Mark5:21-43 Faith in action.

In today's reading we have 2 accounts of faith, one from a Jairus, the leader of a local synagogue, who's daughter at the time was dying; and an account of an unnamed woman who had been suffering from bleeding for years.  Both of these are faith accounts ... both of these people had nothing else, and so they put their faith in Jesus.

Jesus was walking toward Jairus' house, to heal his daughter, and of course there was a big crowd gathering around him, and then this woman "came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe For she thought to herself, "If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed."  Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition.   Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched me"".

A few things to point out, first, everyone was touching him because people were crowding around him, but his healing power went out to this woman because of her faith.   (vs 34)   I think this is the only time that his healing power went out without him directing it.   This woman's faith was so deep, that it healed her.

What does this say about our prayer life, and about our own faith?  Take a look at her words again "If I can just touch his robe, I WILL be healed"  -- no doubts, just faith.   

Jesus made his way to Jairus' house, were his daughter was dead, but he said to the people "The child isn't dead; she's only asleep".   Taking Jairus, Jairus' wife, and 3 disciples into were the daughter was lying, Jesus took her hand, and told her to "get up".  and she did.    Now it says that Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone what happened, and he told them to get her something to eat."  Hmm, wondering if girl was diabetic?  Well, whatever it was, Jesus did another great miracle that  day.   I think why he gave the parents strict orders not to tell anyone was so that everyone would ask for him to raise everyone's dead relatives.  But, that's just a guess.   

What great stories of faith, one for themselves, and the other for their daughter.   Both examples of faith in action.   To know Christ is on thing, to put your wholehearted faith in him is another.