He Still Heals

Mark 5:21-24

English Standard Version Chapter 5

21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and implored him earnestly, saying, “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 And he went with him.

And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.

Pray

Introduction

So I want to give a little context here. Jesus gets off of this boat and is met by this huge crowd. They are surrounding him on this beach, if you are going to have a conversation with Jesus, It’s not gonna be in private. There will be people that hear everything you are about to say to Jesus. That’s why it is so controversial for Jairus to be the one that comes to Jesus.

Who is Jairus?

What we learn about Jairus is that he is the ruler of the synagogue. This means that this guy oversees the place of worship for the jewish people. He is making sure that all of the orders and the customs and the rituals of worship are secure meaning He is making sure that everything is being done right. So just with this context, we know that Jairus is a person of power and influence. We know that he is an Authority figure among the jews and that he is probably very wealthy.

On top of that Jesus is not very well liked among the establishment that Jairus is guarding with is life. Jesus is teaching things that people like Jairus believe are heretical to the point where Jesus would be later put to death.

So to say that Jairus is risking it all in this moment is an understatement, but in spite of this, he pushes through the crowd to lay at Jesus’ feet in a public setting because he is desperate.

Mark 5:25-27

English Standard Version Chapter 5

25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment.

Who Was This Woman?

Now we don’t have much context into this woman’s life but we do know that she is going through it. We know that in her culture, because of her constant bleeding, people would have made her unclean, she was cut off from her community. She Was likely ashamed of this disease that she carried, isolated from anyone she loved and unseen.

This woman has NOTHING to lose and she pushes through the crowd to get to Jesus.

What Does This Mean?

I want us to take a step back now. I have read this story a thousand times, and I have never put two and two together. On one hand, we have Jairus. Looked at as a spiritual leader, wealthy, top of the food chain.

Then we look at this woman. She is looked at as NOTHING. Dirt. Worthless.

And I love this because no matter what their social status was or how people perceived them. No matter how much or how little they had. No matter how popular they were or how unknown they were. It didn’t even matter their level of faith going into their situation. In their times of desperation, they both came to Jesus the exact same way.

We ALL Carry Wounds

How many times do we look at our situation and compare it to someone else’s? It’s so easy to scroll through social media, look at the people around us, and think, “I wish I had their family… I wish I had their money… I wish I had their popularity.” But comparison is dangerous because it blinds us to the truth of our own story.

Here’s the reality: no matter who you are, no matter how perfect someone else’s life may look, every single one of us has wounds. We often think pain skips over certain people, but it doesn’t.

John 16:33 “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

You, me, and every person you know carry scars and struggles. No one is above it. The question isn’t whether you’ve been wounded — the question is whether you’ll allow those wounds to be healed.

Well Mason, I want to be healed… How can I just “Allow myself to be healed?”

Awesome thanks for asking!

Healing Requires Faith and Vulnerability

Mark 5:27-29

English Standard Version Chapter 5

27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.

Y’all, this woman is the definition of a girl boss. She had been suffering for twelve long years — broke, exhausted, rejected by her community, and running out of options. And yet, she didn’t give up. She heard about Jesus, and instead of sitting back in despair, she pushed her way through the crowd. That’s faith in action.

What I love about her faith is how strong and specific it was. She didn’t say, “Maybe if I meet Him face to face…” or “Maybe if He notices me…” No — she said, “If I just touch the hem of His garment, I will be healed.” (Mark 5:28). That’s confidence. That’s bold belief. She didn’t need the spotlight. She didn’t need a front-row seat. She believed that even the smallest touch of Jesus’ presence was enough to change everything.

And here’s the truth for us: that same kind of faith is still available today.

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Real faith doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. Real faith doesn’t need all the details lined up. Real faith says, “If I can just get to Jesus, if I can just reach for Him, I will be healed.”

Healing Happens in Connection

Mark 5:30-34

English Standard Version Chapter 5

30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

Jesus could have let this woman be healed quietly, but He didn’t. Mark tells us that when the power went out from Him, He stopped. He turned in the middle of the crowd and asked, “Who touched me?” In that moment, He was showing her — and everyone watching — that this wasn’t just about physical healing. It was about being seen.

When she finally came forward trembling, Jesus called her “Daughter.” Think about that — after twelve years of being labeled unclean, unwanted, and untouchable, she was given a new name. She wasn’t just healed in her body, she was restored in her identity.

And that’s the heart of Jesus. Healing isn’t only about fixing what’s broken; it’s about restoring relationship. That’s why God gave us the church — to be a family where no one is invisible, where healing flows through prayer, through presence, and through the Word of God. That’s why God placed us in His body and in community. So that our brothers and sisters can pray with us and for us that we would be healed. And that when we lose faith, they can direct us back toward God

This is why community groups matter so much. You were never meant to walk through life alone. Groups give you a place where people can pray with you, encourage you, and walk with you through the real struggles of life. Our fall groups launch September 7th.

Healing is the Process, Wholeness is the Goal

When I was 12 years old, I got a bike for my birthday. Now I never really learned how to ride a bike. One day I couldn’t and the next day I just kind of could. So my parents bought me a bike (show picture). I loved it! I went to school and was telling all of my friends about my brand new bike.

Later that same day, I get home and go ride my bike around my neighborhood. Now, my neighborhood had a lot of hills, so as a brand new, self proclaimed BXM guy, it probably wasn’t the best idea to go riding around my neighborhood with all of the steep hills right? Wrong!!! I was about to show the world that even though I had ridden a bike successfully 2 and a half times (fell on my last attempt), a 45 degree angle hill with a 90 degree turn at the bottom was no match for me!

What I haven’t told you yet was that the bike that I had taught myself to ride on was one of that bikes where you peddle backwards to break. This new bike had hand breaks… I didn’t know that.

So I start riding down this hill full speed. A guy mowing his lawn said I was going at least 100 mph. He might have been exaggerating, but I am going to choose to believe him. The problem was, my backward peddling was not making the bike slow down and there was a sharp turn at the bottom of the hill.

Long story short, This is how my birthday started (Bike picture)… and this is how it ended (Hospital picture).

This resulted in 3 reconstructive shoulder surgeries and a scar on my elbow that I have to this day where the cut went down to the bone.

During this time, I learned a lot about how wounds heal, and as I reflect on other things that I have been through in my life, I realized that there are so many parallels from the ways that we physically heal to the ways that we spiritually heal.

Stage 1: Hemostasis (Stopping the Bleeding)

The first stage of physical healing is called hemostasis — stopping the bleeding. The moment you’re cut, your body goes to work. Platelets rush in, blood clots, and the bleeding stops. It’s the body’s way of saying, “The damage ends here.” Without this first step, the wound could get worse, and the body couldn’t begin to repair itself.

Spiritually, God works in much the same way. When we come to Jesus, the first thing He does is stop the bleeding of sin and brokenness. Salvation is that moment when God covers our wounds and declares, “The damage ends here.” It’s not just forgiveness; it’s the start of restoration — the first step in a process that leads to wholeness.

The Bible makes this clear.

1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”

And in Mark 5, the woman with the issue of blood experienced this firsthand — the moment she touched Jesus’ garment, the bleeding stopped instantly. Just like our bodies, our spirits begin the journey of healing the moment Jesus steps in.

Stage 2: Inflammation (Cleaning Out the Wound)

The second stage of healing is inflammation. Once the bleeding stops, the body immediately goes to work cleaning the wound. White blood cells rush to the area to fight infection, and as a result the wound gets red, swollen, and tender. It’s not comfortable, but it’s necessary. Without this stage, infection could set in, and the wound would never truly heal.

Spiritually, God does the same work in us after we come to Christ. He begins to cleanse us, to remove what doesn’t belong. This often comes through conviction, when God puts His finger on areas of our life that are unhealthy or sinful. It can feel uncomfortable because He surfaces old wounds, habits, and lies we’ve carried for years. But this is how true healing begins — by letting God clean us from the inside out.

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

God’s cleansing may sting at times, but it is always leading us to freedom and wholeness.

Stage 3: Proliferation — Rebuilding the Tissue

After the wound is cleaned, the body begins the rebuilding process. New tissue starts to grow, blood vessels are restored, and strength slowly begins to return. The wound starts to close, but it’s still tender and fragile. This stage isn’t instant — it takes time for the body to restore what was damaged.

Spiritually, this is the work God does in us through His Word, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. He doesn’t just remove the sin and brokenness; He begins to rebuild our lives with His truth. Old lies are replaced with His promises. Broken areas are restored with His presence. Slowly but surely, what was once weak becomes strong again.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

When we lean into God’s Word and community, He takes us from just surviving to truly being rebuilt in His image.

Stage 4: Maturation — Strengthening the Scar

Even after a wound closes, the healing isn’t finished. Over weeks and months, the scar strengthens. The skin remodels itself and becomes tougher than before. The wound may leave a mark, but it’s no longer vulnerable — it’s evidence of healing.

Spiritually, God works the same way. He takes our scars — the evidence of our past pain — and makes them testimonies of His faithfulness. What once was our greatest weakness can become the very place God shows His greatest strength. The healing may leave reminders of what we walked through, but those scars become proof that God brought us through and made us stronger.

This is why Paul could say in 2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Our scars tell a story — not of defeat, but of God’s power to redeem, restore, and strengthen.

Tie-in

When Jesus looked at the woman in Mark 5, He didn’t just say, “You’re healed.” He said, “Go in peace, and be freed from your suffering.” That word peace in the original language is shalom — and it’s so much more than just the absence of pain. Shalom means wholeness. It means complete restoration in every area of life — body, mind, soul, and spirit. Jesus was giving her more than relief; He was offering her full restoration.

But here’s the truth: healing may take time. Just like a physical wound goes through stages of recovery, spiritual healing often comes through a process. It can be uncomfortable. God may surface old hurts, convict us of hidden sins, or call us to release things we’ve been holding onto. Yet His goal is never to leave us halfway restored. His heart is to make us whole — not patched up, but fully renewed.

That’s why the challenge for us is simple: don’t settle for surface healing. Don’t be satisfied with just feeling a little better or covering up the scar. God wants to go deeper. He wants to restore your identity, your relationships, your faith, and your joy. When Jesus speaks shalom over you, He’s declaring complete transformation — not just temporary relief.’

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