In Mark chapter 5, two events happen simultaneously. A woman who has been suffering for 12 long years with a chronic sickness is miraculously healed by Jesus; and a little 12-year-old girl that is deathly sick dies, then is miraculously brought back to life by Jesus.
In this story, we learn a lot of incredibly important truths. Here are four of them:
- Jesus is our Healer. When you need healing, go to Him. For physical healing, remember that God works through miracles AND through medicine. No matter how He heals you, make sure to give Him credit and glory when He heals. And physical healing is not the only kind of healing that we need. Whatever healing you need, go to Him. Jesus is our healer.
- Jesus is the Resurrection and Life. Physical death is certain for everyone. But you can live forever! Jesus is the resurrection and the life. In this story, we see Jesus raising a little girl back from the dead. And later in the gospels, we read that Jesus Himself came back to life! His physical resurrection guarantees that He has the ability and authority to give us eternal life. Put your trust in Him. He will give you eternal life. He will give you abundant life on earth, and eternal life with Him in heaven after you die.
- It’s Never Too Late. In Mark chapter 5, the woman who had been suffering for 12 years thought it was too late for her to be healed. And the synagogue leader thought it was surely too late for his daughter to be healed when he heard the news that she had died. But with Jesus, it is never too late!
- Everybody is Somebody. In first-century middle eastern culture, a sickly woman would have not been given much respect. A rabbi would have not have taken time to help her. Likewise, a little girl near death would have not caught a religious leader’s attention. But to Jesus, everybody is somebody. He cares for everyone.
Take a moment to read the story, and be amazed.
Mark 5:21-43 (HCSB)
21 When Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him while He was by the sea. 22 One of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at His feet
23 and kept begging Him, “My little daughter is at death’s door. Come and lay Your hands on her so she can get well and live.”
24 So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd was following and pressing against Him. 25 A woman suffering from bleeding for 12 years 26 had endured much under many doctors. She had spent everything she had and was not helped at all. On the contrary, she became worse. 27 Having heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His robe. 28 For she said, “If I can just touch His robes, I’ll be made well!” 29 Instantly her flow of blood ceased, and she sensed in her body that she was cured of her affliction.
30 At once Jesus realized in Himself that power had gone out from Him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My robes?”
31 His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing against You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”
32 So He was looking around to see who had done this. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came with fear and trembling, fell down before Him, and told Him the whole truth. 34 “Daughter,” He said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be free from your affliction.”
35 While He was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher anymore?”
36 But when Jesus overheard what was said, He told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.” 37 He did not let anyone accompany Him except Peter, James, and John, James’s brother. 38 They came to the leader’s house, and He saw a commotion—people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.”
40 They started laughing at Him, but He put them all outside. He took the child’s father, mother, and those who were with Him, and entered the place where the child was. 41 Then He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk. (She was 12 years old.) At this they were utterly astounded. 43 Then He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this and said that she should be given something to eat.
Jesus is our Healer. Jesus is the Resurrection and Life. It’s never too late. Everybody is somebody.
Let’s go and make disciples.