Mark 5:21-43

Some of you are old enough to remember the days when you would save up your allowance or do chores around the neighborhood in order to earn a nickel so that you could go to the movie theater on a Saturday afternoon. Once there, you were treated not only to the newsreel and that week's serial installment in the adventures of the Green Hornet or the Lone Ranger, but TWO movie features that would keep you up-to- date about the latest developments in Gene Autry's or Roy Rogers' battles against the bad guys. And all that was yours for the low price of one chubby little nickel!

Today's gospel reading from the fifth chapter of Mark is like those old-fashioned double features. Mark begins by telling us about the little twelve year old girl whose father risks his reputation, his position in the community and in the church, to come to Jesus to ask for help. Jairus is a man of good standing in his town. He is a leader in the synagogue. Other men in his town look to him to discover what they should do with their lives.

Jairus knows that this Jesus person is not well liked among many of the great learned leaders at his place of worship. THEY look at Jesus and see only an itinerant preacher whose teaching about love for ALL people is undermining their own teaching. They'd prefer everyone to think that people must follow rules and regulations in order to be loved by God. Somehow - we aren't told how - Jairus has learned about Jesus. Somehow, Jairus knows that Jesus has healing powers. Even if Jairus isn't fully convinced about Jesus' power to save ETERNALLY, he trusts Jesus' ability to heal the daughter that he loves. So, he gives up all his social standing to come to this itinerant preacher to ask for help - for a daughter no less!

Why, men of good standing in those days, "good family men" as our political advertisements might call them today, weren't supposed to care about girls and women in their households. They were supposed to only associate with other men of good standing, men of authority and power. It would be beneath someone of Jairus' standing in the community to let others know he was concerned about just a little girl.

Before we go putting too much respect and honor into Jairus' act, though, we must remember that we don't know much about him or why he sought out Jesus that day. We'd like to think he had wonderful, loving reasons for approaching this preacher he'd been told to avoid. Sometimes scripture doesn't tell us a lot about the reasons behind people's actions. If we wanted to be cynical about it - and there is that tendency in today's world so we should probably get it out in the open and deal with it - we could speculate that Jairus' daughter might have been betrothed to a wealthy merchant or landowner and here, just as she was reaching marriageable age, she's struck down and it doesn't look like she'll recover. In desperation for his future income and the further prestige his daughter's good match will bring to HIM, Jairus even goes as far as asking Jesus, of all people, to do what he can to fix this situation.

Sounds pretty jaded, doesn't it?! Well, before we can speculate any further about Jairus' motives for approaching Jesus our attention is drawn into the second act of our double feature in today's readings. Someone else is seeking Jesus' attentions. This time, though, instead of boldly running right up to him, falling at Jesus' feet and begging a favor, this seeker timidly reaches out from the crowd, just hoping to touch the hem of Jesus' robe.

Far from the social position enjoyed by Jairus, this woman had been cast aside. No one would claim her as his own. Chances are, if she had ever been married, her husband had divorced her. We have to remember that medical knowledge had not gotten past the superstition stage while Jesus walked this earth. So this woman who had been bleeding for twelve years was regarded as unclean, perhaps even scorned as untouchable, cursed by a god.

This woman couldn't take part in any ritual actions of worship. She couldn't even lead the weekly Sabbath prayers for her family. Because she was constantly bleeding, she was not able to bear children. Her husband had every right to take off his sandal and hand it to her. That was the way divorces were accomplished in those days. Without a husband or her father to take care of her, this woman would be forced into life on the streets unless some kind, independently wealthy woman or other relative would take pity on her. Still, people would talk about her, clicking their tongues and inwardly thanking their lucky stars that THEY were not in her sandals.

But, not Jesus. Jesus had compassion on her. Before anyone else knew what had happened, Jesus realized that a person of great faith had reached out to him. God had healed this woman of her 12-year nightmare, and Jesus wanted to know all about it. Who could it be in this great crowd who had a reason to celebrate? "Who touched my clothes?" he asked. And, then, in fear and trembling, the woman fell down before him and told him the whole truth.

You can understand why this woman was afraid. Other people treated her as if she were dirt. Would this rabbi do the same? Even though she'd heard wonderful things about Jesus, could he possibly take away the healing she'd just gone through? Could she trust this man of God to treat her with mercy when everyone else in her world had turned away?

She knew from his first word that Jesus was trustworthy, honorable and truly the embodiment of God's love. "Daughter," he called her. In that one word, the woman's social standing in this town was restored. Recognizing the miracle that had taken place, Jesus released her with the blessing used in the synagogue. "Go in peace," he said. He knew her first destination would be the synagogue, where she would go to take her ritual cleansing bath. Finally, she would be restored to wholeness and eligible for marriage or to return to her father's house or to the family home of a male relative who would provide for her for the rest of her life. Jesus' love and compassion gave this woman new life and raised her from the depths of despair.

But, back on the ranch, as our Saturday morning double feature would put it, things weren't going well. While Jesus was still speaking to the healed woman, some people came from Jairus' house with the terrible news that his daughter had already died. They tried to convince him to leave the teacher alone. Maybe he could still recover some of his dignity if he'd just come home with them and stop making a fuss over the whole thing.

But, before Jairus could make up his mind, before he had even fully comprehended the terror of his daughter's death, Jesus reached out to him with words of hope: "Do not fear, only believe." With those words they hurried off together so Jesus could, in turn, reach out to the little girl herself. But what a scene confronted them when they got there. Because Jairus was a prominent public figure, people had gathered outside his house weeping and wailing as custom had trained them to do. They tore their clothes and threw dust on themselves to show respect for Jairus' and his family in their loss.

Jesus asked them why they were making such a commotion when the child was not dead but sleeping. And, they laughed at him. Then Jesus put all these scoffers outside and taking only the girl's parents into the room Jesus reached out and took her by the hand. "Little girl," he said, "get up." And, with the same amazement the healed woman had experienced, this daughter was raised to new life.

Today we have come together to hear Jesus' words of healing to each of us. Jesus reaches out to YOU today to say, "Do not fear, only believe." Whatever is causing you to die a thousand deaths, to fear the future, to separate you from those you love - give those to the Lord. Let his life-giving words comfort you and give you hope.

And, as we gather around the baptismal font in just a few minutes to celebrate the new life God is giving Leanna, let's listen for those words that call her, too, "daughter", child of God. Through the witness of the scriptures, and over and over again in our own lives, we know Jesus to be trustworthy, honorable and the true embodiment of God's love. In the cleansing waters of baptism we have been redeemed. New life is ours.

We don't need to wait eagerly for next week's serial installment to know how this story unfolds. The end was already written on the day our foreheads were marked with the cross of Christ. We have been sealed with the Holy Spirit and promised eternity in God's love. "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; God's mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning." (Lamentations 3:22)

Take that promise into the world with you this week and always. Share the good news and let others see your faith in the One who gives new life. As Jesus said, "Go in peace." Amen

Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, for all people according to their needs.

Steadfast loving Lord, your mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. Have compassion on all the citizens of your world. Bring freedom to those living under oppression. Inspire national leaders to rule with justice and without discrimination. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. (Lamentations 3:22-33)

Generous Lord, your love for all is genuine. You have blessed us with abundance. Make us eager to return gladly to you what you have first given us. Show us our neighbors who are in need so that we can reach out to them in your name. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (2Cor 8:7-15)

Merciful Lord, you encourage us to come to you in public or in private to let you know our needs, our hopes and dreams. You reach out to touch our hearts with your healing power. You promise us everlasting life and only ask that we share that promise with everyone we meet. Raise up for your Church faithful pastors, teachers and volunteers, that your good news might be heard around the world. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, our God, you reach out to give new life to all who trust in you, and even to those who do not yet know your name. By your favor, O Lord, strengthen those who are weak. Dry the tears of those who cry. We lift these loved ones for your care... Are there others we should include in our prayers? Turn mourning into dancing. Relieve grief and clothe us with joy in you. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (Psalm 30)

Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

(Comments to Linda at Linda_Kraft@Ecunet.org.
Pictures and formatted info to kkraft@ct2.nai.net.)