A Dead Girl and a Sick Woman

Open It

1. How did your mother take care of you when you were sick?

2. When has the Lord ever healed you or someone you knew?

3. What are some common fears people have?

Explore It

Mark 5:21 NIV

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.

Mark 5:22 NIV

Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet.

Mark 5:23 NIV

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.”

4. Who was Jairus, and why did he want to see Jesus? (5:22-23)

5. What was Jairus’ attitude toward Jesus? (5:23)

Mark 5:24 NIV

So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him.

6. What did Jesus do for Jairus? (5:24)

Mark 5:25 NIV

And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years.

Mark 5:26 NIV

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.

7. What was the plight of the woman in this story? (5:25-26)

Mark 5:27 NIV

When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,

Mark 5:28 NIV

because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”

8. Why did the woman touch Jesus’ clothing? (5:27-28)

Mark 5:29 NIV

Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

9. What happened when the woman touched Jesus’ cloak? (5:29)

Mark 5:30 NIV

At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

Mark 5:31 NIV

“You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”

Mark 5:32 NIV

But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it.

10. What was Jesus’ immediate response to the woman’s action? (5:30-32)

11. Why could the disciples not understand Jesus’ action? (5:31)

Mark 5:33 NIV

Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.

12. Of what was the woman afraid? (5:33)

Mark 5:34 NIV

He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

13. How did Jesus’ reply give the woman comfort and reassurance? (5:34)

Mark 5:35 NIV

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?”

Mark 5:36 NIV

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

14. Whom did Jesus tell not to be afraid and to "just believe"? Why? (5:35-36)

Mark 5:37 NIV

He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James.

Mark 5:38 NIV

When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly.

15. Who were the only people who went with Jesus to Jairus’ home? Why? (5:37-38)

Mark 5:39 NIV

He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.”

16. What did Jesus mean when He said, "The child is not dead but asleep"? (5:39)

Mark 5:40 NIV

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.

17. How did people react when Jesus expressed confidence that the dead girl would be all right? (5:40)

Mark 5:42 NIV

Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.

18. Who witnessed the girl being raised from the dead by Jesus? (5:40-42)

Mark 5:43 NIV

He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

19. What were Jesus’ final instructions? (5:43)

Get It

20. What connection is there between a person’s faith and whether God heals him or her of a sickness?

21. How does Jesus’ treatment of the sick woman and Jairus offer comfort to us today?

22. Why do you think the bleeding woman was afraid to admit she was the one who had touched Jesus?

23. When have you ever felt afraid of God, like the woman who touched Jesus?

24. In what situations do you need God’s help?

25. What does this passage tell us about Jesus’ character?

26. In what situation in your life do you need to heed Jesus’ words, "Don’t be afraid, just believe"?

27. What attitude or action do you need to change in your own life in light of the fact that Jesus is willing to respond miraculously to our needs?

Apply It

28. What is one fear that you can ask the Lord to help you face this week?

29. With what concrete action can you show your faith in the Lord this week?