I love Jesus. I love Mark’s Gospel. And I love the way, that Mark – (the first gospel writer) – portrays Jesus.
This is my Jesus. This is my God. There is so much to learn…from the scriptures – it is just constant.
But it takes some of us – at least – out of our comfort zones a little bit. Maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe…not.
You guys are so educated, so you already know that this is Mark’s “sandwich technique” or “bookend technique.” It is awesome. He begins with one story, breaks in with another, and then, completes the first. A story within a story… Or, as the Confirmands say, a” two-for.” (As in, two for the price of one!) Or, buy one get one free…
This is about being saved…by faith… It is hard to miss “that point.” Sola Fide…or faith alone!
Jairus happens to be one of the few named characters in Mark’s gospel. He is not a rabbi, he is not the presiding elder, and he is more like a church council member. He doesn’t preach, he doesn’t chair the council meeting, but if people wanted to gripe or complain about something they went to him.
He was probably neither rich nor wealthy. He did however have considerable “status” within his religious community. His was an “honorable position.” He would have been highly esteemed and had all the right connections.
Jairus has all the right stuff going for him. He would be loved and honored and appreciated.
He humbly kneels before Jesus and makes a request. It was customary for “the male head of the family” to make such requests.
This father is begging. He is pleading for his daughter. He has faith in Jesus as a healer (as does the crowd that is constantly surrounding him.)
His twelve year old daughter is sick and at the point of death and he implores Jesus to “lay his hands on her…”
As Jesus sets off to go with Jairus – he is interrupted by an incident involving a woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years.
According to the “purity code,” everyone she touches (in that dense crowd) is rendered “unclean” simply by brushing against her. When she touches Jesus, she passes on her uncleanness to him, as well. Jesus doesn’t care.
The link between the two women is the number twelve and their uncleanness. The other issue was that of “class.” The older woman is destitute. She has spent all that she had on her medical treatment. She has suffered much under many physicians. She is suffering and she is poor. Ritualistically she is unclean…an untouchable. Her condition is worsening. She is at wits end.
Which one of the two should Jesus heal? Which one of the two should Jesus spend his time on? Isn’t he a little pressed for time here?
If, there were such a thing then as “triage,” which one would be helped first? Which of the two should Jesus prioritize for his attention?
We have to remember that given the views of “sickness and suffering” – as “outcomes of God’s judgment” – and “prejudices in favor only of the righteous”…only one of them should be healed.
The older woman is a hopeless case. There is a futility about her. The duration of her disease has rendered her permanently unclean. She has halted the healer and wasted precious time.
And what about her tactic…of sneaking up on people from behind? Or from the side – or under the cover and cloak of the crowd…
She made “all of those people” ritualistically unclean, as well. She should be disqualified. She is without honor. There is no contest as to which of the two is the more deserving. But you have to remember this is Jesus we are talking about!
As the story unfolds, “both of them” are “miraculously healed.”
The young and the old…the hopeful and the hopeless, the honorable and the one without honor…
There is more than enough time, power, compassion, love and grace to go around, so that no one needs to be written off.
The point being – that it is never “our call” to make – about “who is worthy” or “who is unworthy.” We are not to judge.
All are made in the image and the likeness of our God all living creatures have in them, the spirit of the living God, so all are worthy…
When it comes to Jesus there is no such thing as triage, it is the person standing right in front of him that is all important…
And then, he simply moves on to the next…and to the next and to the next…
Don’t judge!
Amen.