Because she had heard about Jesus, this woman came up behind him and touched his cloak, thinking, “If I just touch his clothing, I shall get well.” Her flow of blood dried up at once, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her complaint. But Jesus was conscious that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd, and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” His disciples answered, “You see how the people are crowding around you. Why do you ask who touched you?” But he kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, aware of what had happened, came forward, trembling and afraid. She knelt before him, and told him the whole truth.Then Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be free of this illness.”While Jesus was still speaking, some people arrived from the official’s house to inform him, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Master any further?” But Jesus ignored what they said, and told the official, “Do not fear, just believe.” And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.When  they  arrived  at  the  house,  Jesus  saw  a  great commotion, with people weeping and wailing loudly. Jesus entered, and said to them, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep.” They laughed at him. So Jesus sent them outside, and went with the child’s father and mother and his companions into the room, where the child lay. Taking her by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha kumi!” which means, “Little girl, get up!” The girl got up at once and began to walk around. (She was twelve years old.) The parents were amazed, greatly amazed. Jesus strictly ordered not to let anyone know about it; and he told them to give her something to eat.

Reflections
“It is your faith that has made you well.”
Mark often drives home a les­son by inserting one story within another. Here the healing of a lit­tle girl is interrupted by the ac­count of Jesus healing a woman who had suffered for twelve years (the same age as the child) from a flow of blood. In a revea­ling comment, we learn that Jesus felt that healing power had gone from him. Apparently this power had been activated by the simple faith of a poor sick woman, who had sought to touch his garment. In step­ping forward, the woman might have braced herself against the crowd’s revulsion. Her condi­tion would have rendered her unclean. Her very touch had the power of defilement. Yet she had dared to touch Jesus’ garments, trusting that the power of Jesus was at the service of love, not judgment. And in touching his garment she immediately felt herself to be healed. Christ was present in that crowd in all his love and power. But it was a poor, frightened, un­touchable woman whose faith recognized that power, awakened it with a touch, and brought it into full view. “Daughter,” Jesus said, “it is your faith that has made you well.” Then he goes on to heal another daughter.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019