21 When Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the sea. 22 One of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet 23 and begged him earnestly, “My little daughter is dying. Come and lay your hands on her so that she can get well and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd was following and pressing against him.

25 Now a woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years 26 had endured much under many doctors. She had spent everything she had and was not helped at all. On the contrary, she became worse.

Mark 5:21-26

Who Touched Me? (Mark 5:22-25)

In the second week of our, Questions God Asks series, we are going to investigate Jesus's question in Mark 5:30, "Who touched my clothes?" Throughout out Mark's Gospel, he makes a literary "sandwich" out of two stories. Mark 5:21-34 is his second of six literary sandwiches. In this unit of scripture, Mark starts and ends with a story about a religious leader named Jairus and in between he includes a woman who has a problem of bleeding. This is significant because Mark is doing something by what he is saying. Mark is tying these two characters together in profound ways!Here is a side by side comparison of the different factors between Jairus and this woman.

TWO MIRACLESTWO CONTRASTING PERSONALITIESTWO THINGS IN COMMON:A DESPERATE NEED & FAITH IN JESUS

A Man

A Woman

Wealthy

Poor

Respected

Rejected

Synagogue Ruler

Anonymous “Nobody”

Honored

Ashamed

Leader of synagogue

Shut out of the synagogue

Wealthy

Bankrupt

Came to Jesus submissively

Came to Jesus secretly

One with 12 year old child

One with 12 year hemorrhage

12 years of Delight

12 years of Despair

All His Needs MetAt the Feet of Jesus

All Her Needs MetAt the Feet of Jesus

ALL YOUR NEEDS METAT THE FEET OF JESUS!Mark is making a profound point here by "sandwiching these two stories." He is illuminating the truth that Jesus Christ cares for his people regardless of social status and that he has the power and authority over disease and death!Whoever you are and wherever you find yourself today (man or woman, rich or poor, young or old), your needs are met at the feet of Jesus. The commonality of these characters is their desperate need and desperate faith in Jesus Christ. May we too come to Jesus today with a desperate faith!