While the “action” in Genesis 17-20 is compelling, let’s focus on our reading from Mark 5 today. I have always loved Mark 5, because it contains three amazing examples of Jesus’ love and power. First, Jesus encountered Legion, a man possessed by “many” demons. We’re told the man had suffered much, and lived among the tombs, because no one could bind him. Imagine the torment, not only did Legion suffer internally from the demon possession, he also suffered externally, because no one could be near him. In the midst of that pain and isolation, Jesus came and provided wholeness. Legion was so filled with gratitude that he asked Jesus to let him accompany Jesus and the disciples, but He told Legion (who probably needed a new name!) to go home and tell everyone what God had done for him. Imagine the amazement of Legion’s family and friends when they saw him sane, dressed, and proclaiming the good news of Jesus!
As Jesus continued on, Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and begged Jesus to heal his daughter who was dying. That a synagogue leader, a leader among the Jews, would come to Jesus and ask for a healing miracle shows his desperation. The Jewish leaders had already turned against Jesus, but Jairus would have done anything to save his daughter.
Jesus agreed to go with Jairus, but as they walked along, a huge crowd gathered, and pushed against Jesus on all sides. In the hustle and bustle of the moment, a woman who had a terrible bleeding disorder saw her opportunity to receive healing. According to Moses’ Law, she was “unclean” and wasn’t permitted to be near people. She certainly wasn’t permitted to touch them. Yet, in her desperation she conceived a plan: if she could just touch Jesus’ robe, she knew His power would heal her. The plan was sound. She was right. She touched Jesus’ garment, and immediately she was healed. One thing she hadn’t considered, was Jesus would feel the healing power go out of Him. He asked, “Who touched me?”
You have to love the disciples. They looked around, saw hundreds of people pressing in on Jesus from all sides and asked, “Really? Look, Master, with this crowd how would we ever be able to tell?” The woman realized she was revealed. Her plan had worked, but now she would suffer the humiliation of being called out by Jesus for breaking Moses’ Law. Precisely the opposite happened. Jesus not only didn’t reprimand her, He called her “daughter.” This is the only place in the four gospels where Jesus called anyone daughter. Then Jesus affirmed her faith, telling her it was her faith that had made her well.
By this time, some folks arrived from Jairus’ house and told him they didn’t need to bother the Teacher further, because the little girl had died. Jesus looked at Jairus and said, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” Wow! having daughters of my own, I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for Jairus in that moment. Whatever the distance to his house from where they were, it must have seemed like forever before they arrived. As they entered the house, family and friends were weeping and wailing as we would expect in such a tragic moment. But Jesus told them the girl wasn’t dead. She was just sleeping. They laughed at Jesus, but He went to the girl, took her hand and told her to get up. She did!
Each of the three accounts isn’t only an account of an exorcism or a healing, but a demonstration of God’s awesome power in Jesus. In each case, the person healed had been separated from loved ones in extreme ways, and Jesus restored each one to life, health, wholeness and community. I’m grateful Mark included these accounts for us, because they show us nothing is too hard for God, and that Jesus cared not only about the physical well-being, or even only about the spiritual well-being of those He healed, but even for their social well-being–their ability to live in and be part of their families and communities.
As we go about the day, let’s remember the same power that came from Jesus is part of our lives as His followers. We have the same Holy Spirit in us who lived in Jesus. Let’s be ready for the opportunities God sends our ways as we go about the day, just as Jesus was ready for Legion, the woman, and Jairus’ daughter.