A touch of Faith

And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live." And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, "If I touch even his garments, I will be made well." And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, "Who touched my garments?"  And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, 'Who touched me?' " And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease."  While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?" But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe."  And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. And when he had entered, he said to them, "Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping."  And they laughed at him. But 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. Taking her by the hand he said to her, "Talitha cumi," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."  And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. - Mark 5:21‭-‬43 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

There are three presentations of faith in the text today.

Small & simple faith

The woman was unable to go to the temple because of her bleeding. She had tried treatments unsuccessfully. She was also separated from family and friends. She had faith that just touching Jesus' clothes would heal her. She touched him and suddenly she was healed. Jesus stops and calls out that someone touched him. She has to fess up. And Jesus tells her that her faith had healed her. Why? Consider that they were in a crowd, all jostling against Jesus. But no one else was healed. Why? Because this woman, with this strange superstition about His garments, had faith in Jesus. It is not the strength of the faith, but the object of faith. Flimsy faith in a strong branch will uphold a falling person. But a strong conviction in a weak branch will end in a bad fall.

Stretched faith

Jairus was likely in a hurry. His daughter was gravely ill. And here is Jesus taking His time to talk to this woman. Then, it gets worse. He gets news that his daughter has died. It's too late. Jesus heals people, Jairus believes this much. But Jesus tells him to not fear. Jairus now needs to believe that Jesus had power over life and death. Jairus is led to follow Jesus back to his dead daughter. Jesus looks like He doesn't care about Jairus or his daughter. There's the voice from the crowd... Why bother the teacher any longer? Jesus can't help... Doubts can creep in. We can question whether God has our good in mind... The road ahead of Jairus is confusing and hurting.

Steadfast faith

So, Christian, God calls us further down this strange road. We have faith that Jesus has our good in mind. So when He calls us down a strange and pain filled road, we need to trust His plan... His timing. Jesus, Jairus, and the crowd come upon the scene. The household is in mourning with great commotion. He sends out the mourners and crowds. Jesus takes the child's hand and the child comes back to life.

Not only that, but Jesus calls for bread for this child. He commands life and death, but He is also sensitive to our needs. Jesus cares not only for the prominent church leader but also the outcast. The entire spectrum. Not only that, but God experienced the loss of a child when Jesus died upon the cross for our sins. Jesus feels compassion for us. He offers up life and restoration to everyone.