Examining a Markan sandwich

Mark 5:21-43

Mark 5:1-20 – Jesus visits the Geresenes

Meets possessed man and Legion

Casts Legion into herd of 2,000 pigs

People came and observed the man, sane

Became frightened, entreated Jesus to leave

Sane man wanted to leave with Jesus

Jesus sent him on a mission instead

Jesus crossed sea and multitude gathered

Jarius Made His Way through the Crowd

• Synagogue ruler

• Unlike the rulers of 3:6

• Asks on behalf of his only

daughter

• Jesus goes with him

followed and pressed

upon by the multitude

Jesus’ House Call is Interrupted

• …by a woman sick with an

issue of blood for 12 years

• her sickness made her

unclean

• made her poor, hopeless

• wanted just to “touch”

Jesus

• Jesus made a public

demonstation, pointing her

out

• Frightened her, trembling

Jesus calls her

“daughter” and sends

her away in peace

Sad New Arrives

• No need for Jesus now

• He could heal the sick, but not the dead?

• Flute players and commotion at the house

• Jesus sends them all away and raises the

girl

• His thoughfulness shown in calling them to

give the young girl something to eat

Jarius is a man vs. the woman is a “woman” Jarius is named vs. the woman is not named Face to face approach vs. touch from behind Religious leader vs. excluded from religion Has a household vs. has spent everything 12 yrs. of joy vs. 12 yrs. of misery, sickness Jarius fell at His feet, woman fell at his feet

What might we learn?

We ALL have distinctions

We are ALL unclean and should be

excluded

We are ALL going to die

FALLING DOWN BEFORE JESUS IS

THE ONLY ANSWER

Jesus wants an active faith

Jesus wants a faith that does not conform

Jesus wants faith even when people

laugh

Jesus wants faith with desperation

FALLING DOWN BEFORE JESUS IS

THE ONLY ANSWER