Suggested reading: Mark chapter 5 verses 21 – 43
As well as the man indwelt by demons in the previous meditation, we now meet a woman and a child, teaching us that Jesus reached out and ministered to the needs of others, irrespective of gender, age or condition. ‘WHOEVER calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved’, Romans chapter 10 verse 13.
First, we meet a woman, who had been suffering from a flow of blood for twelve years. Clearly, she had SUFFERED at the hands of many physicians, who took her money but failed to cure her; indeed, she had grown worse! There was now no one who cared about the fact that she was perishing. no care or help. Ultimately, her faith led her to Jesus. She believed that if she could secretly touch His garment, she would be made well. As she did so, immediately, she was healed. Jesus brought her faith out into the open by asking, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ When we have experienced His salvation, we have a responsibility to tell others and direct them to Him? Once again, He had shown His saving care for one who was perishing!
The disciples had come a long way in their knowledge of Jesus since casting doubt on His care for them and His power to save them. Three of them, Peter, James and John, were now going to witness His care for a girl, who had died. She was the daughter of the ruler of the local synagogue, who had died at the tender age of twelve. She had, in a very real sense, passed over to the other side as far as this life was concerned. All the crowd outside the ruler’s (Jairus’) house could do was to weep and ridicule Jesus for claiming that the girl was sleeping. Indeed, it was only her body that slept – her soul and spirit lived on! He took her by the hand and, at His word, she arose. As proof of the fact that she truly lived, she walked and ate!
I suspect that by this time, His power over demons, disease and death left the disciples somewhat ashamed of their doubt of His care for others!
I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus since I found in Him a friend so strong and true;
I would tell you how He changed my life completely, He did something that no other friend could do.
No one ever cared for me like Jesus, there’s no other friend so kind as He;
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me. O how much He cared for me!