Last week our Gospel from Mark told us the story of Jesus and the disciples crossing to the other side of the Sea of Galilee – into gentile territory. This week we have the story of the healing power of Jesus. However, the lectionary writers leave out the story of Jesus healing the Demon-possessed man - the exorcism of the Gerasene Demoniac. When they got to the other side a man came out of a tomb, he lived among the tombs, who was possessed by demons. This man possessed by demons runs up to Jesus and kneels before him and says “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? The demons recognize who Jesus is and what he can do. They beg Jesus not to hurt them. Jesus asks, “what is your name?” the man answers “My Name is Legion; for we are many.” Do you remember this story? Jesus sends the unclean spirits into a herd of swine, about two-thousand and then swine run off a cliff into the Sea of Galilee and they all drown. The swineherds ran off and to tell everyone! I suppose that was because they had just lost their livelihood – I would be upset too and tell everyone. And they come back to see Jesus and the Demoniac sitting there and the Demoniac is clothed and in his right mind. Jesus healed him and made him whole again. Jesus scared this town such that they asked him to leave.
The Demoniac wanted to come with Jesus, but Jesus said no but “Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.” And he went away and did this in Decapolis (which means ten cities) and everyone he told was AMAZED. Word was getting around about Jesus and his healing power.
There is a literary style called “intercalation.” We see it more prevalent in the Gospel According to Saint Mark. It is a favorite of his writing habits. It is like a story within a story. It is like placing two stories in a sandwich relationship. Look for similarities and for things that catch your ears in these two intertwined stories.
So, they crossed again by boat and there was a huge crowd gathered around him (Jesus) and one of the synagogue leaders, who was well known, Jairus, saw him and came to his knees before Jesus and begged him to cure his daughter. For a leader in the synagogue to kneel in this way showed a great honor. Scripture says he repeatedly begged “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.” This would have been VERY weird in the first century. Fathers did not react this way over daughters. Daughters did not have value. However, this Father, He was desperate to save her.
So as Jesus is on his way to Jairus’ house to cure his only, 12-year-old daughter, (now the second story gets inserted) the crowd pressed in on him and a woman who was very, very, very sick – who has been suffering from hemorrhages for more than 12 years touches him. She had tried to get cured, by going to many, many doctors, she had spent all she had, and she did not get any better ----in fact she was getting worse. She was desperate. She had heard about Jesus, and she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” And that is EXACTLY what happened. When she touched the clothes of Jesus, she felt it right away. And apparently so did Jesus.
Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
First of all, women did not touch men in the ancient world other than their husbands or family but never, never, never, male strangers. Women who were considered ritually unclean (bleeding) in the ancient world were also shunned. This woman had been in this state for the last 12 years – she had no importance. By addressing her as “daughter,” Jesus has elevated her social status. By touching Jesus, she is healed and is made whole again.
While he (Jesus) was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”
Ok so now we are back in the original story, Jesus is back on his way to heal the daughter of the One with importance, the Leader in the Synagogue.
He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. Then 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. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age).
At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Talitha cum (Talitha koum) is a transcription of the Aramaic, the ancient language that Jesus spoke, it was the common everyday language in Israel at that time. We only get the Aramaic words spoken by Jesus in Mark. Talitha is a term of endearment. It is etymologically (historically) related to a word that can also mean “lamb.” Jesus’ use of this term, coupled with His taking the little girl by the hand, provides an image of a compassion and gentleness. The Good Shepherd is lovingly gathering the lambs in His arms (see Isaiah 40:11): “My little lamb,” He says to her as He restores her life, “it’s time to get up.”
Jesus takes her by the hand, he touches her, and calls her to get up. By the touch of Jesus, she is healed and made whole again. Jesus concerned about her wellbeing and knowing she has been sick and probably has not eaten anything for a while -----asks them to feed her.
What were some of the similarities that you heard?
1. Both are females and of NO social standing.
a. However, one is being fought for by a person with importance.
b. The other is on her own.
2. The number 12 - the 12-year-old girl and the woman who had suffered for 12-years.
Both are also called “Daughter.”
3. By the touch of Jesus, they are made whole, for one it was taken, for the other it
was given.
4. The Faith of the Jairus and the Faith of the Women who was bleeding are what
makes them well.
a. They come to Jesus and Jairus after the 12-year-old child is believed to have
died. Jairus could have said – darn we are too late, but he did not ---- he
followed Jesus and believed. His faith made his daughter well.
b. The women who had been bleeding for 12 years believed that all she had to
do was to touch the cloak of Jesus to be healed. And so, her faith had made
her well.
Personal Story:
You all know that I am a preacher’s kid, well that makes all my siblings preacher’s kids too.
David, my younger brother by 4 years was the black sheep in our family. He had long blond hair, dressed like a hippie – and even gothic - sometimes in all black, had one earring, wanted to be an actor, was gay and he smoked cigarettes. While my Dad was the First Suffragan Bishop in the Diocese of Florida, David had car trouble while driving on the west coast of Florida. Basically, I think he ran out of gas, but he says it was mechanical, we do not know for sure, but the car was not working. As it happens, the car broke down right in front of an Episcopal Church. David thought “wow, I how fortunate am I.” YOU CAN RELATE TO THIS.
We all grew up in Episcopal Churches even some overseas. It was home for us. We were well familiar with the sign that says, “the Episcopal Church Welcomes you!”
So, David went into the church get help. Like the rest of us, he was baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal Church. They had just finished their worship service. (In other words, they had just received Jesus into their bodies).
At the coffee hour, NO ONE WOULD HELP HIM. NO ONE WOULD HELP HIM.
He went back to his car. As it turns out a Jewish man was driving by and offered to give him a lift to the gas station down the road.
In addition, Bishop Said wrote the priest and the vestry of the church a letter outlining what had happened to this Child of God. They wrote back a very sincere apology.
From Holy Scripture, Hebrews 13 verses 1-2 “Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.”
Jesus meets the respective needs of both of these daughters and responded to their faith with equal love, power, and willingness to heal. He “shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are the work of his hands” (Job 34:19).
Jesus said, “Be not afraid, only believe.” AMEN.
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