Gospel of Mark Series: Section 3 Part 10: Jesus heals a woman ( 5:21-34).

Welcome to my Gospel of Mark Series. During 2012-13, each week, I will write a post about the Gospel of Mark as I review and explore each of the 16 chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. My goal is to understand and pray the Gospel of Mark.  I hope you will join me on this journey as we travel through the liturgical season of Year B.  In today's post, we explore chapter 5:21-34 which is Jesus heals a woman.

In this passage, Mark uses his sandwich technique of placing one story within another.  The story of Jairus and his young daughter at the point of death is begun, but before it is ended, a second story is told of an unnamed woman in the crowd whom Jesus heals her sickness.

Both stories are of cures that no human power could work.  In different ways they each reveal the greatness of the power that is made present to people in Jesus, a power so divine and yet so available to people with faith in God.

Our attention is drawn to an important man in the great crowd that gathers around Jesus after his arrival in the boat.  He is one of the leaders of the synagogue in that place, yet he comes to Jesus in great humility to beg him to come and touch his dying daughter.  At once Jesus goes with him followed by the crowd.

Then our attention is shifted to a woman in the crowd.  She has been hemorrhaging for twelve years, perhaps since her puberty, which would make a woman in her early twenties.  With such an illness, marriage would be impossible, and by the Jewish blood taboo she should not appear in public.  Much less should she touch another person.

Secretly she comes to Jesus and touches him.  Jesus feel power going out of him and the woman feels healing.

Being human, he need to ask who has be cured by the divine power passing from him.  He does not accuses the woman for breaking the law, but praises her for the faith that drew divine power from Him.

In our journal and/or our discussion group we may wish to reflect on this passage as follows:

• Name the key points that you have learnt about the person of Jesus in this passage of scripture?
• Reflect on the keywords in this passage for they contain the substance and purpose of all the things Jesus said and did-
• Consider my relationship with Jesus  in the light of this Gospel passage.
• Imagine standing on the shore of the lake and watch Jesus arrive in the boat.  Look at Him as He steps from the boat and watch the crowd gather.
• Reflect on the scene of the woman needing healing. What risk are you prepared to take to receive healing from Jesus?
• Try to share something of the desperation of Jairus for his young dying daughter and the humility he had to ask Jesus. What is my inner need of healing and what is my disposition to ask Jesus for healing?
• What healings has the power of Jesus given me in my life? What was my experience of the power of Jesus in these incidents/events.
• How do I relate to this story of Jesus healing the woman.  Make a list of areas in my life that need a change of heart and develop an action plan on how this change of heart might occur. (eg name an area and name one/two changes that you will implement with God's help.
• What impact does Jesus’ teaching have on you (5:21-34.
• How has this passage spoken to you- what does it say to you personally?