Daughter

Scripture:

And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. ²⁵ Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. ²⁶ She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. ²⁷ She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, ²⁸ for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” ²⁹ Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. ³⁰ Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” ³¹ And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” ³² He looked all around to see who had done it. ³³ But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. ³⁴ He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

Mark 5:35   While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” ³⁶ But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” ³⁷ He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. ³⁸ When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. ³⁹ When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” ⁴⁰ And they laughed at him. Then 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 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” ⁴² And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. ⁴³ He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Observation:

Both the little girl and the woman were in need of healing. Little by little Mark has been revealing to us Jesus’ power. Raging waters in the midst of the storm and chaos of the world held no sway over Jesus. Demons trembled in his very presence. Now, confronted with two women, both of them considered unclean, Jesus does the unthinkable. It is on this journey toward Jairus’ home that Jesus’ power continues to be revealed. 

Sandwiched in-between the story of Jairus’ daughter is the woman who has been unclean for twelve years. On the way to raising a girl from the dead, Jesus brings a woman back from her own “virtual” death. With her issue of blood she was on a journey of complete destruction, having spent everything she had on every known cure. What’s made clear is that no earthly power could help her and as a result she had to live on the margins of society, virtually dead in the eyes of the religious leaders and her family. Her healing foreshadows the power that Jesus has to bring someone back from death. That’s why the healing of this “daughter” along the way is so significant. 

Having already revealed the inability of impurity to contaminate Jesus, he could now go and touch a dead body. His holiness is contagious and contains transformational power that can overcome any and all impurity that can be found in the world. 

Along the way Jesus addresses the woman as “daughter” and the “daughter” of Jairus as “little girl.” Interestingly Mark records the gentle words of Jesus in Aramaic — the actual language which he would have spoken. Amazingly Jesus reveals his power over death and impurity by interacting wth unclean women and addresses them in familial language. He is welcoming these daughters into his new family in the kingdom of God. 

Application:

The graciousness of our Lord is set-up beautifully in this scene. Women had always carried within them the curse of the fall of humanity. Death was often attributed to the hand of the woman, Eve. As a result all women had carried within themselves the pain and struggle of childbirth. The woman with the issue of blood had been bleeding from her womb for twelve years. Healing this woman was of great significance as her healing became symbolic for that of all women. No, women are not unclean! No, women are not untouchables! No, women are not to be held off on the margins of society without a voice. It’s Jesus who brings this complete and total healing to the women who should never be allowed in his presence. This is grace.

When we embrace grace we discover that there is no one beyond the reach of the Savior’s touch. Not only does he bring healing, but he brings restoration. The woman is restored back into life and society. We can be made whole by the touch of the Savior, who in his holiness takes all of our impurities and makes us clean. 

The woman who was on the pathway to death is made whole but he doesn’t stop there. Jesus reaches out to touch death and brings life. What humanity has seen as the ultimate power — death — is broken by the simple touch on a little girl’s hand. She raises up, showing the magnitude and reach of Jesus’ authority. No longer do we need to fear death, for Jesus has revealed his power in resurrection. 

Grace is lavished upon us through Jesus’ simple words, “Daughter” and “Talitha.” These are not words that are spoken to outcasts, but to those who have been adopted into the family. The barriers of the past are destroyed in Christ. Now, everyone is welcomed into the family. 

Prayer:

Lord, today I am grateful for your incredible grace which you have lavished upon me. I am grateful that you have called me “Daughter.” Amen.