Bible Reading
Mark 5:21-43 “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. 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.” 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.” And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 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. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.”
[03:33]John 11:11-14 “After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died,”
[27:31]Luke 2:49 “And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?”
[33:02]Observation questions
- What details in Mark 5 show how desperate Jairus was when he came to Jesus, and what obstacles stood between Jesus and Jairus’s home? [09:20]
- What similarities and differences are seen between Jairus and the woman who had suffered for twelve years in the way they came to Jesus?
- What message did the people from Jairus’s house bring, and how did Jesus answer Jairus immediately afterward? [18:02]
- Who was allowed to enter the room with Jesus, and what did Jesus tell the family to do after the girl rose? [28:12]
Interpretation questions
- Jesus could have healed Jairus’s daughter from a distance, yet He went with Jairus. What does this reveal about the way Jesus meets people in their personal fear and need? [13:13]
- The woman’s healing seems to delay Jesus while Jairus’s daughter is dying. Why is it important that Jesus cared fully for both the woman and Jairus’s daughter rather than treating one need as more important than the other? [24:40]
- The message from Jairus’s house calls Jesus “the teacher.” Why does that description fall short in this moment, and how does the raising of the girl show who Jesus truly is? [22:02]
- Jesus spoke of the girl’s death as sleep, and John 11 uses similar language about Lazarus. What does this language communicate about Christ’s authority over death without pretending that grief and death are unreal? [27:11]
Application questions
- Jairus came to Jesus openly overwhelmed and desperate for his daughter. What burden, fear, or need have you been tempted to carry alone rather than bringing honestly to Jesus?
- The words “Why trouble the teacher any further?” suggest that a need can become too heavy or inconvenient for Jesus. Are there requests you have stopped praying about because you feel they are too small, too repeated, or too hopeless? What would persistent prayer look like this week? [21:21]
- Fear often fills the mind with worst-case pictures, as Jairus could have imagined his grieving wife and an empty chair at the table. What images or thoughts tend to take over your mind when you are afraid, and what truth about Jesus helps redirect your attention to Him? [23:57]
- The woman’s need did not make Jairus’s daughter less important to Jesus. When someone else receives an answer, opportunity, or blessing while your own need remains unresolved, how can you guard your heart from resentment and trust that Jesus has not forgotten you? [24:40]
- Jesus told Jairus, “Do not be afraid, only believe.” In a current situation where you cannot control the outcome, what might it look like to keep looking to Jesus rather than letting fear have the final word? [24:13]
- Jesus restored the girl not only to life, but to walking, eating, and being with her family. Where have you seen Christ give new life or renewed hope in ordinary daily life, and how could you live this week as someone grateful for His care? [34:00]
