Healing Faith

Jesus was known for the divine miracles he preformed and it wasn't long before crowds flocked to experience his power. The moment Jesus stepped out of a boat in Gerasenes, "a great crowed gathered about him, and he was beside the sea." Jesus was used to crowds; he welcomed them, taught them, fed them. It was also usual for a group of Pharisees--Jewish religious leaders and skeptics of Jesus--to linger on the outskirts of these gatherings, waiting to accuse Jesus of blasphemy or fallacy. But on this particular day, a ruler of the synagog by the name of Jairus stepped forward. Jairus did not set out to accuse Jesus or convict him or mock him; Jairus came to Jesus for help. His daughter was dying. Jairus was well known and well respected in his community, yet he ruined his powerful career by falling at the feet of Jesus, "he fell at his feet 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'" (Mark 5:22b-23). Jairus sacrificed his status and career for his daughter just as Jesus sacrificed his life for us; his sons and daughters. See the connection?

So Jesus follows Jairus, but on the way is met by another sick person in need of healing. A woman who had been suffering of "a discharge of blood for twelve years" knew that Jesus would be in the area and seized the opportunity. But she was an outcast. Blood--when used outside of holy sacrifice--was considered unclean within Jewish culture. This woman had spent all the money she had trying to find a cure and visiting physicians, but to no avail. She was perpetually "dirty." She thought Jesus would never touch her. How could she receive his healing touch if she was so unclean and he so pure? He would never heal me, so she thought. Her goal was to touch him, "If I touch even his garment, I will be made well." As soon as she touched Jesus, she was healed. But Jesus sensed the power leave his body. He turned and asked "Who touched my garments?" In fear and remorse , trembling she told him the whole truth. But instead of rebuking her, Jesus said, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease."

She felt dirty and unworthy, but Jesus called her daughter. She was rejected by man, but loved by God. Suffering is a product of human sin, but Jesus is our one true, complete medicine. One touch from Jesus, the fountain of life, and she was healed. Doctors and remedies could not make her whole, but Jesus could.

Just after Jesus heals the ailing woman, Jairus' family steps onto the scene with somber news: Jairus' daughter is dead. Despite their remorse, Jesus says, "Do not fear, only believe" (Mark 5:36b). Jesus, his disciples, and Jairus made their way to the house and seeing the girl, Jesus said, "The child is not dead but sleeping." They laughed and scoffed at him, does he not know a sleeping girl from a dead one? But Jesus took her by the hand and said in aramaic "Talitha cumi," meaning "Little girl, I say to you, arise." And she does. Jairus is amazed; his daughter is back from the dead!

Within a short period of time, Jesus defied sickness and death, bringing his daughters back to health. This was only a hint of what was to come when Jesus would die, breaking down the barrier separating man from God and defeating death that we might have life.

Arise, follow Jesus. You may be sick and broken. The world may call you horrible names, but Jesus calls you daughter.

For a deeper study of this lesson, check out my Dad's sermon here: They Called Jesus Touchy