Now there is a passage in the Gospel of Mark where we find two people in desperate need of a miracle. You see the Gospel of Mark, records more, and in much detail, Jesus' miracles then any other Gospel writer. For Mark, these miracles were demonstrations of Jesus' power over diseases, the forces of evil, and even nature. Now in Mark 5:21-43 we see the power and authority of Jesus, and how much He cares for us in the most lowest times of our lives. Also, we see two kinds of faith, I like to call them "Idle Faith" and "Action Faith."
Now in verse 21 "Jesus crossed over again by boat to the other side" in Mark 5:1 were told that Jesus was with the Gadarenes, in Gadara, so if He traveled back across the sea of Galilee then Jesus was in Capernaum.
When He gets to shore He is already surrounded by a great multitude, then in verses 22-23 we see a "ruler of the synagogue, Jairus by name." Came to Jesus and "fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying 'My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live'."
So we begin in this passage that Jaruis is already in a deep hole, aware of Jesus' miraculous power Jairus approached Jesus begging Him to help his daughter. "So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him." Mark 5:24
The word thronged literally means "to push upon" or "filled with people." Now the next part of the passage is interesting, in the midst of a little girl who "lies at the point of death." Jesus stops heals a woman then has a conversation with her. I love it, because it shows so vividly how Jesus is calm in the midst of a major crisis. He knows that the will of the Father is much stronger than any problems we may face. "Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment." Mark 5:25-27
Now this woman with excessive blood flow was considered unclean and anything she touched would be considered unclean as well, for at least a day. Leviticus 15:25-27 but in just these three verses we see how rapid this womans faith grew. She went from trusting in doctors and medicine (vs. 26) to having enough faith (while being considered unclean) to touch Jesus' garment.
So why do you think Jesus would heal her? She was unclean according to scripture, and how dare her touch Jesus? So what was it that lead Him to have mercy on her?
I believe it was the woman's "Action Faith" which lead to her humbleness and decree. How do we know she was humble? Because in Matthew 9:20 he records that the woman "touched the hem of His garment" indicating that the women believed that if she could just touch the border of His clothes she would be healed, this is the action from a woman who had spent all that she had to try and get better. So I believe that if someone spends all they have and not get better, then just believes that if she touches the hem of His garment she would be healed, that's humbleness. You see if she wasn't humble and she was just going to Jesus because He is the last resort she would have probably approached Him and said "I've spent everything and it didn't work, let's see what you can do." Instead she showed meekness. Now verse 28 shows us the difference between "Idle Faith" and "Action Faith" the woman while touching Jesus' garment says "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well." There's the decree, she declares what Jesus could do for her. She had enough faith to take action and declare her healing. In Job 22:28 scripture says, "You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you;" So we see that this woman was willing to declare her healing, and left the establishment up to God, so her faith motivated her to act. Now in verses 29&30 the word "immediately" is used twice, indicating that both the woman and Jesus simultaneously knew what had happened.
The woman had no idea that Jesus had consciously healed her. So He turns around and asks "Who touched My clothes?"
I think He asked this question for two reason:
1). She was humble in her faith so He wanted to exalt her by commending her faith. Luke 14:11
2). He wanted to correct any mistaken notion she may have about her healing, it was not any magical quality of His clothes, but His divine will that had made her well.
You see no one was aware of the healing which took place, as we see in verse 31, but in verse 32 Jesus is "looking around to see her" indicating that He knew who touched Him, then He commends her faith in verse 34 saying "Your faith has made you well, Go in peace, and be healed of your afflication." While He was talking to her. Someone came from the "ruler of the synagogue's house and said, 'Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?'" Mark 5:35
"As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, 'Do not be afraid; only believe.'" (vs. 36)
Now I'm going to get into what I mean about "Idle Faith" and "Action Faith" both of them are commendable don't get me wrong, Jairus' faith was unshakable but the woman's faith was unwavering. You see the reason the woman's healing is in this passage is to show us the kind of faith we need to have when were at the lowest times in our life. Jairus had just got the news that his daughter was dead, I'm pretty sure he was at the lowest time in his life. But you see when we are faced with those bad times it's how we answer that situation that's going to get us through our bad times, in Proverbs 15:23 the Bible says, "A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!"
The woman answered her problem, and declared "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well." You see she took herself out of the natural (taking things from many physicians) and placed herself in the supernatural (If only I could touch His garment) when we are in the natural I'm telling you, you will lose the battle of faith every time. Satan has been dealing with people for thousands of years, what makes you so special that you think you could beat him? But when we are in the supernatural we take on "the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench ALL the fiery darts of the wicked one." (Ephesians 6:16) not some off Satan's tactics but all of them can't be defeated when we live in the supernatural realm of faith. Now Jairus had faith but I don't believe he had that supernatural faith to declare a healing upon his daughter, now notice the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ in verse 36 Jairus gets news that his daughter had just died, and Jesus says, "Do not be afraid; only believe." Now Jesus is still saying those words today, when we can't handle a problem then it just gets worst and we use that old saying "I don't see any light at the end of the tunnel" Jesus is saying "Do not be afraid; only believe." He's saying "I'm not of this world, and since you've accepted Me into your heart well then neither are you, so take yourself out of the abilities of your mind, and put yourself into the abilities of mine!"
Now look here in verse 37 Jesus is about to call upon a mighty miracle, and He only wants Peter, James, and John the brother of James to go with Him. You see from this passage we see already that their are some Christians who don't have enough faith to call upon a miracle and we see that their are some who do. Now the reason I think Jesus only picks three is because I believe He knew they were miracle calling Christians, when He walked in that room I don't think He wanted His disciples to get discouraged when they see a dead body. But I think He picked the disciples who had a supernatural outlook on life. You see if I ever get sick, I don't want people around me hugging me with sympathy because they don't see light at the end of the tunnel, instead I want those Christians who are daring enough to declare a healing and let the Lord do the rest. So then Jesus goes in the house and see everyone crying, and He says "Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping." Now here is where we find Jesus' authority He talks about this girls death as if it's not permanent. Then the crowd laughs at Him, that's what Satan will do, is he'll make people laugh at you to get you out of your supernatural mind set and back to the natural were he can beat you. But Jesus wasn't intimidated and neither should we be.
He simply said "Talitha, cumi" which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, arise." Mark 5:42
Now this is a wonderful passage to see two people at the lowest times of their lives, both having faith, yet one of them declaring that faith.
So next time you think you don't see light at the end of the tunnel, look at your problem and into the future through the eyes of Jesus Christ, for "You will declare a thing, and it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways." Job 22:28
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