Mark 5:21-43 is the lectionary text for Sunday, June 27.
The Gospel writer wrote in a subtext, I believe, addressing the nation, the people of God and their suffering under empire.
It was a 12 year old girl who was sick unto death, having suffered under the oppressive poverty, malnutrition and abuse of empire's occupation of their land. She was already of little value in her society, except to marry and bear children. Her dying before her time to marry would be the taking away of any value she might have. Her future was in peril, and her father, a local synagogue leader, had little power compared to the corrupt Temple Cult leaders who were in collusion with Rome. She would surely die, as would the nation, and her/their life fullness would never be realized because of their plight under empire. The nation was in peril, and any who would defend her against empire seemed powerless.
The woman who suffered hemorrhages for 12 years was also vulnerable. She had depleted any resources she might have had toward restoring her health and yet she got worse. She was destined for death. Just as the 12 tribes, the nation, the people of God had suffered for many years under Rome's oppression, so she suffered not only this grave illness, but the poverty that came with it and the condition of being considered UNCLEAN, marginalized by those of her own people and community. Empire had divided people and created a value system that blamed the victims for a plight designed by empire to benefit the powerful and wealthy at the expense of the poor. The nation was desperate after such a long time, to have completeness, wholeness and well-being restored to her.
They reached out to Jesus. Jairus risked what standing he may have had to do so. The woman in need risked this desperate act not working. They were both restored.
What is most endearing to me about this passage is that Jesus restores wholeness, completeness and well-being to lowly females. He calls one "daughter" and the other "little lamb." It is with such tenderness and Grace that Jesus walks, teaches, heals and changes the world in these Gospels. The world is not that way. Jesus did not charge Jairus for the healing, or ask for proof of insurance. Jesus healed her. Jesus disregarded any personal gain for doing it, but rather did so out of compassion, depleting His own power for the sake of someone else who needed it.
Jesus praised the woman in need for her faith, and commanded those around the little girl, "Do not fear, only believe." Believing in Jesus' Way is critical. If we believe in Jesus' way of Agape Love and Grace for how we are to live in the world, we will work to transform the world in Agape Love and Grace. With Jesus as our example, we will allow what power we have to be used to bring others to restoration, and we will strive to fend off the ill effects of empire in the world, even as we work to change the values by which people in the world live.
While the leadership of old, white men in power and with wealth (empire) is working real hard to try to control women's bodies and close down women's health clinics in the process, Jesus would use His power to heal this woman who sought help for her severe "women's problem." All of her resources exhausted by the for-profit medical system, she turned to Jesus who did not charge her, but healed her. Jesus did not judge her. Jesus healed her. It was the loving thing to do - the Agape Loving thing to do, as Jesus did not gain from her healing. It is what Jesus calls US to do out of compassion, with any power and resources we have.
Do you believe?
Want to follow Jesus?
Follow Jesus, fearlessly.
Not just when it benefits you in your concern for personal salvation, personal prosperity, personal blessings and favor and such. Follow Jesus in doing all you can for OTHERS, even stranger and enemy, and especially the most vulnerable. Cover their care. Cover them in compassion. Make them whole and complete again. Ensure their well-being.
THAT is faithfulness to Jesus.
All the rest is just words.
Pastor Jamie
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