THE COMPASSION AND POWER OF JESUS (Mark 5:21-43)
INTRODUCTION:
We have been looking at a series of events in the life of Jesus that reveal His power as the Creator of the universe. These events authenticate that Jesus Christ is exactly who He claimed to be the Messiah and Son of the Most High God. As Son of the Most High God, He has the same nature and essence as God and the same attributes of God. John in the first chapter of his gospel declares that Jesus Christ is God and is the Creator. Mark has declared this as well through these events beginning in chapter four where Jesus showed His power over the natural world by instantly calming a storm on the Sea of Galilee with a simple command, just a few words. Then the next morning having arrived on the southeastern side of the lake, Jesus displayed His sovereign authority and divine power by casting out a “legion” of demons. This morning as Jesus returns to Capernaum, He will again exercise His power over both disease and death. Our passage this morning relates for us a double miracle. Not only will Jesus Christ heal a woman from a disease she has suffered from for 12 years, but He will also raise a 12-year-old girl from the dead. The Creator has no limit on His power, He can calm a storm, cast out a horde of demons, restore just one body part or bring an entire body back to life.
This passage of Scripture not only highlights the Lord’s incomparable power, but it also displays His great compassion for mankind. His compassion is seen in His mercy, His gentleness, His sensitivity, and in His loving-kindness. In this passage we will see the greatness of His miraculous power placed alongside His compassionate goodness seen in His personal ministry. Not only did the Son of God have the supernatural power to heal and give life, which only the Creator possesses, but He also had the desire to do so. We will see His compassion for people, especially hurting people, unfold before us this morning. Let’s pray and get into the Word.
--PRAY--
SCRIPTURE:
Turn in your Bibles to Mark 5:21-43, another long passage so fastness your seatbelts because I plan to make it all the way through it this morning. Please, if you are able, stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word, and follow along as I read.
Mark 5:21-43,
“When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He stayed by the seashore. One of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up, and on seeing Him, fell at His feet and implored Him earnestly, saying, ‘My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.’ And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him. A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse— after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. For she thought, ‘If I just touch His garments, I will get well.’ Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched My garments?’ And His disciples said to Him, ‘You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, “Who touched Me?”’ And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.’ While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, ‘Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?’ But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, ‘Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.’ And He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the synagogue official; and He saw a commotion, and people loudly weeping and wailing. And entering in, He said to them, ‘Why make a commotion and weep? The child has not died, but is asleep.’ They began laughing at Him. But putting them all out, He took along the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and entered the room where the child was. Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, ‘Talitha kum!’ (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl got up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded. And He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this, and He said that something should be given her to eat.” (Mark 5:21–43, NASB95)[1]
COMPASSION INTRODUCED (Mark 5:21-24)
Jesus Christ was unlike any other religious leader of His day. Jesus did not separate Himself from people, but instead mingled among them. He spent much of His ministry surrounded by crowds of people, occasionally He would go to some remote place to pray, rest, or to spend time with His disciples in focused instruction. Spending the majority of His time with the people was not easy, they sought Him out and crowded around Him, but because of His compassion Jesus made Himself available to the people.
Jesus and His disciples were again sailing across the Sea of Galilee, Jesus had just cast out the “legion” of demons from the man in the mostly Gentile region of the Geresenes and the residents of that area were so frightened by this dramatic display of power and because of their unbelieving indifference had asked Jesus to leave. As we come into verse 21, Jesus and His disciples have just arrived, landing their boats near Capernaum. When they arrived, there was a crowd waiting for them and as they got out of the boats this crowd gathered around Jesus, the crowd was so large that He stayed by the seashore. Luke tells us in his parallel passage the crowd welcomed Him because they were waiting for Him. They had seen Him leave the evening before and they had gathered again to wait for His return. Possibly they had been watching for the boats and when they came into view, they alerted the townspeople, and they began to gather. I am sure that among this crowd were those who suffering from various diseases and disabilities and hoping to be healed, had waited for Jesus to return.
This account of Mark’s focuses on two individuals out of the massive multitude who desperately needed Jesus. These two individuals had little in common. One was a man, the other a woman; one was wealthy, the other poor; one was respected; the other rejected; one honored, the other ashamed; one leading the synagogue, the other excommunicated from the synagogue; one with a twelve-year-old daughter; the other with a twelve-year-old incurable illness. These two had no obvious relationship to one another but in God’s perfect providence their lives intersected that day in an unforgettable way.
The first to seek out Jesus was the synagogue official, a man named Jairus. Possibly he had been waiting near the edge of town to hear that Jesus had returned. As this man made his way through the crowd to get to Jesus, the disciples may have been shocked to see a respected synagogue official approaching Jesus considering the treatment Jesus received from the religious establishment. The synagogue officials were a group of men (usually between 3 and 7 men) in each synagogue who acted as caretakers and administrators of synagogue life. They kept the sacred scrolls safe, cared for the building, organized the synagogue school, and supervised the readers, teachers, and those who prayed. Because Jairus held this position he would have been both religiously devout and highly respected in the community. There is nothing in the Gospels to suggest that Jairus was a pharisee, but because of his position in the synagogue he would have been intimately connected with the Pharisees who were in Capernaum. He was certainly aware of their hatred toward Jesus, yet Jairus was willing to very publicly seek Jesus out for help. It is almost certain that Jairus was in the synagogue when Jesus cast the demon out of the man. Being a respected official, he certainly heard about Jesus’ miracles and may have even witnessed some of them with his own eyes. When the life of his daughter was at stake, he did not hesitate to go to Jesus knowing that He could heal her.
Making his way through that crowd on the seashore he came up to Jesus and when he saw Him, he fell at His feet. Out of the urgency of his need and the hopefulness of his faith this man prostrated himself before Jesus showing Him the honor and the reverence He deserves. That Jairus believed that Jesus could heal his daughter is clearly evidenced by his emotional request. Mark writes that Jairus, “…implored Him earnestly, saying, ‘My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.’ ” (Mark 5:23, NASB95)[2] The genuineness of this man’s faith in Jesus is never questioned by any of the Gospel writers. Matthew’s parallel passage even indicates that Jairus believed that not only could Jesus heal his daughter, but, if needed, that Jesus could even raise her from the dead.
We learn later in this passage that Jairus’s little daughter is twelve years old, which according to Jewish custom meant that she had just entered the first year of womanhood. She was eligible to be married and ready to begin her life as an adult. But from her father’s perspective she was still his little daughter. What should have been most anticipated time in this young girl’s life, a time of hope and joy, was instead overshadowed by suffering and grief.
Here was a man grieving, but hopeful as he boldly seeks out Jesus by faith. Jesus could have told him that He had to much to do with this crowd around Him, or he could have just said the word and healed his daughter. But that is not what happened, out of compassion for this grieving father Jesus agrees to accompany him to his home and heal his little daughter. Jesus’ compassion is introduced in this passage by first being accessible to the crowd when they arrived, but even more so when He was willing to listen to this man and make Himself available to go with Him to turn this man’s grief to joy. As Jesus went off with Jairus we are told the crowd followed Him and was pressing in on Him. Jesus began to make His way through the streets of Capernaum going with Jairus to his house, but the going was slow because He was crowded all around by the people trying to go with Him.
Jesus Christ faced many demands in His earthly ministry, yet the Creator walked with people and showed compassion by being accessible to them and available to them. The Creator, the sovereign Lord of hosts, the Ruler of all was not too busy to graciously care for those in need. We see throughout the Gospel accounts the compassion of Jesus as He takes time with individuals.
COMPASSIONATE POWER EXPERIENCED (Mark 5:25-34)
As Jairus led Jesus through the streets of Capernaum toward his house imagine the hope that filled his heart. Soon Jesus would lay His hands on his little daughter, and she would be made well. Jairus must have done everything he could to move along quickly, but the crowd was making it impossible to move fast, but if he could just keep Jesus moving in the direction of his house even if they were only making slow but steady progress. Jairus was about to be challenged in his faith. Mark introduces the second person in need when he writes, “A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse.” (Mark 5:25–26, NASB95)[3] Jairus and this woman had nothing in common. He was a highly respected leader in the local synagogue. She was a social outcast, who due to her condition, had been ostracized from Jewish religious life. While Jairus had known twelve years of happiness and joy with his daughter, this woman had endured twelve years of heartache and rejection due to her hemorrhage. Yet she and Jairus had one thing in common, they both knew that Jesus was their only hope.
We are not told the cause of this hemorrhage of blood that this woman endured. We are told that she had consulted many doctors and spent all she had to pay them, and it had been to no avail, she had not gotten better, but only worse. This woman had tried every potential cure until she was financially drained and emotionally exhausted, she suffered both physical discomfort and the social humiliation caused by the many years of continual bleeding. According to the Law of Moses any such discharge, like this woman had, rendered a woman ceremonially unclean. Women had to wait seven days after any bleeding stopped before they were permitted to offer the prescribed sacrifices and be declared ceremonially clean. For twelve years this woman had not experienced a reprieve, which excluded her from participating in either the temple or synagogue worship during those years. She was excluded from any social life because of her perpetual state of uncleanness. Her experience was almost like that of a leper, even associations with family and friends had to be maintained at a distance because anyone who touched her or anything she touched would be unclean.
But being in Capernaum she had heard about Jesus, and she determined that she would find Him, believing He was the only hope of being delivered from this otherwise incurable ailment. When she learned He was in the crowd that was passing by, she began to press through the crowd to reach Him, in doing so she was violating the acceptable boundaries for those who are ceremonially unclean. Coming up behind Him and getting close enough, she reached out and touched His robe. She had been saying to herself, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.” Like Jairus it was the urgency of her need and the strength of her faith that drove her to get close enough to touch His garment. Believing that she would be healed she touched the Lord’s robe. Understand that her faith was not in the Lord’s clothing, as if His robe had magical power, no her faith was in the Lord Jesus. She knew about His miracles and therefore had no doubt that He could heal her. Her unwavering faith was instantly rewarded. Mark writes, “Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.” (Mark 5:29, NASB95)[4] The very moment she touched the Lord’s garment, her body was fully restored to health. What doctors could not cure throughout the twelve years of her hemorrhage; the power of Jesus healed in an instant. She had experienced the compassionate power of Jesus.
Jesus’ compassion for this woman went beyond her physical healing. She had hoped to slip in, get healed, and slip away without anyone knowing. But in His compassion Jesus intended to bring her out in order to draw her to Himself. To the dismay of Jairus, Jesus suddenly stopped and turned around. Mark writes, “Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched My garments?’ ” (Mark 5:30, NASB95)[5] Jesus knew that power had proceeded from Him and healed the woman, but He knew her spiritual condition still needed to be addressed. So, He stopped, turned, and asked, “Who touched my garments?” Jesus did not ask this question out of ignorance, He knew whom He had healed, instead He asked to pull this woman out of the crowd. The disciples are shocked by Jesus’ question. Looking around they said to Jesus, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” In other words, who isn’t touching you as we are crowding one another as we try to move down the street? Mark writes that Jesus looked around to see the woman who had done this. She could not hide, she could not slip away in the crowd, Jesus knew who she was. Fearing and trembling she came forward and knelt before Jesus and told Him the whole truth.
For the past twelve years this woman had faced the fear of embarrassment and rejection. But the fearing and trembling that she felt in that moment as she moved through the crowd and came to kneel in front of Jesus was a different kind all together. Her heart was gripped with a holy fear as she began to truly realize what had just happened to her, she realized that she was in the presence of God, and she bowed before and told the whole truth about both her suffering and her healing. With great compassion Jesus responded to her public confession by affirming the authenticity of her faith. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.” (Mark 5:34, NASB95)[6] This is the only place in the gospels where Jesus addresses a woman as daughter and I believe that He did so because His words to her went beyond he physical condition, indicating that this physical daughter of Abraham had become the spiritual daughter of God. Most often the word used for physical healing is not the term that Mark used here when Jesus stated, “your faith has made you well.” The term Mark used is the Greek word sōzō, a term that is used in the New Testament for being saved from sin.
The Gospels often use sōzō to demonstrate a connection between a person’s faith and their salvation. For example, when a penitent prostitute washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, Jesus told her the same thing He told the woman in our passage, He said, “Your faith has saved you.” (Luke 7:50) The Greek in our passage and the Greek in Luke 7:50 is identical. Jesus healed many who did not exhibit genuine faith, and thus were made well only in the physical sense, but there were some like this woman who expressed saving faith in Him. In those cases, not only were their physical bodies healed but their souls were also. Jesus response to this woman, connecting the word sōzō with her faith, suggests that she was healed of more than just a physical affliction. Because she was saved, she could truly go in peace. Her bodily healing allowed her to be reunited with her family and restored to the synagogue. More importantly, her salvation meant she was now reconciled to God.
Out of compassion for this woman, both for her physical healing but more importantly for her salvation, Jesus was willing to be interrupted on His way to the house of Jairus. From a human perspective He had a more pressing need to meet as Jairus’s daughter was at the point of death, and this woman’s condition was not life-threatening. The commotion of the crowd and the urgency to get to Jairus’s daughter made it difficult to stop. Yet, from a divine perspective, Jesus knew the woman was one of God’s elect. With great compassion, He welcomed the interruption taking the necessary time to minister to this woman, not only healing her body but also saving her soul.
COMPASSION BRINGS PEACE (Mark 5:35-40)
We do not know how long Jesus spent ministering to this woman. However long it was it was long enough that messengers came from the house of Jairus before Jesus was done. They told Jairus the heartbreaking news that his daughter had died. They said that he should no longer bother the Teacher. The delay brough about by this woman to the alarm of Jairus had turned deadly. Imagine how his heart broke as the messengers related the tragic news. The insinuation in their message was that Jesus had been wasting time, and now it was too late. They underestimated the power of Jesus and assumed He could do nothing once death arrived. Thus, He was no longer needed.
Jesus having heard what was spoken by the messengers spoke compassionately to Jairus. He said, “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.” Jesus knew that Jairus would be tempted to doubt, so He directly addressed his fears. This could be literally translated, “Stop being afraid and keep believing.” According to Luke 8:50, the parallel passage Jesus added the promise, “And she will be made well.” Jesus in His compassion took the time to reassure Jairus even before reaching his house.
Leaving the crowd behind with some of the disciples, not permitting them to follow Him. Jesus, Jairus, Peter, James, and John hurried on to the home of Jairus. When they arrived, they discovered the funeral had already begun, it had not taken the mourners long to assemble. Entering the house Jesus saw the commotion, people were weeping and wailing loudly. Unlike funerals in our country which are generally solemn and quiet affairs, ancient Jewish funerals were not like ours at all. Three distinctive elements characterized the first-century funeral. First, those who attended expressed their grief by tearing their clothes. These torn clothes were then worn for 30 days as a sign of prolonged grief. Second, professional mourners were hired to vocalize and broadcast feelings of sadness. These professional mourners had mastered the art of howling and groaning. Third, the funeral included the hiring of musicians, most commonly flute-players. Like the mourners, they would play loud, harsh sounds that symbolized the emotional discord and pain associated with death.
Entering the house, the scene was chaotic, loud, and depressing. Jesus immediately took command and said, “Why make a commotion and weep?” The unexpected interruption silenced the mourners and the flute players. Suddenly the room was filled with an uncomfortable silence. Jesus broke the silence by making a shocking statement, “The child has not died, but is asleep.” Jesus, of course, was well aware that Jairus’s daughter had died. This incident would give Jesus the opportunity to display His life-giving power. By using the metaphor of sleep, the Lord Jesus redefined death as a temporary state. This same word picture is used throughout the New Testament to remind believers that death is not permanent, and that future resurrection awaits. Though the body sleeps temporarily in death, the spirit and soul does not.
When the mourners and musicians heard what Jesus said, missing His true intent, they began laughing at Him. Their supposed grief, which was clearly superficial, instantly turned to scornful mockery. They knew the girl was dead and found it ridiculous to claim she was asleep. This was just added proof that what was about to happen was a real resurrection. Before a great commotion could began, Jesus put them all outside the house. Finding Jairus and his wife he took them along with His three disciples to the room where the child was. Having restored order where there had been chaos, the Lord Jesus was about to restore life where there was death. Jesus’ compassion brought the peace to this house that was need before turning grief into joy.
COMPASSIONATE POWER UNLEASHED (Mark 5:41-43)
Jesus had already shown His compassion to Jairus in several different ways. First, Jesus listened to Jairus’s need in the midst of a crushing crowd. Second, He had agreed to go with Jairus to see His daughter. Third, He reassured Jairus even after the news that his daughter had died. Fourth, He took charge of the chaotic situation when they arrived at the house, sending away the professional mourners and musicians and bringing peace to a chaotic scene. Fifth, Jesus led Jairus and His wife into the room where their daughter’s body laid. The most significant expression of Jesus’ compassion toward Jairus and his family came at the climax of this event, in the miracle and the immediate aftermath.
The Lord Jesus, who was always characterized by compassion toward people demonstrated tender sensitivity in His treatment of this young lady and her family. He could have easily healed her from a far, without making the trek through the city to the synagogue official’s home. His personal presence and promise demonstrated the infinite compassion that motivated His ministry to people. Mark writes, “Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, “Talitha kum!” (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).” (Mark 5:41, NASB95)[7] Only Mark records the original Aramaic, which was the daily language spoken by most Jews in the first century. “Talitha” means youth or lamb. Jesus referred to this young girl as a little lamb, an expression of endearment and kindness. Though culturally she had entered womanhood at the age of twelve, the Creator of the universe saw her as a little lamb, as her parents also surely viewed her.
The words spoken; the miraculous power of the Creator God was unleashed. Immediately, the girl’s spirit returned, and she got up and began to walk. This young girl was dead one moment and the next she is walking around the room very much alive. There was no time needed for recovery, rehabilitation, or physical therapy. As soon as Jesus gave her life, she stood in full strength and began to walk around. Like all of Jesus’ miracles, this was a creative work. Its effects were immediate, complete, and undeniable. The reaction of the parents and the three disciples was one of shock and awe. Immediately they were completely astounded. There was no human explanation for what they had just witnessed. For Jairus and his wife, their grief was instantly transformed to joy and their pain to praise.
In the midst of the celebration Jesus gave strict orders that no one should know about this, and that they should give the girl something to eat. Again, we see the Lord’s compassion in His continued concern for this young lady. She had been resurrected to full health, but she still needed food and who knows when she had last eaten a full meal depending on how long she had been sick.
Mark’s recording of these two miracles highlights both the divine power and the tender compassion of Jesus Christ. Seven centuries before the birth of Jesus Christ, Isaiah the prophet had written concerning the Messiah’s compassion with these words, ““A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice.” (Isaiah 42:3, NASB95)[8] From a highly respected synagogue official to a poor social outcast to countless others, Jesus repeatedly demonstrated that kind compassionate care for suffering people. As God in human flesh, the greatness of His creative power was equaled only by the goodness of His compassion for people.
CONCLUSION:
As I close this morning, I want to focus on one thing that Jesus said to Jairus and his wife. Mark says that He gave them strict orders that they were not to tell others what happened. He gave other commands like this on other occasions too. Why did He do this? There were times when Jesus insisted on silence because He knew the report would heighten the fanatical enthusiasm of the crowds, which would only hinder His ministry. On other occasions, it was an act of judgment to obscure truth from those who had permanently rejected Him. But these are not the main reasons Jesus gave strict orders to keep silent about what happened. Mark 8:30-31 reveals the primary reason, “And He warned them to tell no one about Him. And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” (Mark 8:30–31, NASB95)[9] Jesus Christ knew that His earthly mission would not be complete until after His death and resurrection, and no one, including His disciples, would fully understand His message until then. Jesus did not want to be known simply as a miracle worker or a good teacher. Those designations, while accurate, are incomplete because He came for a greater purpose. He insisted on silence because the story was not yet finished.
The full message about Jesus must include the fact that He is the crucified and risen Savior. His death and resurrection are essential to the good news of the gospel. Jesus knew that a miracle like the resurrection of Jairus’s daughter could only be appreciated in light of the cross and the empty tomb. It was the Lord’s own victory over sin and death that enabled Him not only to give temporary life to a dead girl but to offer eternal life to all those who believe in Him. Jesus’ miracles authenticated who He was, that He was the Creator God in human flesh and pointed to the ultimate sacrifice and the ultimate miracle that would take place when He died on the cross and triumphed over the grave three days later making eternal life available to all who put their faith in Him for salvation. Your faith has saved you, go in peace knowing that you are reconciled to God.
[1]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[2]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[3]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[4]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[5]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[6]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[7]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[8]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[9]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.