Grace For Your Day June 24

So far, in our series on the Gospel of Mark, we have looked at several separate stories of the life of Christ such as:
However, when you come to the second part of chapter 5, you find a story within a story because it tells us about two events that overlapped in such quick succession that it is easy to miss the importance of them. Here is what it says in verses 21-43:

When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He stayed by the seashore. One of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up, and on seeing Him, fell at His feet and implored Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.” And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him.

A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse - after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.” Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?” And His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”

While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?” But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.” And He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the synagogue official; and He saw a commotion, and people loudly weeping and wailing. And entering in, He said to them, “Why make a commotion and weep? The child has not died, but is asleep.” They began laughing at Him. But putting them all out, He took along the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and entered the room where the child was. Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, “Talitha kum!” (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl got up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded. And He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this, and He said that something should be given her to eat.

At first glance, it may seem like these two events have nothing to do with each other but they do.

For one thing, both stories describe someone in desperate need. Jairus’ daughter was in need of healing and so was the woman with the hemorrhage. For another thing, both of them approached Jesus. Jairus approached Him face-to-face and the woman approached Him from behind. However, they were different as well because Jairus was named while the woman was not. Also, Jairus was a synagogue official while the woman’s occupation is not given to us.

However, the point is that Jesus helped both of them. He did not turn either one away. As Mark 10:45 says “For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life a ransom for many” which is what we are going to talk about this week at Grace Fellowship Church.

This Sunday, we are going to talk about “Two Hopeless Stories” because that is what this passage is about. These people came to Jesus with no hope and He gave them hope. They met Him when they were joyless and He left them overjoyed after saving them from their distress.

As such, He demonstrates that He can help anyone regardless of their circumstance. Young or old. Rich or poor. Sick or dying. Jesus is a Saviour for all those who need Him. In fact, He can even deliver someone from death itself.

Please join us as we talk about that on Sunday morning. The service will begin at 9:30 and it will be recorded and posted on YouTube later for all those who cannot make it in person.

– Jeremy Cagle