Mark Lesson #08

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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
MARK 5:21-43
LESSON #08
THE COURAGE TO HAVE FAITH

• MEMORY VERSE: MARK 4:40
• IN THIS SECTION OF MARK’S GOSPEL, THERE IS AN UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE OF TWO HEALINGS INTERTWINED TOGETHER. USUALLY THE GOSPELS PRESENT ONE MIRACLE AND THEN ANOTHER. BECAUSE THESE TWO HEALINGS ARE INTERTWINED TOGETHER, THERE MUST BE A REASON WHY. HOWEVER, BEFORE WE ANSWER THAT QUESTION, WE WILL STUDY THE TWO HEALINGS SEPARATELY.
• READ MAR 5:21-43 THE DOUBLE HEALING: JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER AND THE WOMAN WITH AN ISSUE OF BLOOD
• THE HEALING OF THE WOMAN WITH AN ISSUE OF BLOOD
• THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PHYSICAL PROBLEM:
• THIS WOMAN HAD BEEN ILL FOR 12 YEARS (25)
• SHE HAD SPENT ALL HER MONEY ON DOCTORS AND RECEIVED NO RELIEF.
• LUKE, THE PHYSICIAN, SAID SHE WAS INCURABLE.
• THERE WERE 11 CURES IN THE JEWISH TALMUD (JEWISH WRITINGS) FOR THIS KIND OF ILLNESS. SHE HAD PROBABLY TRIED EVERYTHING.
• THE ILLNESS MADE HER “UNCLEAN” IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY. THAT MEANT THAT SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO AVOID CROWDS AND CALL OUT, “UNCLEAN”, EVERYWHERE SHE WENT. IT MEANT SHE COULD NOT ENTER THE SYNAGOGUE FOR WORSHIP. ANYONE SHE TOUCHED WAS MADE “UNCLEAN” BY THAT TOUCH. (LEV 15:25,27)
• NO WONDER SHE WAS SO AFRAID WHEN JESUS FOUND OUT SHE HAD TOUCHED HIM.
• READ MAT 9:20 THE “HEM” OF HIS GARMENT
• NOTICE THAT MATTHEW TELLS US THAT SHE TOUCHED “THE HEM” OF HIS GARMENT WHILE MARK SIMPLY SAYS SHE TOUCHED HIS CLOTHES.
• THERE IS AN IMPORTANT SIGNIFICANCE IN THIS DIFFERENCE.
• REMEMBER THAT MATTHEW IS WRITING TO THE JEWS WHILE MARK IS WRITING TO THE ROMANS.
• IF WE SEE IT FROM MATTHEW’S VIEWPOINT, THE STORY BECOMES MORE PICTURESQUE AND MEANINGFUL.
• JESUS WORE THE USUAL ORTHODOX CLOTHING. THE OUTER GARMENT HAD A FRINGE OF BLUE ON THE FOUR CORNERS AS REQUIRED BY THE MOSAIC LAW. (NUM 15:37-40 DEU 22:12)
• THIS BLUE FRINGE CONSISTED OF 4 THREADS PASSING THROUGH THE 4 CORNERS AND MEETING IN EIGHT. ONE OF THE THREADS WAS LONGER THAN THE OTHERS AND TWISTED 7 TIMES AROUND THE OTHERS. THEN A DOUBLE KNOT WAS FORMED, THEN EIGHT TIMES, THEN ELEVEN TIMES, THEN 13 TIMES. THE THREAD AND THE KNOTS REPRESENTED THE FIRST 5 BOOKS OF THE LAW. THE PURPOSE OF THE BLUE FRINGE WAS TO REMIND THE PEOPLE TO OBEY GOD’S LAWS.
• THE HEM OF THE GARMENT OF THE HIGH PRIEST HAD TINY BELLS ALTERNATED WITH TINY POMEGRANATES ACCORDING TO THE MOSAIC LAW. (EXO 28:34)
• POMEGRANATES WERE A SYMBOL OF HEALING.
• A RABBI’S AUTHORITY OR RANK WAS MARKED ON THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT. TO DO ANY LEGAL BUSINESS WHERE HE NEEDED TO SIGN A LEGAL CONTRACT, HE SIMPLY PRESSED THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT INTO SOFT CLAY THAT TOOK THE IMPRESSION OF HIS RANK OR SIGNATURE.
• WHEN WALKING IN THE STREET, THE HEM OF THE ROBE WAS THROWN OVER THE SHOULDER TO FACILITATE THE EASE OF WALKING. IN THIS WAY, THE HEM DRAPED DOWN HIS BACK.
• THE BIBLE DOES NOT SAY WHICH PART OF THE HEM SHE TOUCHED. PERHAPS SHE TOUCHED THE HEM NEAR THE GROUND PUTTING HER ON HER KNEES. HOWEVER, MOST LIKELY IN THE PRESS OF THE CROWD MOVING THROUGH THE STREET, SHE PROBABLY TOUCHED THE HEM FLOWING DOWN HIS BACK.
• THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TOUCHING THE HEM:
• JESUS WAS THE WORD OF GOD (JOH 1:1) REPRESENTED BY THE BLUE FRINGE. SHE TOUCHED THE ETERNAL NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD.
• JESUS CHRIST IS OUR HIGH PRIEST. SHE WAS TOUCHING HIS CAPACITY AS HIGH PRIEST TO BRING HEALING.
• JESUS WAS CALLED RABBI. SHE WAS TOUCHING THAT AUTHORITY, MAKING HER HEALING A SEALED AGREEMENT.
• JESUS’ RESPONSE:
• JESUS MADE THE TOUCH SIGNIFICANT.
• JESUS SAID, “WHO TOUCHED ME?” VIRTUE HAD GONE OUT OF HIM.
• WHAT IS VIRTUE?
• IT IS SUPERNATURAL POWER.
• SHE HAD FAITH TO TOUCH HIM. SHE HAD DONE SOMETHING NO “UNCLEAN” PERSON WAS SUPPOSED TO DO. THAT TOOK FAITH, BUT HER HEALING WAS NOT COMPLETELY CONFIRMED UNTIL JESUS CONFRONTED HER WHICH BROUGHT HER FAITH INTO SHARP FOCUS. WHEN SHE HAD COURAGE TO ADMIT SHE WAS THE ONE WHO BROKE THE LAW AND TOUCHED HIM, THEN THE LOOK IN HIS EYES TOLD HER SHE WAS ACCEPTABLE. THAT’S THE FAITH JESUS WAS LOOKING FOR.
• SHE WAS NOT HEALED BY SUPERSTITION IN THE TOUCH OF HIS ROBE. SHE WAS HEALED BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD.
• THE HEALING OF JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER
• WHO WAS JAIRUS?
• HE WAS A LEADER IN THE SYNAGOGUE IN CAPERNAUM. HE WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PERSON ELECTED FROM AMONG THE ELDERS. HIS JOB WAS TO SUPERVISE AND TAKE CARE OF THE EXTERNAL ORDER OF THE SYNAGOGUE. HE WOULD APPOINT THOSE WHO WOULD READ THE SCRIPTURES AND PRAY IN THE SYNAGOGUE SERVICE. HE WOULD INVITE THOSE WHO WOULD PREACH. ANYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH THE PRACTICAL RUNNING OF THE SYNAGOGUE WAS IN HIS HANDS.
• AS A RELIGIOUS LEADER, HE KNEW THE OPINION OF THE PHARISEES AND THE SCRIBES REGARDING JESUS.
• HIS DAUGHTER’S CONDITION:
• JAIRUS MUST HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING BEFORE COMING TO JESUS FOR HELP. BUT NOW THAT HIS DAUGHTER WAS ALMOST DEAD, HE COMES TO JESUS, FALLS ON HIS FACE, AND WORSHIPS HIM.
• THIS PUBLIC ACT TOOK COURAGE AND FAITH.
• HE COULD HAVE THOUGHT, “WHAT IF I PUBLICLY WORSHIP HIM AND MY DAUGHTER DIES, I WILL HAVE SACRIFICED EVERYTHING FOR NOTHING.”
• HOWEVER, IT IS ONLY WHEN YOU SACRIFICE EVERYTHING, AND POTENTIAL LOSS IS UNIMPORTANT, THAT DEEP FAITH BEGINS.
• JAIRUS’ REQUEST IS UNUSUAL. HE ASKED JESUS TO LAY HANDS ON HIS DAUGHTER THAT SHE MIGHT BE HEALED. (35)
• THE LAYING ON OF HANDS FOR HEALING WAS UNUSUAL TO THE JEWS.
• THE WORD HE USED FOR “HEALED” ALSO MEANS “SAVED”.
• WHILE JAIRUS AND JESUS ARE ON THEIR WAY TO JAIRUS’ HOUSE, THERE OCCURS THE HEALING OF THE WOMAN WITH THE BLOOD DISEASE.
• JAIRUS, BEING HUMAN AND CONCERNED ABOUT HIS DAUGHTER’S PENDING DEATH, PROBABLY BECAME VERY UPSET AT THE DELAY. EVERY MINUTE JESUS SPENT WITH THE WOMAN MEANT LESS POTENTIAL TIME WITH JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER BEFORE SHE DIED.
• YOU CAN IMAGINE THE DEVASTATING FRUSTRATION AND DISAPPOINTMENT WHEN A SERVANT MEETS THEM ON THE ROAD AND TELLS THEM THAT HIS DAUGHTER IS DEAD.
• JAIRUS WOULD NOW BE TEMPTED TO GIVE IT UP AND GO HOME ALONE. THE DELAY COST HIS DAUGHTER HER LIFE. NOW IT WAS TOO LATE.
• BUT NOTICE THAT JESUS ENCOURAGES JAIRUS. WITH , “DO NOT BE AFRAID, ONLY BELIEVE.” (36)
• THE TENSE OF THE VERB INDICATES THAT JAIRUS HAD ALREADY BEGUN TO FEAR.THE WORST.
• JAIRUS’ FAITH IS LIFTED TO A HIGHER LEVEL. (35-36) BEFORE HE HAD TO TRUST JESUS FOR HEALING. NOW HE MUST TRUST JESUS FOR A RESURRECTION.
• THE WORD “BELIEVE” IS THAT HE SHOULD TRUST THE PERSON AND NOT THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
• THREE MOURNING CUSTOMS:
• =1= THE TEARING OF GARMENTS:
• THERE WERE 39 DIFFERENT RULES TO GOVERN HOW ONE TORE HIS CLOTHES TO INDICATE MOURNING.
• =2= THE WAILING MOURNERS
• PROFESSIONAL MOURNERS CAME TO WAIL. THEY KNOW THE SPECIAL DETAILS OF A PERSON’S LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY. WHEN FRIENDS AND RELATIVES CAME TO THE FUNERAL, THE WAILING WOMEN WOULD KNOW JUST WHAT PERSONAL DETAILS TO BRING UP SO AS TO MAKE THE RELATIVES CRY MORE EASILY. THE PURPOSE OF HIRED MOURNERS WAS TO HELP PEOPLE ACCEPT THE FINALITY OF DEATH AND MOVE ON IN THEIR LIVES.
• =3= THE FLUTE PLAYERS
• THE FLUTE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH DEATH. EVEN THE POOREST FAMILY WAS EXPECTED TO SUPPLY AT LEAST ONE PAID MOURNER AND 2 FLUTE PLAYERS.
• JESUS’ STRANGE ACTIONS:
• IN THIS CHAOTIC ATMOSPHERE OF MOURNING, JESUS CLEARS THE HOUSE OF ALL THE NEGATIVE ELEMENTS OF DEATH THAT DEFEAT FAITH. (37, 40)
• JESUS INCLUDES ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE STRONG FAITH AND THOSE HE IS TRAINING FOR SERVICE, PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN.
• SURROUNDED BY THIS STRONG ATMOSPHERE OF FAITH, THE GIRL IS HEALED.
• THE RAISING OF THE DEAD
• JESUS SAID TO THE GIRL, “TALITHA CUMI”. THIS IS ARAMAIC WHICH THE LITTLE GIRL WOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD. IT MEANS, “LITTLE LAMB, WAKE UP.”
• JESUS’ USE OF THE WORD, “SLEEP”, FOR THE WORD, “DEATH”.
• THERE ARE TWO GREEK WORDS FOR SLEEP.
• “kiomasthai”. THIS WORD IS USED FOR BOTH SLEEP AND DEATH.
• “katheudein”. THIS WORD IS USED FOR NATURAL SLEEP AND SELDOM USED FOR DEATH.
• JESUS USED THE SECOND WORD TO INDICATE THAT DEATH IS TEMPORARY LIKE SLEEP AND THAT ALL WILL ONE DAY AWAKE FROM IT.
• SUMMARY AND APPLICATION:
• DO YOU NOTICE ANY SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE TWO HEALINGS TO EXPLAIN WHY THEY ARE INTERTWINED TOGETHER?
• BOTH THE WOMAN WITH THE BLOOD DISEASE AND JAIRUS HAD A GREAT DEAL AT STAKE. THEIR FAITH REQUIRED COURAGE TO SACRIFICE EVERYTHING.
• IF THE WOMAN WAS NOT HEALED AND EVERYONE KNEW OF HER DISEASE, SHE WOULD BE AN OUTCAST FROM SOCIETY LIKE THE LEPER.
• JAIRUS WAS GOING AGAINST THE OPINIONS OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES TO ALIGN HIMSELF WITH JESUS. HE WAS RISKING HIS WHOLE WAY OF LIFE.
• NOTICE THAT JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER IS 12 YEARS OLD AND THE WOMAN HAD THE BLOOD DISEASE 12 YEARS.
• THE WOMAN SUFFERED FOR 12 YEARS OUTSIDE THE SYNAGOGUE UNABLE TO GO IN.
• JAIRUS REJOICED FOR 12 YEARS INSIDE THE SYNAGOGUE BECAUSE HE HAD A BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER.
• WHAT MESSAGE CAN WE LEARN ABOUT FAITH FOR US TODAY?
• SOMETIMES FAITH MEANS WE HAVE TO SACRIFICE.
• SOMETIMES FAITH DEMONSTRATES COURAGE IN FRONT OF OTHER PEOPLE.

HOMEWORK
MARK 6:1-44
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.

• APPLICATION OF MAR 5:21-43
• HAVE YOU EVER HAD AN EXPERIENCE THAT REQUIRED SOME SACRIFICE TO MAINTAIN FAITH? DESCRIBE THE EXPERIENCE HERE.
• PREPARATION FOR MAR 6
• READ MAR 6:1-44
• WHY DID THE PEOPLE IN JESUS’ HOMETOWN VIEW HIM AS THEY DID?
• DESCRIBE THE SENDING OUT OF THE 12 DISCIPLES. WHAT WAS JESUS’ GOAL IN SPLITTING THEM UP AND SENDING THEM OUT WITHOUT HIM?
• WHAT LESSONS DID THE DISCIPLES LEARN FROM THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND?
• MEMORY VERSE: JOHN 6:35