Stories like those from today’s passage of Jairus’s daughter and the bleeding woman aren’t just about miraculous healings. They also reveal to us what radical love for our neighbor looks like, what it means to deny social norms, and how legalism is disrupted—things Jesus embodied when He walked on the earth. Everything Jesus does is radical, but this particular passage alights something deep within my soul. I am just bowled over by the goodness of our Savior. This passage shows us how everything takes a backseat to the divinity and radical love of Christ.
A woman with a twelve-year-long menstrual discharge, which has made her ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 15:25–27), goes into public looking for Jesus, believing He can heal her—if only she can touch the hem of His robe (Mark 5:25,28).
A leader in the local synagogue (Jairus) comes looking for Jesus, begging Him to heal his daughter (Mark 5:22–23). Jesus goes to the man’s house and touches his dead daughter, and miraculously, she is healed (Mark 5:41).
He healed the woman and He raised the girl from the dead, even though in doing so, He has also made Himself “unclean,” according to levitical law. He does not call attention to Himself, shouting from the rooftops, “Look what I’m doing! Healing WOMEN! Touching the UNCLEAN! Breaking the LEVITICAL LAW! And in the house of a SYNAGOGUE LEADER!” Instead, He speaks with gentleness: “Don’t be afraid. Only believe” (Mark 5:36). He instructs those present not to tell anyone what He’s done (v.43).
Following the rules did not save Jairus’s daughter, nor did visiting the experts stop the woman from bleeding. But belief did—faith that Jesus was who He said He was and would do what He said He would do. Jairus and the bleeding woman did not let fear cover them, but rather an insistent, consuming faith.
Even as I type this, my heart is beating faster than it normally does, anxiety swelling up inside me for so many reasons. I’m worried about health, finances, my church family, the aftermath of tornadoes that touched down in our city in early spring, a global pandemic and resulting quarantine, the need for racial reconciliation within the Church and the country and around the world—and so much more. I fear death. I fear pain. I want to hunker down on the couch and never leave my house again.
But Jesus has two lessons for me from today’s reading in Mark. First, He calls me to live and love as radically as He did. Jesus denied custom and law to touch the sick and heal them. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus prioritizes the weak, the poor, the outcast, the suffering. As I seek to follow Him, I must do this too.
Second, I long for faith and love to chase away fear (1John 4:18), to trust the character of Jesus, to believe that He will accomplish all He has promised to do. I long to believe that the promise revealed to John in Revelation 21:4 is true: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.” His words are my only hope in life and in death: “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.”
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45 thoughts on "Jairus & His Daughter"
Andrea– I love how you pointed out the contrast between the way the man approached Jesus and the woman approached him. And I love that Jesus stopped and tended to the woman’s needs FIRST. He paused to love and reassure a woman who considered herself nothing rather than continue on his path with the synagogue leader. That is radical.
“…an insistent, consuming faith…” LORD, I pray that I will not let the noise of the chaos in our world deter me from striving to live my life for YOU. I pray that I will not be afraid, but boldly seek YOU with an insistent, consuming faith.
Needed this…unemployed for SO long trying to break into the workplace after being a SAHM now in a toxic home environment.
Lord, grow in me an insistent, consuming faith that dispels my fears and keeps me about Your business. I believe, help my unbelief!
Jesus is so good at being a calming presence. He didn’t berate the unclean woman or Jairus for pressing through the crowd to reach Him. He didn’t berate the woman when she confessed that it was she who touched Him. He didn’t let a group of mourners prevent Him or distract Him from responding to a father’s plea. Jesus knew Who He is and what He is about. Nothing and no one would deter Him.
As a believer, I know the whole story. I know the whole Truth. So when I read news reports or watch it on television or the internet, I remember Jesus’ words: “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.” These are very unsettling times, yes. But Jesus remains on the throne, remains in control, remains about His business and His promises will be fulfilled. So I can take heart and take courage. I can press through the crowd of bad news. I just keep pressing on to Jesus, His calming Presence.
Good morning Churchmouse, I needed to hear these words this morning.
As I was reading the text I couldn’t help but see the contrast in how each person approaches Jesus. Jarius approaches boldly with confidence. In contrast, the bleeding woman, likely filled with shame over her sense of uncleanliness has an indirect approach, as she comes up behind him. I sometimes can relate to the feeling of just wanting to sneak in unnoticed for a brief touch of Jesus. . I think about the times, I avoid going directly to Him, maybe out of shame, thinking my requests are unworthy or that I can just handle it in my own strength. I love the change in her once Jesus notices. No longer burdened by her shame, she falls at his feet, surrendering and sharing her story.
I love what you said about “wanting to
I’ll try that again lol …. I love what you said about “wanting to sneak in unnoticed”. I feel like I do this a lot. I have tried lately to pray bold prayers. It still feels awkward at times, and maybe a little taboo? But we can have a bold faith like this woman and Jairus. “Don’t be afraid, only believe.” How tender Jesus is with us, and our doubts.
Thank you for sharing! Love this thought!
The all encompassing power of Jesus … we see it in scripture and we say “Miracles!” as His acts of healing, forgiveness, grace and mercy are beyond our comprehension, while He is just being Jesus, son of the Almighty God. I am humbled and weeping at the power of our Lord, praying for my faith to strengthen, for my eyes to be opened to the miracles still happening today and for people to see Him through unworthy me. Thank you, Jesus!
Joining you in that strong & beautiful prayer!
❤️
I can so relate to wanting to remain at home, listening to the birds, feeling safe being about my Father’s business. I notice though his desires of me are gradually increasing. In March it started with increased work with the church prayer time, putting out more and more requests and praises, then writing inspirations to individuals daily, another step into writing thank you’s to individuals in my life, then to making masks. Now food for neighbors, they are so sweet. I never want any of this to change the list goes on and on but I won’t take up your time. I know He has more for me and I will have to leave my home and I know it will be ok because I am about My Father’s business doing what He desires of me, what more could I ask.