H No Ordinary Man Walking With the Servant Savior Mark 5:21-43 Inductive Women s Bible Fellowship Lesson 8 e was a respected leader in the community; she was a nobody. He was an anguished father afraid of losing his only child. She was a suffering woman, deprived of a normal life. Two individuals, desperate for a miracle. So they found their way to Jesus. Hope drew them into the crowd and their faith caused them to stand out. Scripture weaves their stories together into one seamless truth that Jesus is the Lord of life and death. For Jesus, there are no incurables or untouchables. He reaches out to all who come in humble faith, seeking a life-changing touch from the Servant Savior. Let their stories come alive and your own heart will be stirred to hope. Background When Jesus returned to Capernaum, Jairus was among the many waiting to speak with Him. As a synagogue leader, Jairus helped to supervise public worship and teaching in the synagogue. It was a position of dignity and honor, but Jairus cast aside his pride, fell at Jesus feet and begged for help. The woman s sickness was possibly due to a menstrual disorder for which there was no known cure. In addition to the debilitating physical effects she suffered, her condition left her in a continual state of ritual uncleanness. She was shunned, because if she touched anyone (or their clothes) they would be unclean for the rest of the day. It also meant she couldn t participate in synagogue worship or social gatherings. Considering the average life expectancy of this time was 40 years, and the twelve years she suffered, she had spent most, if not all, of her adult life in isolation. Through no fault of her own, she was a social outcast. Getting started. Find a quiet place to study. Take your Bible, your lesson and any other study tools you want to use. Begin with prayer. Take time to settle your heart, focus your thoughts and ask the Lord to help you see with clear eyes. Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in Your law. Psalm 119:18 NLT Mark 5:21-43 Read the passage two or three times without interruption. If possible, read from more than one Bible translation. Briefly describe in your own words what is happening. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1
This text is provided for your convenience. Use this to scribble notes, write down word definitions, highlight events whatever you find useful to your own personal study. The translation used will vary from week to week. Working Text for Mark 5:21-43 New Living Translation (NLT) 21 When Jesus went back across to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him on the shore. 22 A leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, came and fell down before him, 23 pleading with him to heal his little daughter. She is about to die, he said in desperation. Please come and place your hands on her; heal her so she can live. 24 Jesus went with him, and the crowd thronged behind. 25 And there was a woman in the crowd who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal from many doctors through the years and had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she was worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched the fringe of his robe. 28 For she thought to herself, If I can just touch his clothing, I will be healed. 29 Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel that she had been healed! 30 Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, Who touched my clothes? 31 His disciples said to him, All this crowd is pressing around you. How can you ask, Who touched me? 32 But he kept on looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and told him what she had done. 34 And he said to her, Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. You have been healed. 35 While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from Jairus home with the message, Your daughter is dead. There s no use troubling the Teacher now. 36 But Jesus ignored their comments and said to Jairus, Don t be afraid. Just trust me. 37 Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn t let anyone go with him except Peter and James and John. 2
38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw the commotion and the weeping and wailing. 39 He went inside and spoke to the people. Why all this weeping and commotion? he asked. The child isn t dead; she is only asleep. 40 The crowd laughed at him, but he told them all to go outside. Then he took the girl s father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying. 41 Holding her hand, he said to her, Get up, little girl! 42 And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! Her parents were absolutely overwhelmed. 43 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone what had happened, and he told them to give her something to eat. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 1995. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. 3
Write down your OBSERVATIONS Read the section and record what you see. Use the first column to keep track of what you find in the Bible passage. (Who? What? When? Where?) Follow along with Mark as he tells the story. Look for clues that tell you when and where the story is taking place. Who is mentioned and what part do they play? What events are recorded? Use the second column to record information you gather from other sources. Are more details of the story recorded in another gospel? What else can you discover about the people and places mentioned? You may want to look up names and places in a Bible dictionary, map or encyclopedia. You can also use this section to jot down your own thoughts and impressions about people and events. Imagine the people, places and events you read about. Don t use your imagination to produce facts but use it to bring those biblical facts to life. Mark 5:21-34 Bible Facts and Information: My Research and Observations: 4
Mark 5:35-43 Bible Facts and Information: My Research and Observations: 5
Key Words and Phrases Key words and phrases help us understand the main point the writer wants to make. How do we recognize key words and phrases? Here are some simple things to look for. When you see a word or phrase that is repeated, you can be sure it was important to the writer in making his point. A key verse spotlights the main idea, while the surrounding verses support and add detail. You may need to read through the chapter several times before you re able to identify the key verse. If you are unfamiliar with a word or its meaning, it becomes a key word for you. Take time to learn the definition so you will understand how it is being used in the sentence. List any key words and phrases you found in Mark 5:21-43. Write the definition of the following words or phrases. Use a regular dictionary or a concordance with a Greek Dictionary if you have one. your faith has made you well. (vs. 34) do not be afraid... (vs. 36) only believe. (vs. 36) 6
INTERPRETATION What does it mean? Look for a spiritual lesson. Be careful not to read into the Bible an idea that is not there. Examine each verse in light of the verses around it. To help you find a spiritual lesson, ask questions such as, Is there a command to obey? A promise to claim? A condition to that promise? Is there a warning to heed? An example to follow or avoid? State the lesson in one simple sentence. APPLICATION How does it apply to me? We don t study the Bible just to gather information we want to spiritually grow. Our heart needs to be open to change. The only way to move truth off the pages of your Bible and into your life is to put it into action. To apply a spiritual lesson, we must examine ourselves and take deliberate steps to do something with what we have learned. Ask yourself: Is this a new lesson, or does it reinforce what I already know? What does it challenge me to do? Does it point out error in my attitude or actions? What changes does it require? Think of how the lesson relates to you and what specific course of action you will take. Write your application in the form of a question to make it personal. Mark 5:21-34 Lesson: Application: Mark 5:35-43 Lesson: Application: Summary Write a simple sentence that summarizes what the passage is about. Give a title to the chapter that will help you personally to remember it. 7
Take A Closer Look Who touched Me? Mark 5:31 No one noticed her scuffling through the pressing crowd. She was used to that. Years of wasting disease had taken everything her health, her family, her money, her dignity. She wanted to remain unseen and who could blame her? According to the experts, she was incurable. According to the law, she was unclean. Do you know what the end of a rope looks like? She did. Then she heard about Jesus and something flickered in her heart. Hope. If only she can get to Jesus, she will be healed. She summons enough courage to go into the crowd and touch His robe, never dreaming He would take notice of her. But Jesus always responds to the one who will reach out in faith. He wants personal relationships, not passing encounters. With this in mind, take time to consider why Jesus didn t let her slip quietly back into the crowd. Jesus already knew the whole story, but He wanted to hear it from her lips. How would the woman personally benefit from sharing her testimony? How would others benefit? Why did Jesus make a point of telling the woman that her faith had made her well? For this woman, touching Jesus garment was an act of faith. She believed in His power to meet her need, so she reached out to touch Him. Her faith is an example for us. We, too, have needs that only Jesus can meet. How do we reach out and touch His garment? Consider four ways God has given us to draw on His life-changing power. Read and reflect on the verses listed below. Then do your best to express, in your own words, how you can draw strength from God through: His Word Psalm 119:15 * Jeremiah 15:16 * Romans 10:17 * Ephesians 6:17 * 2 Timothy 3:16 8
Prayer Psalm 91:15 * John 15:7 * James 1:5 * 1 John 5:14-15 Worship 2 Chronicles 20:21-22 * Psalm 34:1-4 * Colossians 3:18-20 Obedience John 14:23 * John 15:4 * James 1:25 * James 4:7 Think about this. When Jesus asked, Who touched Me, it was an invitation for this woman to speak up about what Christ did for her. He blessed her and told her to go in peace. What about you? Briefly share what touching Jesus has done to change your life and bring you peace. Something to Think About... If some touch on the hem of Christ s garment has blessed you and helped you, then tell it! For your telling of it may encourage some other to come from behind, in the press of the crowd, and touch His garment. - Clarence Macartney - God s Word Bearing Fruit For you personally, what is the most important lesson from this chapter? How will you put what you have learned into practice? 9
Message Notes: Prayer Requests: 2005 Leah Case, All Rights Reserved 10