“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. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 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.” And he went with him.
And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. 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. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
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?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 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. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.”
Have you ever been completely desperate?
Life has a way of reminding us that we are not in control.
In this passage, two very different people come to Jesus. One is Jairus, a respected synagogue ruler. The other is a woman who has suffered from a bleeding condition for twelve years. Their circumstances are different, their social standing is different, and their stories are different.
But they have one thing in common.
They are out of options.
Jairus comes because his daughter is dying. The woman comes because years of treatments have failed to help her. Both have reached the point where they can no longer solve their problems themselves.
And both turn to Jesus.
The woman approaches quietly. She believes that if she can even touch His garment, she will be healed. Immediately, she is.
When Jesus stops and asks who touched Him, it is not because He lacks information. He draws her forward so that she might know something more important than healing.
He wants her to know Him.
“Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
Notice the tenderness in that word: daughter. Jesus is not merely dispensing miracles. He is restoring people and drawing them into relationship with Himself.
Meanwhile, Jairus receives the news he feared most.
His daughter has died.
The situation has moved beyond human help.
But Jesus responds with a simple command:
“Do not fear, only believe.”
That statement captures much of what we have seen throughout Mark so far. Again and again, people encounter situations that are beyond their strength, wisdom, or ability. Again and again, Jesus calls them to trust Him.
When Jesus arrives at the house, He takes the girl by the hand and raises her up.
For Him, even death is not beyond His authority.
These two stories reveal something important about Jesus.
He welcomes those who come to Him in faith, even when that faith feels weak or desperate. And His power extends farther than we can imagine.
Disease, suffering, and even death do not have the final word when Jesus is present.
That does not mean every earthly problem will be solved immediately. Jairus and the woman both endured long periods of suffering before this day arrived. And not every person in Judea were healed. But it does mean that our hope rests in One who has authority over every enemy that threatens us.
These are amazing miracles, but they are also just the tip of the iceberg. This story is heading somewhere even more amazing. The One who raises this little girl will Himself die and rise again. Through His resurrection, He will ultimately defeat the power of death for all who trust in Him. So, all who believe in Jesus will be raised, not just for a few more years or decades, but for life eternal.
That is why Christians can face even life’s darkest moments with hope.
Our faith is not in our strength or even the strength of our faith. It’s not the strength of the faith that matters, it’s the object of the faith.
Our faith is in Jesus.
Let’s pray…
Lord Jesus,
When I am faced with situations beyond my ability to fix or understand, help me to trust You. Strengthen my faith, remind me of Your power over every enemy, and keep me confident in the hope of Your resurrection.
Amen.
As part of your devotion time, I encourage you to also pray for at least some of the following:
After praying for these people, you may want to finish your devotion time with the Lord’s Prayer…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and every. Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
