Mark 5:21-43
21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24 And he went with him.And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Reflection
Jesus now proves his power over human illness and death. After delaying in order to heal a woman who has suffered from years of bleeding (Mark 5:24– 34), Jesus performs the astounding miracle of raising a young child from the dead (vv. 35–43). As Mark paints a picture of the One who has power over all things, he is preparing us for the ultimate display of Christ’s authority when he conquers death once and for all in his own crucifixion and resurrection.
2 Corinthians 2:12-17
12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.
14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
Reflection
In the book of 2 Corinthians, Paul is battling against the influence of false apostles who have won the hearts of the Corinthians with their beautiful words and admirable lifestyles (e.g., 2 Cor. 11:12–15). By way of contrast, Paul’s life is marked by weakness and suffering (e.g., 11:23–29). This seems to be causing some to question whether he is qualified to be an apostle (11:5).
In this passage, Paul explains that his suffering is actually a sign that he belongs to God. This is what Paul means when he says that he is led in a “triumphal procession” (2:14)—when Paul suffers for the sake of the gospel, God is demonstrating to everybody that he has conquered Paul. Suffering is not a sign of God’s rejection. In Paul’s life, it is a sign of God’s victory over him. In fact, God is actually spreading the “aroma of Christ” (v. 15) through Paul’s suffering.
As we live in submission to God, our speech and actions are the “fragrance” and “aroma” of Christ (vv. 14–15). This means that our lives will be an offensive presence to some but a pleasant life-giving presence to others (v. 16). We are not the ones who determine which outcome will occur. Our job is to set our focus on the One who gave his life to us so that we might have the strength to sacrificially give our lives to others and demonstrate that we have come under the rule of King Jesus.
Psalm 21:13
13 Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.
The lives of God’s people are under the command of Christ, who has conquered our rebellion and slavery to sin by the power of his resurrection from the dead. That same power is at work in our lives to strengthen our battle against sin so that we might be the fragrance of Christ in the world. Pray for the courage to be Christ’s joyful slave so that his will is your ultimate desire.