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Throughout the book of Mark, Jesus has been displaying his authority and power, especially to those who need healing. The story-within-a-story format shows us that Jesus breaks down barriers. Jesus doesn’t run out of time. Jesus doesn’t run out of healing. It’s not as if he only has enough healing for either the Faithful Woman or Jairus’ daughter. Jesus’ divine compassion, mercy and healing have been flowing throughout this whole Gospel. And we need to hear Jesus’ “Do not fear only, only believe” (Mark 5:36) as much as Jairus did. We know that Jesus will be mocked in the face of death – his own death – just as the mourners begin mocking and laughing when he says that Jairus’ daughter is not dead.
This willingness to go against the grain is something that God makes manifest – sometimes in us, often in those around us. Our power to reach out is a manifestation of God’s power. It is what GOD does in us.
This message is excerpted from the Bible study “Faithfulness” by Denise Rector in the March/April/May 2025 Gather magazine. Today we commemorate Mark, the Evangelist.