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Bible Study for 5th Sunday after Pentecost - June 27th |
Read Mark 5:21-43
This longer passage contains two powerful stories of faith-filled people who seek Jesus at desperate times in their lives. Jesus responds to them by meeting their needs. Those who witness the interaction between Jesus and those who come for healing are filled with awe and amazement.
The first story is of a leader of the synagogue named Jairus. His daughter is dying, so Jairus finds Jesus, falls at his feet, and begs Jesus to intervene by providing healing. The request is a simple one. He asks only for Jesus to lay his hands on his daughter, for Jairus knows the touch of Jesus will bring healing.
Jesus responds by going with Jairus to his home. But while they are traveling, a nameless woman who has been bleeding for twelve years joins the crowd. Like Jairus, this woman is desperate. Due to the ritualistic laws of the day, her bleeding means she is considered unclean and can not interact with others in normal ways. She has spent all of her money on doctors, but her situation has only worsened. Yet, she believes if she can only touch Jesus, she will be healed.
This woman touches the robe of Jesus and is healed, but Jesus realizes some of his power has left him. What follows is a fascinating discussion with the disciples. Jesus begins looking for the person who has been healed, but the disciples are baffled at Jesus. With such a large crowd, why would Jesus be concerned about a single person who touched him? Yet the woman knows she is the one guilty of taking his power without his permission. She falls down before Jesus, confessing her transgression. As one unclean, she should not have been mingling in the crowd. Most certainly, she should not have intentionally touched someone, making that person unclean. Yet, instead of reprimanding her, Jesus commends her faith and blesses her with peace.
As Jesus is still speaking, someone breaks into the crowd to announce the death of the daughter of Jairus. It seems while Jesus is healing one person, another dies. Yet, Jesus reassures Jairus, “Do not fear, only believe.” (Mark 5:36 NRSV) Jesus moves from crisis to crisis, traveling to the home of Jairus. People are weeping. All hope seems lost. When Jesus tells the mourning crowd that the girl is not dead, they laugh at him. Jesus is not deterred, but goes directly to the young girl, taking the girl’s mother and father with him. Jesus holds the girl’s hand and proclaims, “Little girl, get up!” Amazingly, she is healed.
Prayer
Healer of the universe, heal the wounded places in my life. Amen
This longer passage contains two powerful stories of faith-filled people who seek Jesus at desperate times in their lives. Jesus responds to them by meeting their needs. Those who witness the interaction between Jesus and those who come for healing are filled with awe and amazement.
The first story is of a leader of the synagogue named Jairus. His daughter is dying, so Jairus finds Jesus, falls at his feet, and begs Jesus to intervene by providing healing. The request is a simple one. He asks only for Jesus to lay his hands on his daughter, for Jairus knows the touch of Jesus will bring healing.
- What is surprising about this part of the story?
Jesus responds by going with Jairus to his home. But while they are traveling, a nameless woman who has been bleeding for twelve years joins the crowd. Like Jairus, this woman is desperate. Due to the ritualistic laws of the day, her bleeding means she is considered unclean and can not interact with others in normal ways. She has spent all of her money on doctors, but her situation has only worsened. Yet, she believes if she can only touch Jesus, she will be healed.
- Imagine what this woman’s life was like as one ostracized by others.
This woman touches the robe of Jesus and is healed, but Jesus realizes some of his power has left him. What follows is a fascinating discussion with the disciples. Jesus begins looking for the person who has been healed, but the disciples are baffled at Jesus. With such a large crowd, why would Jesus be concerned about a single person who touched him? Yet the woman knows she is the one guilty of taking his power without his permission. She falls down before Jesus, confessing her transgression. As one unclean, she should not have been mingling in the crowd. Most certainly, she should not have intentionally touched someone, making that person unclean. Yet, instead of reprimanding her, Jesus commends her faith and blesses her with peace.
- What is surprising about this part of the story?
As Jesus is still speaking, someone breaks into the crowd to announce the death of the daughter of Jairus. It seems while Jesus is healing one person, another dies. Yet, Jesus reassures Jairus, “Do not fear, only believe.” (Mark 5:36 NRSV) Jesus moves from crisis to crisis, traveling to the home of Jairus. People are weeping. All hope seems lost. When Jesus tells the mourning crowd that the girl is not dead, they laugh at him. Jesus is not deterred, but goes directly to the young girl, taking the girl’s mother and father with him. Jesus holds the girl’s hand and proclaims, “Little girl, get up!” Amazingly, she is healed.
- Imagine the father’s range of feelings and thoughts throughout this whole ordeal.
- What is the role of faith in these stories?
- What can we learn from these stories?
Prayer
Healer of the universe, heal the wounded places in my life. Amen
Prayer Petitions for this week
These petitions are offered as guides to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA, as well as for the needs and circumstances of our neighbors, communities and world. Thank you for your continued prayers for the life and mission of this church.
-Remember in prayer fathers who strive to be loving, caring, wise and influential parents, including fathers who are new parents or single parents, who are deployed in the military or incarcerated, or who experience separation from family while traveling for their work.
-Give thanks and praise for God’s great works and attention to our prayers, both when we are alone and when we gather as a community of faith.
-Pray for the 300-plus health and human service organizations of the Lutheran Services in America alliance, which serve 6 million people every year across our country in response to God’s call to love our neighbors of all ages, needs and circumstances.
-We acknowledge that it is not always easy to follow Christ, bear the gospel or do God’s work in the world. Give thanks that together, as siblings in Christ, we can turn to one another with our burdens and receive support and encouragement
-Pause today and take in the wonders of God’s creation. Give thanks for the joy, wonder and awesome complexity of nature and the universe, and ask God to help us be mindful, responsible and respectful stewards of creation.
-Remember in prayer the leaders, voting members and others gathering online for the South Carolina Synod Assembly, that the Spirit will strengthen, guide and encourage them in choosing leaders, proclaiming the gospel, growing the church, serving our neighbor and doing God’s work in an ever-changing world.
-Pray that we will serve our neighbors and invite others to believe and to join our communities of faith without bias, judgment, hesitation, obstruction or condition.
-Remember in prayer fathers who strive to be loving, caring, wise and influential parents, including fathers who are new parents or single parents, who are deployed in the military or incarcerated, or who experience separation from family while traveling for their work.
-Give thanks and praise for God’s great works and attention to our prayers, both when we are alone and when we gather as a community of faith.
-Pray for the 300-plus health and human service organizations of the Lutheran Services in America alliance, which serve 6 million people every year across our country in response to God’s call to love our neighbors of all ages, needs and circumstances.
-We acknowledge that it is not always easy to follow Christ, bear the gospel or do God’s work in the world. Give thanks that together, as siblings in Christ, we can turn to one another with our burdens and receive support and encouragement
-Pause today and take in the wonders of God’s creation. Give thanks for the joy, wonder and awesome complexity of nature and the universe, and ask God to help us be mindful, responsible and respectful stewards of creation.
-Remember in prayer the leaders, voting members and others gathering online for the South Carolina Synod Assembly, that the Spirit will strengthen, guide and encourage them in choosing leaders, proclaiming the gospel, growing the church, serving our neighbor and doing God’s work in an ever-changing world.
-Pray that we will serve our neighbors and invite others to believe and to join our communities of faith without bias, judgment, hesitation, obstruction or condition.
Lent 2020 -
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In Jesus’ day, women were generally silent, and rarely if ever seen, and are generally nameless. We hear about the Canaanite woman, or the Samaritan woman, or they are identified by their relationship to a man such as Jairus’s daughter or Simon’s mother-in-law. So the very inclusion of women in the gospel texts is remarkable. Yet these women are a part of our history and a part of Jesus’ story. This Lenten season, we will explore a different woman’s story each week.
Introduction to Lent 2020 and Women's Encounters with Jesus Week 1 - The Canaanite Woman: Matthew 15:21-28 Week 2 - Martha and Mary: Luke 10:38-42 Week 3 - A Bent Woman, Daughter of Abraham: Luke 13:10-17 Week 4 - A Woman Accused of Adultery: John 7:53-8:11 Week 5 - A Woman anoints Jesus for Burial - Matthew 26:6-13 |
Lent 2019 -
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Jesus often taught the crowds through powerful stories that feel just as contemporary today as they did 2000 years ago. These wonderful stories allow us to see the world of the first century through the eyes of first century followers of Jesus. Join us on this journey through 5 parables from the Gospel of Luke as we peel back the layers to discover how these parables simultaneously comfort and challenge us. Dig into the culture of the original hearers of these stories that challenge our assumptions about God, the world, our neighbors, and ourselves.
Once Upon a Time: The Beauty and Challenge of Story Week 1 - Are All Samaritans Good? Week 2 - Lost Things Week 3 - A Lost Son Week 4 - A Lost Brother Week 5 - A Feast for the Ones the World Forgot Reflections on Holy Week |
Lent 2018 |
The gospel of John tells the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection in a poignant, dramatic, and unique voice. In this Lenten Bible study, you are invited to enter into John’s world and encounter those who were a part of Jesus’ final days.
Introduction to the Gospel of John Week 1 – Nicodemus: Journey from Darkness to Light Week 2 – Judas: Journey to the Dark Side Week 3 – Peter: Journey to Understanding Week 4 – Mary Magdalene: Journey to Life Week 5 – The Beloved Disciple: Our Journey to Faithfulness |
Advent 2017 |
Pastor Joanne made a series of videos with a message for each week of the Advent season. Please follow this link to see those messages
Advent videos 2017 |
