Jesus Has Authority over Disease and Death – Mark 5:21-43

Sermon Video

Have you ever been desperate? Have you ever been really desperate? Have you ever been life and death desperate? My wife and I recently watched The Titanic. When it was known that the Titanic would sink, all aboard desperately sought to get into lifeboats. They knew that help was hours away and that those in the water would freeze to death before help arrived.

In our text today, we read about two people that from two different walks of life who were as desperate as those who were on the Titanic.

In many ways, they were very different. One was a man; one was a woman. The man was well off; the woman was very poor. The man was a ruler of the synagogue; the woman could not even enter the synagogue because she was unclean.

However, they had something in common. They were both desperate. And in their desperation, they both turned to Jesus.

Last week in Mark 5 we saw that Jesus has authority over the demonic. Today in Mark 5:21-43, we see that Jesus has authority over disease and death. Turn with me to Mark 5.

Sermon text: Mark 5:21-43

There are three scenes in the text. First, we see Jairus pleading with Jesus to save his daughter. Second, we see the woman with a a flow of blood healed by Jesus. Third, we see Jesus healing Jairus’ daughter at Jairus’ house. Mark uses “sandwiches” in his writing from time to time. Mark introduces a story, inserts a another story, and then return to the original story. Scholars call these “Markan sandwiches.”

Scene 1: Jairus pleads with Jesus to heal his daughter (21-24)

²¹ And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. ²² Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet ²³ and implored him earnestly, saying, “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.” ²⁴ And he went with him.

Jairus was “one of the rulers of the synagogue” (v. 22). As a ruler of the synagogue, Jairus helped prepare the service for each Sabbath day.

Jarius had probably heard Jesus teach in his synagogue (Mark 1:21-22). He may have witnessed Jesus’ healing ability. And so, in his desperation, he fell at Jesus’ feet (v. 22).

Consider how desperate Jairus must be. He is a ruler of the synagogue. He has a good job. Remember who hates Jesus so far – the Pharisees (Mark 3:6). The rulers of the synagogue likely reported to the Pharisees. Jairus’ decision to fall at Jesus’ feet is an act of great desperation that could cost him his livelihood.

Verse 23 explains why he was so desperate. He implored Jesus earnestly, saying, “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.”

Do you feel the sense of desperation?

I cannot imagine anything in life that would cause more anguish than having a child at the point of death. The text says that Jairus “fell” at the feet of Jesus and begged him to come and heal his daughter.

24

Jesus hears the plea of this desperate father, and v. 24 says that he went with him. As Jesus makes his way to Jairus’ house, the text says that a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. As we know so far from our study of Mark, Jesus attracted crowds wherever he went.

As they make their way to Jairus’ house, Jesus is interrupted by a desperate woman.

Scene 2: Jesus heals a woman with a chronic discharge of blood (25-34)

In the crowd of people who gathered around Jesus, we are told of one particular woman. In verses 25-26, we learn about this woman.

25-26

25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.

The woman had a discharge of blood for 12 years. She had suffered much, despite having many different physicians. In modern terms, she had been to the family doctor, urgent care, the emergency room, and multiple specialists.

She had spent all her money seeking relief, but she only grew worse.

Perhaps you can identify with that. Maybe you have a chronic health condition and you’ve spent a lot of money seeking relief for your pain but you only seem to get worse.

Last week we read about a demon-possessed man that had a terrible existence. He was living amongst dead bodies and was a man of filth, loneliness, and terror. He was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. There was no man that was able to subdue that man and no chain that could hold him.

This woman, while not demon-possessed, is in a similar state of despair. She is desperately poor, unclean because of her bloody discharge, and considered an outcast by society. She would have not been able to enter the synagogue or the temple, for she was unclean.

In her condition, sexual intercourse was forbidden. The Pharisaic tradition commonly encouraged divorce if a couple of childbearing age could not produce offspring. Thus, her condition probably had either prevented her marriage or ended it.^[1]Craig S. Keener and John H. Walton, eds., NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016), 1698.

Lev 15:25-27

25 “If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, not at the time of her menstrual impurity, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her impurity, all the days of the discharge she shall continue in uncleanness. As in the days of her impurity, she shall be unclean. 26 Every bed on which she lies, all the days of her discharge, shall be to her as the bed of her impurity. And everything on which she sits shall be unclean, as in the uncleanness of her menstrual impurity. 27 And whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.

Num 5:1-4

5 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Command the people of Israel that they put out of the camp everyone who is leprous or has a discharge and everyone who is unclean through contact with the dead. 3 You shall put out both male and female, putting them outside the camp, that they may not defile their camp, in the midst of which I dwell.” 4 And the people of Israel did so, and put them outside the camp; as the Lord said to Moses, so the people of Israel did.

This lady has not been able to go to they synagogue or the temple for 12 years! She is considered the lowest of the low in society.

We see a stark contrast between the status of this woman and that of Jairus. While she is poor, unclean, and an outcast, Jairus is a “ruler” of the synagogue. It is quite possible that Jairus had kept this woman from entering the synagogue. I can just imagine Jairus seeing the woman and thinking, “Oh no, not this woman again.” But Jesus doesn’t respond that way.

While there is a contrast between Jairus and this poor woman, they also have something in common. Both people need a miracle from Jesus. They both need Jesus’ healing touch.

I love that about Jesus. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost – poor, rich, Jew, Gentile, black, white, male, female. Jesus came for every person.

Jesus is not partial to the rich and the famous. Are we like Jesus? Are we as Christians willing to love like Jesus? Are we willing to love the people that society has given up on and spit upon? Are we willing to be interrupted in order to help someone that is hurting?

27-28

27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.”

Verse 27 says that the woman had heard about Jesus. She pushes through the crowd and touched his garment, for she said in v. 28, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.”

This woman exhibits great faith! She has heard the stories. Perhaps she had heard about how Jesus cleansed the leper or the paralytic or the man with the withered hand. She believed that Jesus had the power to heal and she was willing to do whatever it took to get to Him.

What happens? Look at vv. 29-32.

29-32

29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it.

Verse 29 tells us that as soon as the woman touched Jesus, she was healed! The text says that immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.

Twelve years of suffering. Twelve years of doctor’s visits. Twelve years of paying medical bills. And in an instant, she is well because of her faith in Jesus.

In the same way, it doesn’t matter what your past 12 years or 20 years, or 50 years have been like. You may think you’re beyond fixing, but the truth is we are all broken and need Jesus. You can be made new because of Christ.

Notice how Jesus responds: he asks, “Who touched my garments?” His disciples respond sarcastically. They wonder, “Jesus, you have a huge crowd around you and you’re wondering who touched you?”

Here we see the love and compassion of Jesus. Jesus is surrounded by the crowd but he sees and cares about the individual person.

From this encounter with the woman, we see that Jesus cares about our suffering (24, 30-34, 41-43). Jesus wanted to give this woman assurance of her healing. He wanted to address her as a person.

33-34

33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

The woman, hearing Jesus’ question, came and fell down before him in fear and trembling. She explained to him her situation and told Him that she was the one who had touched Him.

She fell down before Jesus. Have you noticed the pattern in Mark 5? The demon-possessed man fell down before Jesus (Mark 5:6). Jairus fell down before Jesus (Mark 5:22). And now, we see this woman fall down before Jesus.

I want us to see that both Jairus and this woman approached Jesus with humble faith. They were both in agony, and they both desperately needed Jesus. In this passage, we see that

In times of suffering, we should approach Jesus with humble faith (22-23, 27-28, 33-34).

In times of suffering, we should approach Jesus with humble faith.

There are televangelists and word of faith people that tell you, “If you just have enough faith and you send me a check in the mail then everything will work out for you.” That is not how you come to Jesus! Jesus is Lord of all! You don’t get to manipulate Jesus. It doesn’t matter how rich you are or your status in life. The way that you should approach Jesus is to fall in your face in humility and beg him for help.

When we are in anguish and desperate for help, like these two people, we should approach Jesus with humble faith. We cry out to Him, knowing He has the power to deliver us.

Jesus tells the woman, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” Jesus tells her that she is not unclean anymore. She can go back to her family and can worship in the synagogue and the temple.

Scene 3: Jesus raises Jairus’ daughter from the dead (35-43)

35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. But 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. 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

35

Jesus is not even done speaking to the woman and someone comes from Jairus’ house and tells him that his daughter is dead.

36

But notice how Jesus responds. Jesus says, “Do not fear, only believe.”

What a statement! What if we lived like this?

“Do not fear, only believe!”

There is an inverse relationship between fear and faith. The more faith you have, the less fear you will have. The more fear you have, the less faith you will have.

What are you dealing with today that is causing you desperation?

Is it your health? Finances? A lost family member? Infertility? Marriage trouble? The health of a loved one?

Jesus says, “Do not fear, only believe.”

This is the challenge before Jairus and everyone who meets Jesus. Will we look at the desperation of our circumstances or believe in the God who makes all things possible?^[2]James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Mark, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2002), 166.

37-40

Jesus, along with Peter, James, and John, go to Jairus’ house. The text says that it was quite a scene, with people weeping and wailing loudly. In New Testament times, professional mourners would gather to grieve with the family and the community. As Jesus entered the house, he asked the mourners and those present, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.”

Verse 40 says that they laughed at him. Jesus then goes into to see the girl. Verse 41 says that he took her by the hand and said, “Little girl, arise.” And immediately, v. 42 says, she got up and began walking. Those present were “overcome with amazement.”

Can you imagine the joy and the relief of the parents? Can you imagine the reaction of Peter, James, and John?

In our passage, we see that in times of desperation, we must turn to Jesus, who has authority over disease and death.

Big Idea: In your desperation, turn to Jesus, who has authority over disease and death.

When Jesus raises this little girl from the dead, he is pointing forward to the time when God will raise all who are in Christ from the dead.

But it’s important to note that just a few decades later, both this lady and Jairus’ daughter died a physical death. Even when Jesus miraculously healed the sick and raised the dead, those people still died. What is most needed for all of us is not physical healing, but spiritual healing.

What is most needed for all of us is not physical healing, but spiritual healing.

The demon-possessed man, the lady with the flow of blood, and Jairus daughter all transferred their uncleanness to Jesus, and Jesus cleansed each one of them.

Isaiah 53:5-6

But he was pierced for our transgressions;

    he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

    and with his wounds we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray;

    we have turned—every one—to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

    the iniquity of us all.

The only way that Jesus could save us from our sin was that he himself was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. By his wounds we are healed. By Jesus words, he healed physically, but by his death, he made a sacrifice so that we could have a healing that lasts forever.

By Jesus words, he healed physically, but by his death, he made a sacrifice so that we could have a healing that lasts forever.

That’s the hope we have in Jesus. Even if we do not experience physical healing, we have the hope that Jesus is the resurrection and the life and that if we are in Christ we will live with God forever in the new heavens and the new earth.

If you are not a Christian, then you need Jesus more than Jairus’ daughter and this woman with a flow of blood.

You need to be cleansed of your sin and that only happens through repentance of sin and faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Conclusion

To summarize today’s text:

There are times of desperation in life that only Jesus can fix.

We should approach Jesus with a humble faith.

We should approach Jesus in humble faith for two reasons: (1) he cares about our suffering and (2) he has the authority to alleviate our suffering.

Physical healing is not ultimate. Our greatest need is not physical but spiritual healing. To have a healthy body without a new heart is a temporary solution.

Those healed of physical conditions will still go to hell without Jesus. Those who have repented and believed in the atoning work of Christ will live forever in a new body.

In your desperation, turn to Jesus.