Mark 5

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Go Deeper

Mark 5 presents to us a Jesus who is both exceedingly powerful and tremendously compassionate. In the first story, Mark goes out of his way to describe just how strong this demon-possessed man had been. He writes twice in two verses that no one had the power to subdue this man. The force inside of this man was so powerful that he was seen as a lost cause. No one had the strength to free him. Until Jesus stepped in.

The next story we see is of a woman who was suffering for 12 years. She had spent all she had on doctors and instead of growing better, her condition only worsened. She was overcome by illness and had no answers, no hope, no future. Until Jesus stepped in.

Finally, Jesus is approached by a man whose daughter was ill and would ultimately die. He was overcome with grief, knowing that the story was over for his child. She was only 12 years old. It was an unfair sentence for a girl that still had so much life to live. But now her story was over. Until Jesus stepped in.

In three different stories, we see that Jesus has the strength to overcome the darkest of situations. He uses his power to heal the ones with the least power in society: a possessed man, an ill woman, and a lifeless girl. Whatever the situation, Jesus has the power and the compassion necessary to save.

Questions

What are the similarities between the three healings in this passage?

The bleeding woman was willing to fight through a crowd in order to get to Jesus. What are some things in your life that stand in the way of time with Jesus? How often do they keep you from getting to him?

In verse 23, it says that Jairus, the little girl’s father, pleaded earnestly with Jesus for his child to be healed. What are some things in your life that you need to plead earnestly with Jesus for? Have you been praying for them?