The Resurrections Before The Resurrection (Part Four) Series

THE RESURRECTIONS BEFORE THE RESURRECTION (part four)

Mark 5:21-43

1) Jairus' problem (21-23)

"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. Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and 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.”

We see that Jairus was a synagogue ruler yet we see him falling at Jesus' feet. For a synagogue ruler to bow at the feet of a 'commoner' would've been unheard of. But when the need arises and the heart is touched, pride goes out the window. When it came to the fate of his child begging for help was not beneath him. He recognized that although he was a ruler; he was in the presence of the ruler.

Sometimes we can be too proud to ask for help. Sometimes there may be things we are called on to do that would seem beneath us or undignified. Can we be humble like this synagogue ruler and do what needs to be done for the greater good? Jesus was the ruler yet he was willing to become 'undignified' many times for the sake of serving God's will, like when he washed his disciples' feet-which he said was an example for them to do likewise.

2) The interruption (24-29)

Vs. 26-26, "So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 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."

So, not only was she not being helped; her condition was worsening. Interestingly, it's understood that much of the medicine of that day was not a science but more along the lines of someone like a medicine-man using charms and similar unconventional methods to 'heal'.

So, here she was, suffering and in a desperate situation. I'm sure she thought her situation was hopeless and that she would be bound to suffer in this embarrassing agony for the rest of her life. And Because her issue was menstrual it put her in a perpetual state of uncleanness (both literally and religiously) and therefore ostracized from society.

How embarrassing; how demoralizing. No wonder she had spent all she had, she wanted nothing more than to be rid of this condition so she could gain her dignity and quality of life back. Perhaps you or someone you know have had something happen where it has dramatically changed your quality of life. Maybe your condition has made you feel embarrassed or 'unclean'. [psoriasis]

Vs. 27-29, "When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering."

So, this woman felt she was at the end of hope. But she had heard about Jesus. She had faith to believe that if she just touched his clothes she would be healed. This is pretty remarkable. We have no evidence to support whether or not she had actually seen Jesus do any miracles but she obviously knew who Jesus was and at least knew that he had healed people. but up until this point we don't have any record of him healing through his clothing so her faith was unprecedented. To believe in the power of Jesus to such a degree was amazing.

It's like the encounter between Jesus and the Centurion. He told Jesus that he didn't need him to be there to hear his servant that if he would just speak healing he believed it would come to pass. Jesus responded to this declaration by saying he had not found such great faith even in Israel. I put this woman's level of faith in the same category.

And we see the effect from her touching his clothes was immediate; and she could sense it. There was a sensation throughout her body that convinced her that the power of Jesus had entered her and healed her. What amazement must have swept over her.

Have you ever been in a situation where you actually felt the Holy Spirit? Some describe it as a warming sensation. I've experienced it as a tingling sensation. It's brought me to tears. You can't deny it and you can't help but be affected by it.

This woman not only felt the sensation of power she experienced the release of her 12 year ailment. Can you imagine-suffering from some debilitating ailment for 12 years and then, in an instant you become free? What joy; what elation. You feel like your floating; like you could hardly contain yourself. However, in this case, she did her best to contain it. But, it was not to be. She was about to become exposed for what she did.