Sermon Synopsis
This sermon explores Mark 5:21–43 through the intertwined stories of Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood, highlighting three dimensions of faith: posture, product, and persistence. True faith humbly reaches out to Jesus, receives more than healing—receiving peace and wholeness—and continues to trust Him even when circumstances worsen. Jesus reveals Himself as a compassionate Savior who sees, restores, and overcomes even death. The message calls believers to trust not merely in what Jesus can do, but in who He is, especially in seasons of delay, weakness, and fear.
Please note: This transcript is provided as a reading aid and is not a verbatim record of the sermon.
Faith That Reaches, Trusts, and Perseveres
Mark 5:21–43
Opening Prayer
Let us pray.
Our heavenly Father, our gracious God, we thank You for gathering us this morning to remember Your well-beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We thank You that You so loved us that You gave Your only begotten Son, so that we, believing in Him, have eternal life.
Lord, as we now sit before the ministry of Your Word, we pray for Your help for the speaker to utter words of life through Scripture. We pray also for open ears and receptive hearts. Help us by the Holy Spirit. We ask all this in the Lord Jesus’ name. Amen.
Introduction: A Familiar but Profound Passage
Today we continue our study in Mark 5:1–43, a very familiar passage—the account of Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood.
These are two stories woven together by divine inspiration. Some commentators call this a “Markan sandwich.” We see Jairus, a desperate father seeking Jesus to save his dying daughter, and in between, we meet an unnamed woman suffering from a long-term hemorrhage.
I would like to divide this passage into three parts:
Let us begin with the first section.
(The Posture of Faith)
Mark 5:21–26
“When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him….”
We are introduced to two people of very different status.
Jairus: A Man of Status, Brought Low
Jairus was a synagogue official. In Jesus’ time, the temple was the national center for sacrifices and festivals, while the synagogue was the local spiritual center for everyday Jewish life. It functioned much like a church—hosting Sabbath worship, prayer, Scripture reading, and teaching. It was also a place where children were taught the Torah and adults studied God’s Word.
As a synagogue official, Jairus was a man of respect and influence, responsible for maintaining order and proper teaching. Yet when he came to Jesus, he fell at His feet. This was shocking and deeply humbling.
Jairus belonged to a class of religious leaders who were often skeptical, even hostile, toward Jesus. But desperation driven by love for his dying daughter stripped away his pride, position, and concern for public perception. He pleaded openly before a large crowd.
This is the posture of true faith: humble, earnest dependence upon Jesus.
The Woman: An Outcast Who Dares to Hope
In contrast, we meet an unnamed woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years. This condition left her physically exhausted and ceremonially unclean under Jewish law. Being unclean meant social isolation—she could not enter the synagogue, was cut off from worship, untouchable by others, and excluded from normal community life.
Mark tells us she had endured much under many physicians, spent all she had, and only grew worse. Her life had become one of unrelenting pain, dashed hopes, poverty, and shame.
A Striking Parallel
Here are two people with very different status—one a synagogue official, the other an unnamed woman—but both are in crisis.
One had enjoyed twelve years of family joy; the other had suffered twelve years of isolation. One came pleading openly; the other came pressing quietly. Yet both believed that Jesus could do what no one else could.
(The Product of Faith)
Mark 5:27–34
As Jesus went with Jairus, the woman approached Him from behind and touched His cloak, saying to herself, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.” Immediately, her bleeding stopped.
Jesus, perceiving that power had gone out from Him, asked, “Who touched My garments?” Not because He lacked knowledge—He is omniscient—but because He was inviting the woman forward.
Faith That Reaches Out
This touch was secretive. Under Jewish law, it was shameful. But it was also saving, because it was a touch full of faith.
The woman had heard of Jesus—His power and His mercy. After twelve years of suffering and failed solutions, she reached the end of human help and found hope in a Savior.
Her faith shows us what true faith looks like:
This is again the posture of true faith—humble dependence combined with bold trust.
A Clarifying Observation from the Gospels
Matthew records this incident in a more condensed way, emphasizing Jesus turning, seeing her, and speaking to her. In Mark and Luke, we see that healing occurred immediately upon her touch.
This is not a contradiction. Matthew simply summarizes the account to highlight what is most important—not merely the moment of physical healing, but the moment Jesus publicly affirmed her faith and restored her dignity.
More Than a Miracle
Many pressed against Jesus, but only one touched Him in faith.
When Jesus said, “Your faith has made you well,” He was not praising the strength of her faith but showing that even weak faith, rightly placed, opens the door to grace. It was not her touch that healed her, but her trust. Not her faith itself, but His favor.
Faith does not require perfect words or perfect understanding—only the right focus: the person of Jesus Christ.
From Healing to Restoration
The healing came when she touched Jesus in faith, but full restoration came when Jesus turned, saw her, and called her “Daughter.”
This is the only time Jesus uses this term in the Gospels. The woman once isolated and unclean was now accepted, adopted, and affirmed. She was not a problem to be fixed, but a person to be loved.
The word translated “made you well” comes from the Greek sozo, meaning to rescue, restore, and make whole. Her healing was physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual.
When Jesus said, “Go in peace,” He was speaking shalom—not merely a feeling, but wholeness, completeness, nothing missing and nothing broken.
This is the product of true faith: not just healing, but transformation; not just a miracle, but peace with God.
III. A Dead Daughter and a Death-Defying Lord
(The Persistence of Faith)
Mark 5:35–43
While Jesus was still speaking, messengers arrived with devastating news: Jairus’s daughter had died.
Jesus immediately said, “Do not be afraid; only believe.”
He did not promise an outcome. He called Jairus to trust Him.
Faith now had to climb higher. It was one thing to believe Jesus could heal; it was another to believe He could raise the dead. The delay was not a distraction—it was preparation.
Jesus had just shown Jairus what faith looks like through the woman’s story. Faith displaces fear.
Faith in the Waiting
Sometimes God does not move as quickly as we want. Sometimes things go from bad to worse. But His delays are never wasted. What feels like a pause may be God preparing us to trust Him more deeply.
Jesus does not promise a painless journey, but He promises His presence and His power.
Faith grows as we keep walking with Jesus—even when we do not understand.
Conclusion: Three Truths About Faith
We have seen three truths about faith in this passage:
So come close to Jesus. Reach out—even in weakness and unworthiness. Let Him speak to your heart, “Daughter… Son.” And let your faith grow deeper, from belief in what He can do to trust in who He is.
Messages: 28
