touch and His voice are powerful beyond compare.
Also, we once again are confronted with Mark’s constant reminder of the servanthood of Christ - “Immediately” - There was no hesitation…Jesus spoke and the girl was instantly revived.
And you can imagine the absolute joy that filled these parents’ hearts as their little lamb walked (or ran) over to their open arms!
43 But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.
Once again, Jesus is back in Jewish lands and does not want this news spread…He has a mission to complete.
Also, Jesus complete care as the Great Physician as He knows that the girl needs something to eat!
Conclusion:
For twelve years, Jairus’ daughter had lived a life of happiness and innocence, and was suddenly struck down and delivered on the same day.
About the time of her birth, a certain woman had contracted a horrible sickness that caused her to live a life of despair and lonely hopelessness for twelve years.
But when these two daughters met Jesus, everything changed - Jesus changes lives!