Mark 5:21-43
A note in my Study Bible indicated that the synagogue official (ruler, synagogue ruler) was more an administrative or sexton-type position, but that Jairus was not a spiritual leader. That is, so many synagogue officials appear to be troubled at Jesus and His miracles and His popularity, but they are (in my opinion) more likely to be priests or Pharisees or scribes. So Jairus coming to Jesus is not like one of the synagogue priests coming to Him.
I’m constantly amazed at the story of the woman with a hemorrhage interrupting Jairus’ interaction with Jesus. I’ve heard sermons on this interruption and our Men’s Group discussed it at length. I try to picture Jairus’ reaction to all this. Would he be exasperated at Jesus’ delay? Or would he be sympathetic to the woman’s plight? Or would he simply understand that Jesus will do what Jesus will do? If I’m Jairus, I’d be frustrated at this delay. After all, my daughter is dying. But for me, it’s more than that. I’m a “top-down” listener and speaker. Often conversations and meetings and ZOOM calls get off topic – often far afield – and I’m one who wants to continue with or finish out the topic at hand. I don’t have much sympathy for interruptions. And I need to get over that! Today’s reading is a good lesson for me, to remind me how important interruptions can be. That “off topic” person may have more to say to me than I could ever imagine. And I wonder how often I ignore the Holy Spirit speaking through someone else because of my “task first” tendency to get things done! Jesus’ interaction with the woman offers a good lesson for me in hearing others speak – even if “off topic”!
See also: April 27 / Mark 5:21-34; April 28 / Mark 5:35-43
Thanks, Fred. I was struck by a common point in each of the stories, the person was considered unclean yet Jesus felt compassion and touched them. The demon possessed man living in the tombs, the woman with the blood flow, and the dead girl and her family — all unclean. Who do we consider unclean today? Gay people? Trans people? Pedophiles? I remember separate water fountains, etc. If we don’t have compassion and show them Jesus, how can they believe that Jesus loves them so much He died for them?