"Daughter, your faith has made you well.
Go in peace. Your suffering is over."
Mark 5:34
"But Jesus overheard, them and said to Jairus,
'Don't be afraid. Just have faith."
Mark 5:6
Go in peace. Your suffering is over."
Mark 5:34
"But Jesus overheard, them and said to Jairus,
'Don't be afraid. Just have faith."
Mark 5:6
My Take Aways:
Something Old:
I have the opportunity to be in the presence of the Healer whenever I need to touch the hem of His garment. What an awesome of privilege!
Something New:
Mark 5:17-18
I did not remember the crowd being afraid of Jesus and asking Him to leave.
pistis (pis' tis Strong's 4102) a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, with the idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it; the conviction that God exists and is the Creator and ruler of all things, the provided and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ.
pisteou (pist-yoo'-o Strong's 4100)
of the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain and higher prerogative and law of the soul; to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in, of the thing believed
How long have you been hemorrhaging? Hemorrhaging with bitterness, hatred, jealousy, pride, unbelief anger, fear, (fill in the blank)
Did you need to hear:
"Daughter your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over."
or"Just have faith."
Something to Do:
Respond to my crisis of belief by having faith and allowing God to deliver me the way He sees fit and in His timing.
20 Comments:
Good morning, GIGs,
Wendy, wonderful teaching, as usual, and thank you for the song you posted. How perfect!!
My nugget today was Luke 8:37 And all the people in the region o the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them.
I remember, back in the spring of this year when I knew I had reached the "point of no return" this time (finally) in my walk with the Lord. I became afraid of the knowlege that this would become such a large part of my life. The awesome power of it really did leave me feeling afraid. Thank you, God, for my spiritual mentor, who told me that was a perfectly normal way for "baby Christians" to feel.
Have a blessed, 4:8 day, all.
Peace and Gratitude,
Michelle in New England
Wendy, Very powerful lesson today – you were speaking from your Spirit! I never noticed the two meanings of faith with the same lady! Later, I want to go back and reread the accounts. I’m thankful you taught on this today, I was so drawn to the first story, -my heart just wrapped around the compassion that Jesus has for ALL people.
Our main character in Mark, chapter 5, was an unclean, unholy filthy man - viewed by those around him as - demon-possessed. “For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in a cemetery outside the town” (Luke 8:27).
Jesus, thinks nothing of transforming this person! We see Jesus take a cast-away, a messed up man, and turn him into a blessed – man! One big turn-around. One big transformation. From messed to blessed!
This is just the type of thing, Jesus likes to do – fix the unfixable. Heal the unhealable, and love the unlovable.
Today, when He continues to do the very same thing, we need to remember to do what he told this man to do: “Go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been” (Mark 5:19). “We will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders” (Psalm 78:4). We do not want to become like our ancestors –“for they did not believe God or trust him to care for them” (22). Sisters, they allowed themselves to “for[get] what he had done – the great wonders he had shown them, the miracles he did for their ancestors” (11,12). It is critical today, that we listen to his instructions, (read His Word) and open our ears to what he has to say to us. He will speak to us. He will teach us his hidden lessons from our past-stories we have heard and known. (1,2)
Dear Lord, your mercies are new each day. Mercies that most certainly, we do not deserve. You continue to shower us with your compassion and forgiveness. Kindly, you sprinkle favor to us. There is not anything you are not capable of doing. May our faith in you make you proud. May we not forget to tell those around us about your glory which awe us. Amen.
Hus sweet friends, Lori
Beautiful…Colorful…Thursday All…
Commmentary Workbook for lectors and gospel readers by Mary A. Ehle
Mark 5: 21-43
Today’s Gospel narrative is an interesting literary composition. The evangelist Mark has included two healing stories in one passage. He begins the Gospel with Jairus appealing to Jesus to lay his hands on his daughter so she will get well. At this request, Jesus goes off with Jairus, presumably going to visit his daughter, and upon seeing her, offer her physical and spiritual healing (Mark 8:35; 10:26; 13:13). Yet in the midst of Jesus’ journey, Mark inserts another story. Jesus encounters a woman who has been afflicted with a severe hemorrhage for 12 years and greatly desires to be healed. In effect, the story of Jairus’ daughter forms the back and front covers to a book whose contents is the story of the woman with a hemorrhage.
By conflating these two stories, Mark has made sure that these stories are understood as a unit. To do so, he has provided three connections between them for the reader. First, the number of years the woman has suffered with a hemorrhage….12.…is the same number of years as the age of Jairus’ daughter. Second, in seeking healing from Jesus, the woman with a hemorrhage approaches Jesus and believes that she only needs to touch Jesus’ clothes in order to be cured. As the Gospel returns to the story of Jairus’ daughter, Jesus approaches the child and takes her by the hand, also touching her, and commanding her to arise. Third, after the woman with a hemorrhage was cured, she approached Jesus to speak with him. In their conversation, Jesus addressed her with the relational term “daughter.” This provides a link with the first story, as it is Jairus’ daughter who was ill and later died, thus presenting Jesus with an even greater miracle to perform.
The beautiful stories of healing in this Gospel reading relate in many ways to the Church’s sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, a sacrament that involves an anointing for the forgiveness of sins and strengthening in the time of grave illness or approaching death. Through the sacrament, the Church carries on Jesus’ mission to heal the sick and proclaims in a particular way that Jesus is “God who saves” as the meaning of his name suggests. The use of touch in today’s reading corresponds to the laying on of hands in the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
Moreover, in faith a sick person comes to the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, in which Christ is present through the Church’s minister, and God’s presence is known through other believers who are present to pray with the recipient of the sacrament. In faith Jairus approached Jesus, as did the woman with a hemorrhage. In times of need, we too only need to step forward in faith. The simplicity and hope of Jesus’ words to Jairus (“Do not be afraid, just have faith”) reflect this truth.
Jodie in Ottowa…As I read these last 2 paragraph….Know you were sensed…My Holy Spirit had me stopped and send up prayers…Taking your hand sister step forward…“Do not be afraid…just have faith.”
Jennifer Renee….You were sensed much also…Putting my other hand in yours…step forward sister…”Do not be afraid…just have faith.”
Pondering Today….
Learning so much….The 7 Sacraments. Do I really know the bible scriptures behind them….and their meanings.
I am praying for healing for all today…physical, spiritual, emotional.
Feel His Healing Touch….through FAITH,
Rhonda
Have to listen to Wendy yet...and catch up on comments. Be at peace today. God Bless... YOU ALL!!
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I attended a Ladies Retreat not long ago here in Canada where Marybeth Whalen spoke and this song was sung. I had never heard it before. Beautiful.
My heart is captured by two different needs today, two strangers whose lives intersect, by the instant, invisible bond of pain. Heartache ties them together. Situations and backgrounds different, but fellow travellers on the road of suffering. I think of a precious friend of mine who I met on that road last year and how thankful we are for the struggles that connected our lives.
I think another thing to notice is that healing was given not stolen. Christ gave freely. Wondering...am I just curious about Christ like the crowds, or will I reach out in faith with longing, knowing His mercy brings healing to body, soul and spirit?
Today I am reaching out. Needing to touch Him. Needing a touch from Him.
Long seasons of illness or hardship call for long seasons of trust. Without God the situation is terminal, but he brings hope and we cling to Him for life.
Today I am grabbing for Your fringe. Fingertips straining. Reaching.
Knowing all who reach...touch,
Joy
Just a little PS.
As far as grasping the hem of his garment, that word in the Greek is "hapto" and means to cling, to adhere tightly.
There's nothing casual about her grasp! Oh that we would all be so willing to "take hold" in faith.
Wendy, that just echo's what you shared yesterday from our reading...calling us to "cling to" God's Word.
Clinging today,
Joy
Wendy,
I needed to hear both of those.
:(.....
The Lord has been dealing with me in both these issues lately.
press on!
stacey irwin
I noticed that the little girl was 12 years old; also the woman had been bleeding for 12 years.
Connected? No doubt.
Twelve years of joy and fun with a daughter! 12 years of constant suffering; Jesus is there no matter what.
Morgen
Wow thank you Wendy for allowing God to use you in a mighty way!
I have been having a bit of a hard time with faith. Lots of questioning. A bit of a back ground, my son is getting married. 40 days before his date, I asked my family to fast & pray not only for him & his beautiful bride-to-be but also for all our nieces & nephews. I was feeling overwhelmed by what I was seeing. It wasn't all good. Too many struggles, problems & heartaches. Where are YOU God! I have been asking. Well HE is there in the mist of their lives. I forgot to look at the blessing He has been give to my children, nieces & nephews. I took my eyes off His hem & was looking at the dirt! Lord forgive me. What I see is YOU in the lives of these children(adults)You working not my way BUT Your way! Thank YOU Lord, You are doing a mighty work.
I just needed the reminder to touch Your hem & have faith.
Blessings & Peace
Mary
Hi girls,
Tears are running down my face as I write you today.
Wendy - the story of the hemorrhaging woman has been one I have been hanging onto tightly this past year. Her story is my story... "She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse." I have seen so many doctors, physiotherapists, massage therapists, chiropractors etc etc and have gotten worse not better.
I finally hit the break point almost 2 years ago. I was not walking closely with God and He used my circumstances to bring me back. In desperation for relief - I went with my mom to a Christian conference on soaking in God's presence and God met me. I believe I went through that first "faith" moment you talked about and again acknowledged God as sovereign and that He did in fact care for me.
I still need reminding of this truth often - that He cares for me. I come from a broken home, I was estranged from my father and faced many other hurts in life that have made it hard for me to believe this. But He is working on this with me one day at a time. "Daughter..." I know I need a heavenly daddy.
Today I am also feeling the press to stand in faith - the kind Jairus faced - "to place confidence in the thing believed." To "not be afraid and just believe." I have been hearing that word believe all over the place this last week. Lord - help stir up my faith and believe the promises given to me in Your Word.
Thank you girls for your ongoing prayers. Rhonda - I have in fact had the anointing of the sick in the past. It is a beautiful sacrament. Also - your comment at me with Jesus' words to Jairus were really felt in my spirit. Thank you sister.
Thank you Wendy - I don't have the words today for just how special this teaching was for me.
Love,
Jodie from Ottawa
Jodie from Ottawa...He is catching every tear. (((warm hugs)))!! Keep believing. You will be continually in my prayer.
Lord, Heal Us on Our journey...
Many people forget that meeting with Jesus to ask for healing of sickness of soul will also bring great healing to the body and the mind. Jesus knew that, and thats why he gave us the sacrament to heal us on our journey.
From: The power of the sacraments
by: Sr. Briege McKenna. O.S.C.
Rhonda
Wendy,
I am the one who needed to hear this because I was in God's presence in tears; in fact, I broke down as I read, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over." I was moved by His spirit in me and I still feel Him even after listening to you. I even wondered if I should watch the video before I wrote this....THEN when you said what you did about someone needing this today...again I had Jesus goosebumps all over. How many times I've read this scripture, but obviously not with His Spirit in me as it has been today. All morning I have wondered about how I have had peace about what my daughter Laura has gone through with her pregnancy. The reason I was wondering about my peace is b/c last night at church during the pastor's prayer, he asked that God take my worry away about Laura; he has prayed this several times for me, and on a few occasions, I have had the opportunity to tell him that I have not felt worried b/c I know that God is in control and He has given my peace in each situation she has had to endure with this pregnancy. I feel that He gave me His peace when I went through my mom's sickness and death just this past year. BUT I started doubting that peace this a.m. b/c if the prayer last night and wondering if I was just being prideful in thinking that I felt peace from my Father and was I in the wrong???? Was I sinning to feel the peace; maybe I am worried and I just won't admit it?? THEN I read His Precious promise to the daughter in Mark. I knew then that I was that daughter, and I knew that He was reassuring me that b/c of my faith in Him and my trust in Him, I have peace and my suffering has been over because He healed me from this a while back. So, you see, He gave me this verse to encourage me and reassure me, and then He sent you to deliver His message in such a mighty way for Him. I guess one could say that I was hemorraging from doubt, but I am not any longer.
I have clinged to His garment and cling to His peace,
Jeanne, NC
"His love has healed my soul!"
Happy Thursday GIGS. We are on day 280.
Wendy I don't know how God helps you find songs to go with our reading but I love it.
After I got into church I used to think that if I could just touch the hem of Jesus' garment I'd be healed. I used to imagine that he'd come in my room and all I'd do is touch the hem of his garment and I'd be healed.
Wendy, thank you for today's post. The words thank you seem so small, but they are HUGE in my heart!
On touching:
I remember when I was about 6 or 7 years old, sitting in church right behind a lady with a huge fuzzy fur coat. I wanted so badly to touch that coat in the pew right in front of me, within arm's reach! I felt compelled, afraid, excited but also guilty... dare I? When everyone was busy praying, I finally secretly reached two fingers out to stroke that soft mink-- it was everything I had imagined! She never knew I touched it of course.
I can only imagine what that woman felt trying to touch the hem of Jesus! In spite of a pressing crowd that no doubt was rubbing and bumping up against Him, Jesus knew that someone intentionally touched him! He wasn't talking about casual touching, but a deliberate act. He knew because it drew his energy!
As a nurse, I have had experience with a therapeutic method called "Healing Touch." It involves the redirection, equalizing, or exchanging of energy between a person and the practitioner. I have used it on my family and myself. With your hands you can detect stronger or weaker energy in different parts of the body, and then redistribute the energy over these areas to help relieve pain or to heal. It works. I know how energy feels.
All I can think of is how powerful was the energy field around Jesus! He was overflowing with this healing energy, so much so that, without his knowledge, it streamed right into this woman because of her faith! Wow.
One more thought. Several times (Mark 1:23, 5:7) demons have said, "Why are you INTERFERING with me, Jesus..? ... Don't torture me!" This just underlines how evil can be disrupted with Jesus alive in our hearts. Lord, please keep interfering! Allow my actions and thoughts to be aligned with You.
Does anyone have information as to the relationship of demons in a person, versus psychological disturbances? In the instance of the man in the cemetery, he was later reported to be "perfectly sane." Was the demon only speaking to Jesus, or could others hear? How does this presence of demons relate to the present? I am not sure of how demons work in this world now. Just pondering...
Blessings to all,
Jacque
Wendy and GIGS--Mercy! These comments are simply penetrating my heart! Wendy, I had not thought of the illustration of the woman the way that you shared it. "What am I hemmoraging from?" Has my faith made me well,or am I still reaching out to touch the hem? Joy, I loved your word--cling! So much to think about today.
Love and prayers to all!
Susan
Jacque, I've wondered about possession in modern society, too. Our pastor once preached about a time when he was meeting with a young girl having problems and his wife, when they both physically felt the presence of evil in the room and tried to pray but couldn't move their mouths. He said it took thinking the name 'Jesus' over and over before he could make his lips move to say the name, and even then he couldn't pray but could only say his name, and he said that with time and repetition he felt the presence recede until he could pray normally. Scary stuff to me!
I thought a lot about the crowd of people who were afraid of Jesus after he sent Legion out of the man and healed him. Why were they so afraid? I'm sure it was scary, but to beg Him to leave? Being in the Presence of such mighty power would be awesome ... but I hope that on the day when I'm there, I'm on my knees praising and thanking Him. I wonder if they were ashamed of their treatment of that man? Afraid of their loss of income? Why did Jewish people have herds of pigs, anyway? WAS this a Jewish area? Were they afraid of how He would change their lives next? Change is scary ... but I pray that He'll help me embrace it and not beg to be released from it.
The faith of this woman that touching Jesus WOULD heal her reminds me of Lysa TerKeurst's post for today that praying boldly for our children WILL strengthen and encourage us as moms and, of course, help our children, too. If you haven't been there today, check it out!
Happy Thursday, everyone!
Dear Amy,
I thought I would comment below you today to share some of what I found about the town, the pigs, and the request(s).
The ten towns mentioned in Mark 5 where not Jewish towns. They were known as the Decapolis:
" They were essentially Greek. Their names were Scythopolis, which was the only one on the west side of the Jordan, Pella, Dion, Gerasa, Philadelphia, Gadara, Raphana, Kanatha, Hippos and Damascus." (Barclay) The spectacular remains of Scythopolis can be seen today."
The pigs represented wealth and their love of material things. One question you did not ask, but I had on this reading was why Jesus let the demons possess the pigs.
" He gave them leave (Mark 5:13), he did not forbid or restrain them, he let them do as they had a mind. Thus he would let the Gadarenes see what powerful spiteful enemies devils are, that they might thereby be induced to make him their Friend, who alone was able to control and conquer them, and had made it appear that he was so." (Henry)
So why did the people of the area ask Jesus to leave them?
a. And they were afraid: They were more afraid of a free man than a possessed man. When they saw the man in his right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus, they were afraid.
i. Part of their fear was found in the fact that their superstitions had been shattered, and they didn't know what to make of it all. According to their superstitions, the demons should have had the upper hand over Jesus - but they didn't at all. They had a hard time accepting this.
b. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region: They didn't seem to mind having this demon possessed, tormented man in their midst, but they did mind having Jesus around - so they asked Him to leave - and He did!
i. When people are more afraid of what Jesus will do in their lives than what Satan does in at the moment, they often push Jesus away - and He may leave if you ask Him to.(Guzik)
And what about the man who was healed and asked to go with Jesus; why didn't Jesus let him come?
i. Sometimes we have a hard time understanding the ways of God. The people of the city made an evil request: they began to plead with Him to depart from their region, and Jesus answered their prayer. The man who had been demon possessed made a godly request: that he might be with Him, and Jesus said "no" to that prayer.(Guzik)
ii. Of course, this was because this man could be a light among the people of these Gentiles cities in a way that Jesus and the disciples could not. But it was also to cure the man of any superstitions. He might have thought that he had to stay close to Jesus so the demons would not come back. "Perhaps, too, his prayer was not answered, lest his fear should have been thereby sanctioned. If he did fear, and I feel morally certain that he did, that the devils would return, then, of course, he longed to be with Christ. But Christ take that fear from him, and as good as says to him, 'You do not need to be near me; I have so healed that you will never be sick again.'" (Spurgeon)
A light to the Gentiles; this is where it starts. I hope he was successful! I think he was because his story appears in 3 of 4 Gospels and to me, that means he was around still to testify.
Hope that helps,
Karen, Basel
Wendy,
All I can say is Thank You with tears in my eyes.
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