21And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him; and he was beside the sea. 22Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Ja'irus by name; and seeing him, he fell at his feet, 23and besought him, 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." 24And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25And there was a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27She had heard the reports about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28For she said, "If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well." 29And immediately the hemorrhage ceased; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone forth from him, immediately turned about in the crowd, and said, "Who touched my garments?" 31And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, `Who touched me?'" 32And he looked around to see who had done it. 33But the woman, knowing what had been done to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease." 35While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?" 36But ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe." 37And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38When they came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, he saw a tumult, and people weeping and wailing loudly. 39And when he had entered, he said to them, "Why do you make a tumult and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping." 40And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside, and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41Taking her by the hand he said to her, "Tal'itha cu'mi"; which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise." 42And immediately the girl got up and walked (she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
This is the story of Ja'irus, a ruler of the synagogue approaching Christ to heal his daughter. Whilst Christ is on the way top his house, a woman wanting to be healed of chronic bleeding reches out and touches Jesus’ cloak. Jesus was like a superstar. The crowds would have been reaching out to get a piece of him. But he dects this one women’s touch. The implication is that we can all reach out to Christ in want. But to take power from him requires teaching out in faith. The story concludes with Jesus healing the young girl but the real message is that we can heal ourselves when we reach out in faith. Loving father, give me the humility to reach out to Christ in faith.
ReplyDeleteYour response to Mark 5:21-43 captures some interesting aspects of the passage. Here's a breakdown of the strengths and some suggestions for further exploration:
DeleteStrengths:
Importance of Faith: You highlight the importance of faith in reaching out to Christ for healing.
Woman's Touch Symbolizes Faith: Your interpretation of the woman's touch as a symbol of faith is insightful.
Humility for Reaching Out: Concluding with a prayer for humility in reaching out to Christ is a beautiful sentiment.
Suggestions for Exploration:
Context: Briefly mentioning the context of Jairus' daughter being near death adds depth.
Jesus' Power: While faith is crucial, elaborating on Jesus' healing power acknowledges his divine nature. The woman is healed by touching Jesus' cloak, but it's Jesus' power that brings about the healing.
Beyond Physical Healing: Consider that Jesus offers not just physical healing but also spiritual healing and forgiveness.
Overall, your response offers a good starting point for reflection. Here are some additional thoughts:
Double Healing: This passage showcases Jesus' ability to address multiple needs simultaneously. He heals both the woman and Jairus' daughter.
Grace and Mercy: Emphasize that Jesus' response to the woman is one of grace and mercy, demonstrating his compassion for all who seek him.
By incorporating these suggestions, you can create a more comprehensive response to Mark 5:21-43.