Mark 5:21-43 ~ “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.”

 Housing in Judea during the time Jesus lived

Capernaum, Jesus' adult hometown, today

Mark 5:21-43

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. 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. 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. 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.”

³⁵ While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” ³⁶ But overhearing^{[ignoring, hearing]} what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” ³⁷ And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. ³⁸ They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. ³⁹ And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” ⁴⁰ And 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. ⁴¹  Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” ⁴² And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. ⁴³ And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

This would have taken place in Capernaum. It is an interesting dilemma - one we can think about today. Should we acknowledge Jesus in our lives. Jairus has to decide. Is he a Jew running the synagogue. Is it worth it to let Jesus come to his house to see his dying daughter. She probably didn't just get sick that day. Events are pressing in on Jairus.

21 Times Jesus has healed with His Spoken Word
13 Times Jesus has reached out to touch
9 Times people were healed dfuring preaching and teaching, plus the 2 times the Scripture says "He healed them All."
8 Times Jesus drove out demons
7 Times ill people where healed because they had faith
4 Times Jesus was moved with compassion 
1  reached out to touch Him.


And Jairus sees the woman reach out to Jesus. Jairus has done the same thing. He has put aside the pride of his position to reach out to Jesus.  And the woman is healed. Jairus must have been so glad. And then crushed.  Jairus' face must have been completely stricken.

Jesus immediately reacts to Jairus. Saying

 "Do not fear, only believe.”

Mark 9:24
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

Faith. Jesus saw it waver, in those around Him,  all the time.

Matthew 14:30-31
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

If Jesus sees faithlessness so often, what set Jairus, the boy's father and Peter apart?

Romans 4:3
For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”

Romans 4:20-25
No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Both Jairus and the woman - reached out to Jesus. And in reaching out. Jesus had compassion on them. Lives were changed. Hearts renewed.  This is what Jesus is about. Making people know how wide, how deep, how unfailing is God's love. For us.

John 20:29
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Blessed.


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