Jesus’ Heals

Jesus got into the boat again and went back to the other side of the lake, where a large crowd gathered around Him on the shore. Then a leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, arrived. When he saw Jesus, he fell at His feet, pleading fervently with Him. “My little daughter is dying,” he said. “Please come and lay Your hands on her; heal her so she can live.” Jesus went with him, and all the people followed, crowding around Him. Mark 5:21-24 (NLT)

Mark 5 next gives two stories that are sandwiched together (Mark 5:21-43; see parallel verses at Matthew 9:18-26; Luke 8:40-56). First, Jesus heals a bleeding woman (Mark 5:25-34) and next He restores a dying girl to life (Mark 5:21-24, 35-43). Most scholars look at both stories together.  Both stories are interrelated and reveal Jesus’ healing power in response to our faith in Him (Mark 5:23, 34; see also Matthew 9:2, 22).

As Jesus re-crossed the Sea of Galilee by boat, a large crowd gathered around Him (Mark 5:21). Then, Jesus is approached by Jairus, who was the ruler of the synagogue (Mark 5:22). The Holy Scriptures do not define the roles of a “ruler of the synagogue.” Obviously, Jairus was well respected and honorable man. Traditionally, synagogues were built by wealthy people or possibly Jairus was the chief lay leader of the synagogue. Nevertheless when Jairus saw Jesus, he came and fell before Jesus’ feet and pleaded earnestly with Jesus to heal his dying daughter (Mark 5:22-23). Essentially, Jairus pleaded for Jesus help to come and lay His hands on his dying daughter so she would be healed and live (Mark 5:23). Jairus’ prayer to Jesus was sincere and humble but intense (Luke 8:41). Jairus shows great respect to Jesus because his daughter was dying (Mark 5:22). Jairus was desperate and believed only Jesus’ healing touch could save his daughter (Mark 5:23). Jesus goes with Jairus (Mark 5:24).

A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind Him through the crowd and touched His robe. For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch His robe, I will be healed.” Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition. Mark 5:25-29 (NLT)

On the way to Jairus house, large crowds followed and pressed around Jesus (Mark 5:24).  A woman within the crowd saw Jesus and approached Him. She had been subject to incurable bleeding for twelve long years (Mark 5:25-26). This woman was in a state of permanent defilement as noted in the Old Testament (Leviticus 15:19-33). She may had a menstrual or uterine disorder that made her ritually or ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 15:25-27). According to Leviticus, this woman was thus not allowed to worship in the temple or join other people for regular activities. Like Jairus, the synagogue ruler, this woman was desperate, and she believed only Jesus’ healing touch could heal her sickness (Mark 5:26-28). The woman does not want to take the spotlight but she desperately needs a healing touch from Jesus (Mark 5:28). As Jesus passed through the crowd, the woman received her healing from Jesus. The woman reached out to Jesus by faith and Jesus healed the woman. One touched from Jesus instantly healed her terrible suffering (Mark 5:29). After receiving her healing, the woman wanted to fade quietly back into the obscurity of the crowd.

Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from Him, so He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched My robe?” His disciples said to Him, “Look at this crowd pressing around You. How can You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’” But He kept on looking around to see who had done it. Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell at His feet and told Him what she had done. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.” Mark 5:30-34 (NLT)

After the woman’s had touched, Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from His body (Mark 5:30). Jesus stopped and asked the crowd who touched Him (Mark 5:30-31). He kept looking around to see who have received a healing (Mark 5:32). Jesus was not angry with the woman for touching Him. Then, the frightened and trembling woman came and fell at Jesus' feet and told Him what she had done (Mark 5:33). The woman is fearful yet she told Jesus the truth. The woman was expecting punishment, but she received her miracle! Jesus tenderly said to the frightened and trembling woman, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over” (Mark 5:34, NLT). The woman’s miracle becomes public. Her faith in Jesus brought her healing. Although the woman was healed when she touched Jesus, Jesus said her faith in Him caused her healing. Jesus helps everyone who places their faith in Him.

While He was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, “Your daughter is dead. There is no use troubling the Teacher now.” But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid. Just have faith.” Then Jesus stopped the crowd and would not let anyone go with Him except Peter, James, and John (the brother of James). When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw much commotion and weeping and wailing. He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead; she is only asleep.” The crowd laughed at Him. But He made them all leave, and He took the girl’s father and mother and His three disciples into the room where the girl was lying. Holding her hand, He said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!” And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed. Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone what had happened, and then He told them to give her something to eat. Mark 5:35-43 (NLT)

While Jesus was still speaking to the healed woman, messengers came from Jairus’ home and said, “Your daughter is dead” (Mark 5:35). Jesus overheard the messengers speaking to Jairus and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid. Just have faith” (Mark 5:36, NLT). Literal, Jesus told Jairus “just keep on believing!” (Mark 5:36; see also Matthew 7:7-11). Jesus statement to “just keep on believing!” visualizes a continuing action. Jairus’ initial plea for Jesus’ help proved that he believed Jesus could heal his dying daughter (Mark 5:23). Jesus’ encouragement to “just keep on believing!” emphasized that Jairus’ blessing also depended on Jairus’ unswerving and persistent faith in Jesus’ power to heal (see also Mark 6:5–6; Luke 18:1-8). Such persistence is not to suggest healing or any other work of God is earned by human effort. Rather, Jesus’ encouragement illustrates the need to be bold in what we believe — to not be deterred by difficult circumstances or discouraged by others. “All things are possible to him (or her) who believes” (Mark 9:23; see also Mark 4:40; Mark 5:34). There are no limits; Jesus says, to what faith in the power of God can do!

Despite the negative report, Jesus continued to Jairus’ home and ignored the messengers (Mark 5:36). On His way to Jairus home, Jesus did not let anyone follow Him except Peter, James and John – Jesus’ inner circle (Mark 5:37-38; see also Mark 9:2; Mark 13:3; Mark 14:33; Luke 22:8). When Jesus arrived at Jairus’ home, He saw much commotion with people crying and wailing loudly (Mark 5:38). Jesus went inside Jairus’ home and said to the people crying, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep” (Mark 5:39, NIV2011). However, the people laughed and ridiculed Jesus because the girl had been pronounced dead (Mark 5:40; see also Luke 8:52-53). Jesus made the wailing crowd leave Jairus’ home (Mark 5:40). Then, Jesus took the girl’s father and mother and His three disciples (Peter, James, and John) into the room where the girl was lying (Mark 5:40). Then, Jesus took the little girl by the hand and said to her in Aramaic, one of the original languages of Palestine, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” (Mark 5:41). Immediately, the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this moment, the people were overwhelmed and completely amazed (Mark 5:42). The raising of Jairus' daughter was Jesus’ first miraculous resurrection from the dead. Jesus’ power over death pointed believers to see Jesus as God in human flesh (Matthew 1:23). By delivering Jairus’ daughter from death, Jesus revealed the nature and power of the true and living God. Jesus' healing was a dramatic miracle. Jairus’ faith in Jesus brought healing for his daughter.

Next, Jesus gave the crowd strict orders not to let anyone know about this miracle (Mark 5:43). Once again, Jesus invoked the Messianic secret not to tell anyone (see also Mark 1:25, 34). At this point in Jesus’ public ministry, Jesus was a controversial Figure. Jesus kept secret His true identity secret initially to avoid inciting political action by the Roman government and religious leaders (Mark 1:44; Mark 3:12; Mark 4:10-12; Mark 5:43; Mark 7:36; Mark 8:17-21, 26, 30, Mark 9:9).

Many first century Jews were expecting a political Messiah, who would overthrow the Roman government. However, Jesus came to announce and establish God’s Kingdom. God's Kingdom brought healing, liberation, and good news – but not necessarily political power (Matthew 3:2; Matthew 10:7-8). The Kingdom of God is the sovereign reign of God that He brings about through His Son, Jesus. God’s Kingdom means the establishment of God’s Holy Spirit in the hearts and lives of people, overcoming sickness, disease, and the forces of evil, and the removal from the world the consequences of sin. Our faith in Jesus overcomes sin and defeat, including death.

The stories of the incurable blood disease and Jairus’ dying daughter reveal Jesus’ healing power in response to our faith in Him. As God incarnate (in human flesh), Jesus has power over disease and death (Exodus 15:26; Psalm 41:3, 5; Psalm 103:2-3). Jesus responds to our genuine faith (trust) in Him – whether weak or strong. In the healing ministry of Jesus, faith was a dominant factor. Normally, faith on the part of the sufferer or by someone on the sufferer’ behalf was present before Jesus’ healing; faith was not started by Jesus' healing (e.g., Matthew 8:13; Matthew 9:2, 22, 29; Matthew 15:28). Mark 6:5-6 and Matthew 13:58 expressly record that Jesus could not heal in Nazareth due to the people’s lack of faith. At Matthew 17:20, Jesus' healing was delayed because of their lack of faith. James 5:15 emphasizes that it is the prayer of faith that brings our healing.

In both cases, Jairus and the woman were publicly exercising their faith in Jesus. At this point in Jesus’ public ministry, Jesus was a controversial Figure. Jairus risked his reputation as a religious leader because he trusted Jesus and the woman risked public shame in touching a man. Both Jairus and the woman courageously put their faith in Jesus, and Jesus rewarded their faith. Jesus not only has miraculous power over nature (Mark 4:35-41) and evil spirits (Mark 5:1-20) but He has healing power over sickness and death (Matthew 4:23; Luke 4:40-41). Also, some people would say that Jairus deserved Jesus’ miraculous healing because he was an upstanding citizen, but not the unclean woman suffering from the bleeding disorder. These two stories reveal the incredible depth of Jesus’ love and mercy for ALL PEOPLE – men, women, rich, poor, young and old. Both Jairus and the poor woman found the answers to their needs humbly at the feet of Jesus (Mark 5:22 and 33; see also Mark 5:6).

Most important, the whole connection of these two stories centers on salvation. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, the word “saved” means rescued, restoration, and wholeness. In response to our faith in Him, Jesus heals our brokenness and brings restoration and wholeness. Jesus is more than a Healer, but He is also our Lord and Savior.  Even more, Jesus not only provides our physical healing but also our spiritual healing through faith in Him.

Jesus’ miraculous healing revealed the in-breaking of God’s Kingdom. Jesus performed these miraculous healing and other signs to call people to repentance because the true and living God of heaven and earth and His Kingdom arrived with Him (see Matthew 1:21, 23; Matthew 3:2; Matthew 11:20-24). Healing occupies a significant role of Jesus’ proclamation of God’s Kingdom. Jesus healed varies diseases such as leprosy (a skin disease), blindness, and hemorrhaging. Also, Jesus healed people suffering from unclean (evil) spirits, and He overcame death (e.g., see Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 1:32-34, 39; Mark 3:11; John 11:38-44). Jesus’ healing and miracles revealed God’s power working through His public ministry. The true and living God (Yahweh) was fully working in the life and ministry of Jesus (see e.g., Matthew 1:21, 23; John 1:1-5, 14, 18; Romans 9:5; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:15, 19; Colossians 2:9-10; Hebrews 1:3-4). Our healing and restoration also come as we faithfully first seek and obey God and walk in love and righteousness (Matthew 6:33; see also Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6-8).  

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 John 2 (ESV)

References

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