Jesus stops and begins this passionate pursuit for who touched Him. I’m glad that He seems a bit more concerned about my theology than sloppy Mark. He’s certainly seeking her out to rebuke her. She “stole” a blessing. She hopped the fence. She didn’t do things the right way.
Jesus doesn’t have to search for long. The woman comes up before Jesus, falls down before him, and tells the whole truth. Good for her.
I’m grabbing my popcorn now. Waiting to hear Jesus’ theology lesson. Maybe point to Jairus as an example of how we approach the living God.
*crickets*
What Are You Doing Mark?
Sometimes Scripture speaks loudly by what it doesn’t say. There is no rebuke. In fact, there is vindication. He doesn’t say to her, “My power has made you well.” What are you doing, Mark!?!?!?
Jesus’ power calms the storm.
Jesus’ power calms the ravaged mind of the Gerasene demoniac.
Jesus’ power will raise Jarius’ daughter from the dead.
Daughter’s faith makes her well.
He’s vindicating her. I appreciate these words of Charles Powell:
This is the only woman whom Jesus addressed directly as “Daughter.” This endearing address suggests that Jesus accepted her as she was, in spite of what she had done. Jesus received this impure but courageous woman and made her feel special. In the presence of the crowd He announced that it was her faith that had saved her. [Charles E. Powell, “The ‘Passivity’ of Jesus in Mark 5:25–34,” Bibliotheca Sacra 162 (2005): 74.]
Conclusion
This little story makes a wreck of my theological assumptions. Now, don’t get me wrong. They aren’t entirely wrong. Jesus’ having sought her out is significant. It shows us that He’s more concerned with relationship than a transactional healing. He’s not a distant and detached Savior. As James Edwards as said, “Discipleship is not simply getting our needs met; it is being in the presence of Jesus, being known by him, and following him.” (Edwards, Mark, 165). Daughter needed to learn this lesson, as we all do.
But there is a desperation here that we need to embrace. There is a boldness to grabbing ahold of Jesus. And there is also a beauty in the fact that Jesus doesn’t rebuke this but actually encourages it. Sure, it doesn’t fit neatly into my theological assumptions. But we absolutely must make room for this faith. We must let Mark do what he is doing here.
He is highlighting this woman’s faith, a faith that seems to edge on cosmic vending machine faith, but one that is desperate and sees in Jesus at least a possible answer for what plagues her.
This article on why Jesus is not a cosmic vending machine originally appeared here, and is used by permission.
