Mark 5:21-43
This reading could lead to a sermon entitled "A Tale of Two Daughters" but I am rather going to call it "A Tale of Two Approaches to Jesus" ... both titles lead to the same good news, namely: He is within reach.
This reading could lead to a sermon entitled "A Tale of Two Daughters" but I am rather going to call it "A Tale of Two Approaches to Jesus" ... both titles lead to the same good news, namely: He is within reach.
Crowds
swarm around Jesus as Jairus, the "leader of the synagogue"
approaches. He cuts through the crowd and falls at Jesus' feet, begging Jesus
to come rescue his daughter from death. And Jesus responds immediately and goes
with him. But what of the crowd? Did they not have needs, too—daughters who
were ill, chronic illnesses that insurance wouldn't cover and modern medicine
couldn't cure? What of the crowd?
If you were Jairus with a sick daughter, would you cut in line? Would you exercise your social privilege and pull rank to protect your family? If you were an “important member of the church” (whatever that actually means), would you, do you, expect special treatment. Jairus pushes his way through this concentrated crowd and falls at Jesus feet. Also in this crowd is a woman with a dreadful infirmity in her body . . . an issue of blood . . . a hemorrhage that would not end. She was thus a victim of a chronic disability; a lingering and increasing loss of vitality; probably nervous exhaustion because whoever she touched became unclean, so her life was spent avoiding and being avoided by people; she was at her “wits end.” She’s the very opposite of Jairus … she’s a nobody, made worse by being made to feel that she’s a nobody, just in case she forgot. We are so good at creating nobodies by the somebodies who always get their way, sometimes barging in and using their influence as Jairus might have. Do you perhaps identify with her more than with Jairus?
If you were Jairus with a sick daughter, would you cut in line? Would you exercise your social privilege and pull rank to protect your family? If you were an “important member of the church” (whatever that actually means), would you, do you, expect special treatment. Jairus pushes his way through this concentrated crowd and falls at Jesus feet. Also in this crowd is a woman with a dreadful infirmity in her body . . . an issue of blood . . . a hemorrhage that would not end. She was thus a victim of a chronic disability; a lingering and increasing loss of vitality; probably nervous exhaustion because whoever she touched became unclean, so her life was spent avoiding and being avoided by people; she was at her “wits end.” She’s the very opposite of Jairus … she’s a nobody, made worse by being made to feel that she’s a nobody, just in case she forgot. We are so good at creating nobodies by the somebodies who always get their way, sometimes barging in and using their influence as Jairus might have. Do you perhaps identify with her more than with Jairus?
Her physical malady had
plagued her for twelve long years. Each day of her life, her life was ebbing
away. She was slowly dying and to this point in her discomfort, had been unable
to be helped. Her not having been helped was not due to a lack of effort on her
part. “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.” She had spent all that she had . . she was
penniless . . . she was broke. She was
spent both physically and mentally . . . as well as materially. Luke (who we
know was a doctor) admitted that she could not be helped by doctors: He writes
in Luke 8:43 “Now a woman, having a flow of blood for
twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed
by any.” Notice: “Could not” . .
. Not “Had not.” This is a doctor speaking
and being honest about her condition. She would have lived in appalling
loneliness for 12 long years. Think of all the joys you have had . . . all the
things you have done . . . and the places you have traveled to during the last
twelve years of your life. All of these were denied to her during that same
amount of time.
So we have Jairus and this unnamed woman. Who do you identify with more? I wonder who Jesus will have more time for. Well, we’re about to learn another kingdom truth, namely that the kingdom of God is big enough and patient enough for everyone! Even for you … this morning.
So we have Jairus and this unnamed woman. Who do you identify with more? I wonder who Jesus will have more time for. Well, we’re about to learn another kingdom truth, namely that the kingdom of God is big enough and patient enough for everyone! Even for you … this morning.
The
Psalm set for this Sunday (Ps 130) begins with these words:
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice! Let
your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!
Those
words are at the heart of both Jairus’ and the woman’s actions that day, but I
want to focus on the woman.
Having heard that the
Messiah was near, the woman said within herself, "If I may but touch His
garment, I shall be whole." The text indicates that it was specifically
the hem of His garment that she touched, an important detail from a Jewish
viewpoint. The English word hem is a translation of a Greek word meaning a
tassel of twisted wool. The woman was, in fact, reaching for the tassels on
Jesus prayer shawl. In Hebrew, these tassels, which are attached to the corners
of the prayer shawl, are called tzitzit. They were, and still are, worn by
observant Jews in fulfillment of the biblical commandments found in Numbers
15:37-41 and Deuteronomy 22:12 and are intended to remind the people of God s
commandments. In Numbers 15:38 the word translated border or corner is a Hebrew
word which can also be translated wings
as it is some seventy-six times in the biblical text. For this reason, the
corners of the prayer shawl are often called wings. Each tzitzit consists of
five double knots and eight threads, a total of thirteen elements. This number
added to six hundred, the Hebraic numerical value of the word tzitzit, points to the six hundred and
thirteen commandments of the Torah.
In Jesus' day, Jewish men
wore a simple tunic both at home and at work. When appearing in public, they
would cover their tunic with a large rectangular cloth which draped over the
shoulder and fell to the ankles. This cloth was called a tallit and served as protection from cold and rain. Hanging from
the end of each of its four corners (wings) was a tzitzit in obedience to the biblical command. Through the
centuries, during times of persecution, Jews were often forbidden to wear the tzitzit on the outside of their
garments. This forced them to wear a small four-cornered tallit under their shirts. Today the prayer shawl is called a tallit.
During the first century
there were several traditions associated with the tzitzit concerning Messiah. One was that these knotted fringes
possessed healing powers. This tradition has its roots in the prophecy of
Malachi 4:2 where the Messiah is said to be coming with healing in His wings. Certainly
the woman with the issue of blood knew of these traditions, which would explain
why she sought to touch the corner (the wings) of Jesus' prayer garment. The
same word used in Numbers 15:38 for corner is used in Malachi 4:2 for wings.
With this understanding in mind, an ancient Jew under the prayer shawl could be
said to be dwelling in the secret place of the Most High and under His wings
(Ps. 91:1-4). When one realizes the significance of this concept to the
first-century Jewish mind, it becomes clear why this woman was instantly
healed. She was expressing her faith in Jesus as the Son of Righteousness with
healing in His wings and declaring her faith in God's prophetic Word.
However, for her, bodily
presence near Jesus was not enough. Faith, accompanied with action, made her
whole . . . Jesus was there, but she had to make the response toward Him. What
if she had had faith but no action? What if she had put forth action but
without faith?
Two kinds of people
touched Jesus that day. Curious onlookers who pressed close to see. But only
this woman touched him in faith and was healed. Faith saves only when it
accompanies obedience. She had obedient faith.
Jesus is the same
yesterday, today and forever. He is still able to heal, in every way, those who
will press in to touch the hem of His garment. He is still the Son of Righteousness
with Healing in His Wings. As we seek Him with our whole heart, let us expect
His healing power to make us whole in every area of our life.
We
close with an invitation. This morning you might want to come to Jesus like
Jairus and ask him to heal someone else. You might want to come like the woman
and ask Him to heal you. You might even want to touch the tassels which
represent the healing in His wings … come forward as the Lord leads you.
We
close with this beautiful song called One Touch (watch it here)
"One Touch
(Press)" Nicole C Mullen
Been ostracized for 12 years, I'm used to being alone
Spent everything I had and now it's gone
I'm used to being put down, my issues tell it all
My only hope is anchored in this fall
If I could just touch the hem of His garment
I know I'd be made whole
If I could just press my way through this madness
His love would heal my soul if only one touch
So many people calling, how could He ever know
That just a brush of Him would stop the flow
If He knew would He rebuke me or shame me to the crowd?
Well, I'm desperate 'cause it's never or it's now
If I could just touch the hem of His garment
I know I'd be made whole
If I could just press my way through this madness
His love would heal my soul
And then suddenly He turned around
He said somebody has unleashed my power
Well, frightened and embarrassed I bowed
You see I told Him of my troubles and how
I had to touch the hem of His garment
And I know I've been made whole
And how I had pressed my way through this madness
And His love has healed my soul
Then with one word He touched the hem of my garment
And you know I've been made whole
And somehow He pressed His way through my madness
And His love has healed my soul
I tell you He touched me
He reached way down and touched me
When no one else would touch me
Yeah, Jesus sure enough touched me
And I know I've been made whole
Spent everything I had and now it's gone
I'm used to being put down, my issues tell it all
My only hope is anchored in this fall
If I could just touch the hem of His garment
I know I'd be made whole
If I could just press my way through this madness
His love would heal my soul if only one touch
So many people calling, how could He ever know
That just a brush of Him would stop the flow
If He knew would He rebuke me or shame me to the crowd?
Well, I'm desperate 'cause it's never or it's now
If I could just touch the hem of His garment
I know I'd be made whole
If I could just press my way through this madness
His love would heal my soul
And then suddenly He turned around
He said somebody has unleashed my power
Well, frightened and embarrassed I bowed
You see I told Him of my troubles and how
I had to touch the hem of His garment
And I know I've been made whole
And how I had pressed my way through this madness
And His love has healed my soul
Then with one word He touched the hem of my garment
And you know I've been made whole
And somehow He pressed His way through my madness
And His love has healed my soul
I tell you He touched me
He reached way down and touched me
When no one else would touch me
Yeah, Jesus sure enough touched me
And I know I've been made whole
I am indebted to Dr. Richard Booker at
for the information regarding the tzitzit and tallit
