The Gospel According to Mark: Jesus the Suffering Servantنموونە

Some followers of Jesus might have dreams and plans for the Very Important Big Things they will do for God. But mostly what God calls us to is faithful, patient, humble, and selfless obedience, day in and day out, wherever we may be.

For all the people in this chapter of Mark, that meant trusting God with their current struggles, allowing God to work in their immediate circumstances, and then living faithfully at home. None of these people were sent to faraway places to serve God. None of these people were commissioned to be mighty teachers or preachers for God. None of these people found fame and fortune serving the Lord. In fact, we never read or learn anything more about these people.

And yet their lives and their stories and God’s loving, powerful presence mattered then, and still matter now.

The formerly demon-possessed man desperately wanted to join Jesus as he traveled. But Jesus said: “No. Go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.”

Go home. To your family. Could anything be more boring and unspectacular than that?

Apparently, Jesus believed (and still believes) that amazing things are possible at home with our families, and with our friends, at school, and at work. Jesus is Lord everywhere.

Focused Reflection

verses 5-23 (Jesus heals two daughters)

Make a careful list of all the same-but-different things about the two people who came to Jesus. What things do you notice in the lists? Why might that be important?

• List 1:

man

name (Jairus)

(continue the list)

• List 2:

woman

no name

(continue the list)

General Reflection

• What do you learn about Jesus from this passage?
• What do you learn about following Jesus from this passage?

Extra Info

• The Old Testament included many ceremonial laws​ about specific diseases and health conditions. The woman with a bleeding disease was risking everything to be so close to so many people.
• Local synagogues were places of worship scattered throughout the region. The Temple​ was the central place of worship located in Jerusalem, the capital city.
• Luke 8:32 says that Jairus’s daughter​ was about 12 years old.