Slices
Prepare
In Luke 1:49, Mary declares, ‘the Mighty One has done great things for me’. What great things has God done for you?
Bible passage
Jesus raises a dead girl and heals a sick woman
21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered round him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, ‘My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.’ 24 So Jesus went with him.
A large crowd followed and pressed round him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, ‘If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.’ 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
30 At once Jesus realised that power had gone out from him. He turned round in the crowd and asked, ‘Who touched my clothes?’
31 ‘You see the people crowding against you,’ his disciples answered, ‘and yet you can ask, “Who touched me?”’
32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.’
35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. ‘Your daughter is dead,’ they said. ‘Why bother the teacher anymore?’
36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe.’
37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, ‘Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.’ 40 But they laughed at him.
After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha koum!’ (which means ‘Little girl, I say to you, get up!’). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Explore
As we’ve been reading through Mark’s account, I’ve noticed that he sometimes puts stories together saying similar things. The storm on the sea and the man with demons are both stories showing Jesus doing things that show his power. He does it again in today’s story, comparing a girl who had been alive for 12 years, then died, with a woman who had had an illness for 12 years. Both the girl’s father, Jairus, and the woman are desperate, but while Jairus approaches Jesus directly, the woman is embarrassed and tries to sneak up unobtrusively.
Jesus shows that he cares for people whatever their social status. I find it interesting that he calls out the woman who was a social outcast, even though it seems she had already been healed. Maybe he wants to give her status and affirmation as well as healing.
I also note that Jesus said the little girl was only sleeping. Of course she was actually dead and he raised her back to life. Perhaps he was suggesting that death is not the end. I find that very reassuring as we face the possibility of death at any time.
Respond
Look back at the three chapters of Mark we have read over the past week. What aspects of Jesus’ character have stood out for you? What difference does that make to your life today?
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Deuteronomy 33,34; Romans 9
Pray for Scripture Union
Mission Partner Bridgebuilder in Milton Keynes will be presenting Easter Cracked to nearly 2,000 children; pray for a lasting impact, for energy and resilience for staff, and for more volunteers and churches to join with them. Pray too for guidance on the best location for Bridgebuilder going forward.
