Crowds laugh at Jesus? Jairus, a religious leader comes to Jesus in need of help and acknowledging Jesus' status. That's news since so far religious leaders have been opposed to Jesus. As Mark tells the story, the healing of Jairus' daughter is interrupted by the story of a woman with severe bleeding issues. These stories are linked in several ways. Both the woman and the girl are healed by Jesus. The woman suffering for twelve years and the girl is noted to be twelve years old. Both are referred to as "daughter" (vv. 34-35). Yet, while the woman's healing is public, the girls is a fairly private matter. In fact, Jesus again tells them (actually 'strictly orders') not to spread the news. Which is going to be difficult since the people who were weeping loudly at the report of the girls death, laugh at Jesus when Jesus questions the news that she is dead insisting she is only asleep.
Questions:
Given how Jesus has been received so negatively, what risks might Jairus be taking in asking for Jesus' help? What sort of risks do we take for Jesus? In asking for help?
How do the two stories of these women go together? How is Jesus approached in each? What are the reactions of the crowd? Do you approach Jesus more like Jairus (directly) or more like the woman (timidly)? What do you need to bring to Jesus to experience His healing touch? How is Lent helping you to do so?
Earlier in this chapter Jesus told the man healed of the demons to tell, yet tells the parents to tell no one. Why do you think that is? What might location have to do with that? If you were them, what would you do?
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