Written ~ 02-14-2024
Read Mark Chapter Five
Mark 5
In our chapter for today, we have three different stories of healing. A demon possessed man, a woman who was suffering from an illness for twelve years, and a twelve year old girl who was dying. Though their circumstances were quite different, each would encounter the Messiah and be touched. The demon possessed man would be healed by the spoken word of the Lord, the woman who was suffering would actually touch Jesus and the young girl would have the direct touch of the Lord’s hand. Healing is still available to us today, we may not hear the Lord’s voice audibly, but He is speaking. We may not be able to touch Him physically or have Him touch us, but by reading the Word and studying stories like the ones found in this chapter, we can be touched. The more we learn about Jesus, the more we understand His nature, the more we find out who Jesus is, we will realize He wants us to come to Him for healing.
Did you notice in these stories the fear behind the request for healing?
The possessed man had a Legion of demons inside of him, those demons were exceedingly fearful of Jesus and begged not to be cast to some distant place, Luke 8:31 says they didn’t want to go into the bottomless pit. This man was controlled by these demons and was not aware of his need for healing, but the demons knew and they did not want the interference from the Son of God. They were quite content staying right where they were, controlling this man and wreaking havoc on anyone who came near. But Jesus saw the need for healing and what a transformation we see in this man. Before his healing we find him wandering around a graveyard naked, unable to be restrained, howling and cutting himself and after his healing we see him fully clothed and perfectly sane, and proclaiming to everyone everything the Lord had done for him.
Verse 5:20 says,
20 “…the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.”
This man did not know he needed healing, but Jesus intervened.
The woman who was suffering for twelve years from an incurable bleeding disorder, heard about Jesus and knew He would be the One to help. Can you imagine the courage, mixed with a whole lot of fear as this woman pushed her way through a crowd of people just to touch the edge of Jesus’ robe.
It says in verses 5:33-34,
33 Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of Him and told Him what she had done. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.”
This woman knew she would be healed if she could just touch Jesus, and it was in that very moment “she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition.” As we see her fear when Jesus turned and asked who had touched Him, we also see a tremendous relief, wouldn’t you be relieved if Jesus said to you, “…your faith has made you well. Go in Peace. Your suffering is over.” Being fearful of the outcome of your request for healing is common with our human nature, but when Jesus feels your touch and sees your faith, you will be healed.
The twelve year old girl in our chapter was lying in bed dying from an undisclosed illness. A frantic father came to Jesus pleading with Him to go and heal his daughter. But because of a brief delay along His way, the little girl died. When the father heard this news he would have been overcome with grief. But look at what Jesus says to him in verse 5:36,
36 “…Don’t be afraid. Just have faith…”
Jesus is calming the fears of this distraught father who just learns his daughter has died. His whole world would have come crashing down in that moment. He would be thinking there was nothing more to be done, it was too late, Jesus couldn’t heal her now. But that’s not how this story ends, Jesus steps in, lays hold of this little girl’s hand and calls to her to “get up!”
Three distinct stories of healing…
A man who did not know he needed healing, so Jesus steps in and pulls him out of his sickness.
A woman whose courage and fear led her to touch Jesus for her healing.
A father pleading on the behalf of his daughter, after receiving the worst possible report, Jesus touches her.
No matter what you may be experiencing right now, whether it is a mental health issue, overwhelming sickness, or the report of terminal illness. Jesus will intervene as you reach out in faith to touch Him, He will respond and touch you.
“…Don’t be afraid. Just have faith…Your faith has made you well. Go in Peace. Your suffering is over…”
~AMEN~