Mark 5:21-43

 

Study in Contrasts- In the two healing/restoration stories that collide in chapter 5, notice the contrasts that are evident. The woman has no status or influence; she suffers from a hemorrhaging malady that makes her ritually impure and thus, remains outside the boundaries of society and religion; she is impoverished and sees Jesus as a "thaumaturge," or miracle-worker. Consider what is working for the other story’s character. He has a name-Jarius-is quite well off economically-for a leader of the synagogue was an office of importance, often given to wealthy people who could afford to provide or maintain the building as well as plan its activities [1]-has influence, gender, wealth, education, and sees Jesus as a person who, too wields authority.

A Comment About The Woman & Jarius’ Daughter:

The story of a nameless woman who has exhausted her resoureces seeking medical treatment for a chronic condition strikes a responsive chord with many older adults today. When they were younger, doctors seemed able to provide cures. Now these persons seem to have an ever-expanding list of medical complaints. As one man in his seventies put it, "After a certain age, you are never really well. Just less sick."

Faith and healing come after the fact as families learn to remember with gratitude the child they have lost. The mourners who mock Jesus in the story may not bhave believed that the little girl had any future. Some interpreters have suggested that since the verb for "rise up," ??e???, ("egeiro") used here is also used for the resurrection, this story contains a message about resurrection for Christian readers. Jesus cares for the girl just as much, whether she returns to earthly life or passes to life with God after life. [Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.]  [2]

 

Describe modern characters who might fit the profiles of the womyn with the hemorrhage and Jarius, "one of the leaders of the synagogue."

Using single descriptive words, make a list of what’s it like to be an aging adult.

How would you describe faith in your life: Shot in the dark? Chasing rabbits? Active? Passive? Help my unbelief? Vibrant? Glass half-full? Half-empty?

 

Please refer the homily for this week based on Mark 5:21-43.

 

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[1] The New Interpreter’s Study Bible (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003), p. 1818.
[2] The New Interpreter’s Bible VIII (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995), p. 590.