Lessons of Faith

By Khen Lim



Image Source: jesus-story.net

The ‘double-miracle’ portrayed in Mark 5 (and Luke 8) has often been dubbed the ‘duo of death and disease.’ This is the miracle that Jesus empowered over both the natural and the supernatural world.

He did this because He is the Messiah and His point is to drive home into our hearts that there are no problems He cannot overcome and no reasons why we cannot trust Him.

However depending on which Gospel you read, there are problems abound. Of these, the most prominent is that while Matthew says that Jairus’ daughter had died (past tense), both Mark and Luke said she was ‘about to’ die. One suggests she’s dead. Another says she’s dying. The third says she is at the point of death. Who is right? When exactly did Jairus’ little girl die?

Many tell us that Matthew’s version has discrepancies that need to be reconciled with the others. The problem is with his style and approach because Matthew is inclined to leave details out mainly because he wants his reader to focus on other things; therefore he can at times condense an account such as when he told of the Roman centurion coming to Jesus when in fact, Luke said he sent Jewish representatives instead. To Matthew, it amounts to the same thing since ultimately the centurion was still responsible.

Matthew also misses out on details of the crowd pressing on Jesus, or the thoughts of the sick woman who touched His garment, how Jesus questioned that and the response the disciples offered Him. These differences are theologically challenging and distracting – remember that the four Gospels are written for different audiences by four fairly different writers with different aims in mind. If we take these into mind, we should be able to understand the variances.

Looking at the two intertwining miracles, we also discover some contrasts. One is the ‘bread’ (Jairus and daughter); the other ‘meat’ (woman). ‘12’ seems to be popular here – that’s the little girl’s age but also the years in which the other woman was afflicted. One is a publican, a synagogue ruler, someone visible. The other is a recluse, unclean, someone unknown. One turns out to be a public miracle (woman); the other a private one (little girl). There are plentiful such contrasts between the two but one thing is clear – Jesus is the answer no matter your social setting or status may be.

So from the two miracles, here’s what I found interesting to learn:

Even as the woman touched Jesus’ garment and was healed, it wasn’t the magic of the touch but the power in the Person of Christ. It’s not the fabric or formula. Christ said so in order she could understand.

The removal of the woman’s unclean condition is parallel to the Salvation where Jesus removes the unclean spiritual state. The miracle underpins the symbolism of Salvation.

The raising of Jairus’ little girl affirms the deified Christ, proving that Jesus is Messiah (Mt 11:5, Isa 35).

Even if your faith is mustard seed sized, God can still use it, respond to it and then clarify it later.

Even the ‘best’ medical help is no match compared to harvesting hope in God.

Jesus teaches us never to fear leaving the needs of many to see to the needs of an individual. If it is need that drives our ministry, we’d surely burn out because there will always be endless needs in a numbers game. It appears that amidst the miracles, the witnesses in the multitudes were amazed without really saying they ‘believed.’ When Jesus deals with the individual, there is belief.

Jesus’ compassion gives plenty of reassurances that He is never too busy with the world to pay attention at each of us individuals.

Jairus mightn’t realise it but the delay in attending to his little girl carved out an opportunity for Jesus to resurrect and not merely heal. The glory was all God’s. Death proved no barrier to Jesus. Instead this demonstration means we should never give up; so the next time we’re impatient, remember this point.

Faith is always the best answer to fear. We constantly see it in the disciples. Their lack of faith is a big lesson for us. It is also our number one problem.