A tale of two daughters – Part 1

DAILY BYTE

Over the next two days we will explore that wonderful passage from Mark 5:21-43. The passage recounts two healing miracles of Jesus - the reviving from the dead of the daughter of Jairus, one of the synagogue rulers; and the healing of a nameless woman who had suffered from a bleeding condition for twelve years.

The contrast in social status between these two needy people could not be more stark. On the one hand there was Jairus, a man, known and respected as a leader in the religious life of the community. On the other hand there was this nameless woman whose condition rendered her ritually unclean, and was thus barred from participating in the corporate life of worship. Two needy people, from opposite ends of the social and religious spectrum. Yet both of them, in their need, recognise something special in Jesus. Both of them find themselves at Jesus' feet.

It's a great leveling place, the feet of Jesus. What other place would be shared by a respected ruler of the synagogue, and a nameless, marginalised woman? But these two individuals share far more than simply the ground before Jesus' feet on which they kneel. The story, as told by Mark, reveals a deep connectedness between these two unlikely associates. Herein lies the heart of the passage, but it is something we easily overlook.

The passage is a classic example of the literary technique of interpolation. That is to say, the one story (that of the bleeding woman) is inserted, or interpolated, into the other story (that of Jairus). Jairus' story is interrupted by the story of the bleeding woman. By writing it this way, Mark's clear intention is for these two stories to be read together. Indeed, the story of Jairus and his daughter cannot be fully understood by skipping over verses 25 - 34, which are about the nameless, bleeding woman. Reading the passage with this intention in mind, a few significant things emerge.

Notice that Jairus' request to Jesus in v23 concerning his own daughter articulates with startling accuracy the need of the bleeding woman. Jairus tells Jesus that his daughter is dying, that the life is gradually flowing out of her. But if Jesus could touch her, she would be made well and would live. This expresses exactly the need of the woman. We read that she had suffered from a bleeding disorder for twelve years.

Now in Jewish thought the blood contained the life, and so her condition signified that her life had been draining out of her for all that time. This is made all the more poignant if her flow of blood is understood as being a menstrual discharge, for menstrual blood has even closer associations with life, in that it feeds and nurtures and gives life to the child in the womb. A touch from Jesus was what she needed for healing and life.

We will continue our reflections on this passage tomorrow, but for today maybe you would like to reflect on this question: “In what ways has life been draining out of you, maybe for a very long time?”

Maybe you’re in an abusive relationship. Maybe you’re having an affair. Maybe you’ve been compromising your integrity at work. Maybe you’re addicted to gambling, or pornography, or alcohol, or shopping, or exercise, or drugs. Maybe you’ve been living a great big lie, or there’s something bad you’ve done that you’ve never taken responsibility for.

In whatever ways life has been draining out of you, a touch from Jesus is what you need. What might this entail for you right now?

PRAY AS YOU GO

Lord, I bring to you that part of my life that is draining the very life out of me. I know Lord that this cannot carry on. I need your touch. Please help me. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING

Mark 5:22-24

One of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him.