Jesus' Compassion: Healing for the Broken and Outcast

Summary

This morning, we reflected on the deep, compassionate love of God as revealed through Jesus in Mark 5, where two daughters—one a young girl, the other a woman suffering for twelve years—encountered Christ in their desperate need. Both stories, woven together by Mark, highlight the radical availability and willingness of Jesus to meet us in our brokenness, regardless of our status, history, or the depth of our pain. Jairus, a respected synagogue leader, set aside his pride and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading for his daughter’s life. In the midst of this urgent journey, an outcast woman, isolated and impoverished by her illness, risked everything to simply touch the hem of Jesus’ garment, believing that even this would be enough to heal her.

Jesus’ response to both is striking. He is not hurried or annoyed by interruption; instead, he stops, seeks out the woman, and calls her “daughter,” restoring her not just physically but also emotionally and spiritually. He affirms her faith and gives her peace after years of suffering and shame. For Jairus, even when hope seems lost and his daughter is pronounced dead, Jesus encourages him, “Don’t be afraid, just believe.” He enters the home, takes the girl by the hand, and restores her to life, demonstrating that no situation is beyond his power or compassion.

These encounters remind us that Jesus is never reluctant to touch the unclean, the outcast, or the desperate. He is not bound by our social status, our failures, or even our doubts. Instead, he invites us to bring our deepest needs, our wounds, and our brokenness to him. Sometimes healing is immediate; other times, it unfolds over time or even awaits the fullness of God’s kingdom. But always, Jesus meets us with compassion, calling us to trust him, to fall at his feet, and to receive the new life he offers. Our identity is not defined by our suffering, our past, or what others say about us, but by the love and grace of Christ who calls us his own.

Key Takeaways

- True faith often requires humility and desperation. Jairus, despite his status and reputation, was willing to fall at Jesus’ feet for the sake of his daughter. Sometimes, it is only when we reach the end of our own resources that we are able to fully surrender and trust God’s power to heal and restore. [05:58]

- Jesus sees and restores those who feel invisible and unworthy. The woman with the issue of blood had been defined by her suffering and isolation, yet Jesus draws her out of the crowd, calls her “daughter,” and affirms her faith. In Christ, our true identity is not our wounds or our shame, but our belovedness as children of God. [12:43]

- God’s timing and methods may not align with our expectations, but his compassion is unwavering. While Jairus waited anxiously and even received news of his daughter’s death, Jesus encouraged him to believe beyond what circumstances suggested. Faith means trusting God’s character even when his ways are mysterious or delayed. [17:48]

- Jesus is not deterred by our “uncleanness” or brokenness. Both the woman and the dead girl would have made Jesus ceremonially unclean, yet he willingly touched them, demonstrating that no barrier—spiritual, social, or personal—can keep us from his healing love. We are invited to approach him just as we are. [22:19]

- Healing may not always be immediate or complete in this life, but Jesus promises restoration. Sometimes, the process is gradual, and sometimes it awaits the life to come, but Christ’s compassion and presence are constant. Our hope is not in the absence of suffering, but in the nearness and faithfulness of the One who calls us to himself. [23:09]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:01] - Reflections from Youth Camp
[02:20] - Remembering My Father and Father’s Day
[03:16] - God’s Love on Difficult Days
[05:02] - Introducing Mark 5: Two Daughters in Need
[05:58] - Jairus’ Plea and Jesus’ Compassion
[07:33] - Jesus’ Willingness to Meet Our Needs
[08:42] - The Suffering Woman’s Story
[09:37] - The Cost of Isolation and Desperation
[10:26] - Breaking Barriers to Reach Jesus
[12:07] - Jesus Draws Out the Unseen
[12:43] - Identity and Healing in Christ
[16:04] - Personal Testimony of Healing
[16:46] - The Mystery of God’s Ways
[17:48] - Faith in the Face of Hopelessness
[22:19] - Jesus’ Compassionate Touch
[23:09] - Restoration for All Who Come
[24:58] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: The Compassionate Love of Jesus (Mark 5)

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### Bible Reading

- Mark 5:21-43
(Jairus’ daughter and the woman with the issue of blood)

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### Observation Questions

1. What actions did Jairus, a respected synagogue leader, take when he realized his daughter was dying? What does this show about his attitude toward Jesus?
[[05:58]]

2. How did the woman with the issue of blood approach Jesus, and what risks did she take in doing so?
[[10:26]]

3. When Jesus realized someone had touched him in the crowd, how did he respond to the woman? What did he call her?
[[12:07]]

4. What was the crowd’s reaction when Jesus said Jairus’ daughter was “not dead but asleep”?
[[20:00]]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Mark “sandwiched” these two stories together—Jairus’ daughter and the bleeding woman? What do they have in common, and how do they help us understand Jesus’ character?
[[05:02]]

2. What does Jesus’ willingness to stop for the woman, even while on an urgent mission to help Jairus’ daughter, reveal about his priorities and compassion?
[[12:07]]

3. Jesus tells Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, just believe,” even after hearing his daughter has died. What does this say about faith in the face of hopeless circumstances?
[[18:29]]

4. Both the woman and the girl would have made Jesus ceremonially unclean by Jewish law. Why is it significant that Jesus was not deterred by this?
[[22:19]]

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### Application Questions

1. Jairus was a respected leader, but he humbled himself and fell at Jesus’ feet for his daughter’s sake. Is there an area in your life where pride or reputation is keeping you from seeking Jesus’ help? What would it look like to lay that down this week?
[[05:58]]

2. The woman risked rejection and shame to reach out to Jesus. Have you ever felt like an outsider or unworthy to approach God? What would it look like to bring your needs to Jesus honestly, even if it feels risky?
[[10:26]]

3. Jesus called the woman “daughter” and restored her not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. In what ways do you need to hear Jesus speak your true identity over you, instead of letting your past or pain define you?
[[12:43]]

4. Sometimes, like Jairus, we have to wait and trust God’s timing, even when things seem to get worse. Is there a situation in your life where you’re struggling to trust God’s timing or methods? How can you practice “don’t be afraid, just believe” this week?
[[18:29]]

5. Jesus was not put off by the “uncleanness” or brokenness of those who came to him. Are there parts of your life you feel are too messy or shameful for God? What would it look like to bring those to Jesus, trusting his compassion?
[[22:19]]

6. Healing for the woman was immediate, but for the leader’s family, it came after a delay and even after hope seemed lost. How do you respond when God’s answer to your prayers is delayed or different than you expected?
[[23:09]]

7. The sermon mentioned that our identity is not defined by our suffering, our past, or what others say about us, but by the love and grace of Christ. What is one practical way you can remind yourself of this truth in your daily life?
[[12:43]]

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Closing Prayer:
Invite group members to pray for one another, especially for those who feel desperate, unseen, or in need of Jesus’ healing touch. Ask God to help each person trust his compassion and timing.

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus’ Compassionate Response to Desperate Need
No matter our status or situation, Jesus meets us with compassion when we come to Him in our need. Jairus, a respected synagogue leader, humbled himself and pleaded for Jesus to heal his dying daughter, and Jesus responded by going with him without hesitation. This shows that Jesus is always willing and available to meet us in our desperation, regardless of our background or position. He does not turn away those who seek Him, but instead, He draws near to the brokenhearted and responds with love and mercy. If you are carrying a burden or longing for healing today, know that Jesus is ready to walk with you and meet you where you are. [07:33]

Mark 5:21-24 (ESV)
And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to humble yourself and ask Jesus for help, trusting that He will meet you with compassion?


Day 2: Faith That Reaches Out for Healing
Even when all hope seems lost, faith in Jesus’ power can bring restoration and peace. The woman who had suffered for twelve years with bleeding risked everything to reach out and touch Jesus’ cloak, believing that even the smallest contact with Him could heal her. Despite her isolation, shame, and exhaustion, her faith moved her to action, and Jesus not only healed her physically but also restored her dignity by calling her “daughter.” When we come to Jesus with our deepest wounds and trust Him with our pain, He sees us, knows us, and offers us peace and freedom. [12:43]

Mark 5:25-34 (ESV)
And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

Reflection: Is there a place of pain or shame in your life where you need to reach out to Jesus in faith today, trusting Him to see you and bring healing?


Day 3: Trusting God When Circumstances Seem Hopeless
When faced with situations that appear beyond hope, Jesus calls us to believe in Him rather than be ruled by fear. After Jairus received news that his daughter had died, those around him saw no reason to trouble Jesus further, but Jesus encouraged Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, just believe.” In moments when everything seems lost, we are invited to trust in God’s character and power, not just in what we can see. Jesus is not limited by our circumstances, and He invites us to hold onto faith even when the outcome is uncertain or delayed. [18:29]

Mark 5:35-36 (ESV)
While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel tempted to give up hope? How can you choose to trust Jesus’ words over your circumstances today?


Day 4: Jesus Restores Life and Identity
Jesus not only heals physical wounds but also restores identity and brings new life. When He raised Jairus’ daughter, He spoke to her with tenderness and authority, demonstrating His power over death and His deep care for each person. Likewise, when He called the woman “daughter,” He affirmed her worth and belonging. Jesus is not deterred by our “uncleanness” or brokenness; He draws near, touches us, and calls us by name. In Him, we find our true identity as beloved children of God, no longer defined by our past, our pain, or what others say about us. [22:19]

Mark 5:39-42 (ESV)
And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.

Reflection: What labels or wounds have shaped your sense of identity, and how might Jesus be inviting you to receive His words of love and restoration today?


Day 5: God’s Healing Is for All Who Come in Faith
No matter our background, status, or past, Jesus is available to anyone who comes to Him in faith. Both Jairus, a prominent leader, and the unnamed woman, an outcast, experienced Jesus’ healing touch because they were desperate enough to seek Him. There are no prerequisites or barriers to receiving His love—He welcomes all who fall at His feet and ask for help. Sometimes healing is immediate, sometimes it unfolds over time, and sometimes it is completed in eternity, but Jesus promises to be with us and to bring restoration in His way and timing. [24:58]

Romans 10:12-13 (ESV)
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Reflection: Who in your life might feel unworthy or excluded from God’s love? How can you extend Jesus’ welcome and compassion to them this week?

Quotes

But now jesus names her true you he calls her daughter and do you know when you put your faith and your trust in Jesus that he will forgive your sins heal your wounds rid you of shame and rejection and he wants you and me to understand our true identity too you are beloved because you are made in the image of God he created you he loves you he sent his son to die for you we're not defined by how we look how we feel what people say about us our identity our very lives are found in the person and work of Jesus he looks at you with compassion he loves you and he wants to help you even with your most difficult needs [00:13:58] (00:01:05 seconds) Edit Clip

What I have found to be true is that nothing is too big or too difficult that Jesus cannot heal with just one touch. When we have the faith to fall, at his feet, like Jairus and this woman did. And again, we may not experience that physical or even emotional healing all at one time, but when we place our faith and trust in Jesus, his death, burial, and resurrection, he gives us new life. John 10 .10 says he came to give us life and life to the full. [00:16:26] (00:00:44 seconds) Edit Clip

No matter the difficulty, our sufferings, or our trials, no one is beyond God's help. But his ways are not our ways, says the prophet Isaiah. His thoughts are not our thoughts. The way he moves at the moment can be a mystery to us sometimes, as we'll see here as we return to the story of Jairus' daughter. [00:17:34] (00:00:27 seconds) Edit Clip

And overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, don't be afraid, just believe. So sadly, it appears that while Jesus was healing the woman with the issue of blood, Jairus' daughter has died. And the crowd says, why bother the teacher anymore? There's nothing else that can be done. We ought never to think that we are a bother to God, or that to him our problem or situation is not significant. 1 Peter 5 -7 tells us to cast our cares upon him because he cares for us. And Jesus speaks to Jairus and to us, and he says, don't be afraid, just believe. [00:18:12] (00:00:53 seconds) Edit Clip

This is what it looks like to be devoid of faith in the most high god to have no hope in anything but what you can see with your own two eyes friends don't let yourself be uh be tainted by the cynicism of the world have trust in god even when your circumstances seem hopeless [00:21:12] (00:00:27 seconds) Edit Clip

Such a tender, personal way for Jesus to speak to this child, just as with the woman who touched his robe and he called her daughter. And once again, Jesus demonstrates his love and care for people who are sick and need to be made well. And as the child got up and walked around, this was an indication that she was completely healed. Just like the woman who touched his robe, immediately she felt her bleeding stop. [00:21:59] (00:00:34 seconds) Edit Clip

And in both of these cases, Jesus would have been made ceremonially unclean, being touched by the woman who was bleeding and then touching the sick girl. But these two accounts help us see Jesus' deep compassion for those who are afflicted with wounds. No matter their source. He has no reluctance in touching you or me. And we're in no way prohibited from approaching Jesus in our unclean state. He has come to seek and save the lost, to bind up the brokenhearted, to turn your mourning into dancing. [00:22:32] (00:00:46 seconds) Edit Clip

He has come to heal you and me physically mentally and spiritually yes there are times in our lives when things can get rough and hard to handle we're not promised sunshine and roses when we put our faith in the king of kings and the lord of lords but it's in these moments that we have a choice to make do we pull the covers up over our heads and denial and medicate our way through our situation with alcohol or food or shopping whatever it might be healing may not be immediate although it can be restoration may happen over time and for some of us it may not happen on this side of heaven but jesus will heal you if you let him [00:23:20] (00:01:01 seconds) Edit Clip

These two miraculous healings demonstrate that no matter what our financial situation what our position in society is or our past jesus meets us with compassion you you you you you when we are desperate for him. He is available to anyone who calls on him in faith. There's no prerequisites, nothing we need to do to earn his love. We just need to have the faith to fall at his feet and ask for his healing touch. [00:24:23] (00:00:36 seconds) Edit Clip