MARK 5:21–43, JAIRUS’S DAUGHTER AND THE WOMAN WITH A HEMORRHAGE
FAITH THAT OVERCOMES FEAR, DEATH, AND DESPAIR
Introduction
After liberating the Gerasene demoniac, Jesus returns to Jewish territory where a large crowd gathers around him. Two desperate situations unfold side by side: a synagogue leader pleading for his dying daughter and an unnamed woman suffering silently for twelve years. Mark intentionally intertwines these stories to show how faith—whether public or hidden—draws life-giving power from Jesus. In both cases, Jesus reveals himself as Lord over sickness, impurity, and even death, calling people from fear to faith.
Bible passage (Mark 5:21–43)
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.” He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him. There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” But his disciples said to him, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.” While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?” Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.
Background
This passage forms a literary “sandwich,” where the healing of the woman is inserted into the story of Jairus’s daughter. Both stories involve twelve years—one of illness and one of life—highlighting completeness and fullness of time. Both involve ritual impurity: hemorrhage and death. Jesus deliberately confronts what the Law considered unclean, not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it with mercy and life.
Opening life connection
In life, crises often overlap. While waiting for one urgent prayer to be answered, another burden interrupts us. Fear grows when delays seem costly. These stories speak to parents fearing loss, to those suffering silently for years, and to anyone struggling to trust God when circumstances worsen.
Verse-by-verse / phrase-by-phrase reflection
“Jairus…fell at his feet”
A respected synagogue leader humbles himself before Jesus. Authority, status, and reputation give way to desperate faith when faced with death.
“A woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years”
She represents invisible suffering. Her condition made her ritually unclean, socially isolated, and religiously excluded.
“She touched his cloak”
Her faith is quiet but bold. She believes holiness flows from Jesus, reversing the fear that impurity contaminates holiness.
“Immediately her flow of blood dried up”
The healing is instant, complete, and internal. Jesus restores not only her body but her dignity.
“Daughter, your faith has saved you”
Jesus publicly affirms her, restoring her to the community. Salvation here includes healing, peace, and reconciliation.
“Do not be afraid; just have faith”
Jesus invites Jairus to deeper trust. Faith must grow when hope seems lost.
“Talitha koum”
Jesus uses tender, intimate words. Death is no barrier to his life-giving authority.
“She should be given something to eat”
A simple human gesture confirms real life, care, and restoration.
Jewish historical and religious context
According to Levitical law, contact with blood or a corpse caused ritual impurity. By touching the woman and the dead child, Jesus becomes legally unclean. Yet instead of impurity spreading, holiness spreads. Jesus reveals that God’s mercy is stronger than ritual barriers.
Catholic tradition and teaching
The Church sees here a foreshadowing of the sacraments. The woman’s healing anticipates the Eucharist—faithful contact with Christ’s body. Jairus’s daughter prefigures resurrection and the hope proclaimed in Baptism and the Creed.
Historical or saintly illustration
Saint Monica prayed for years for the conversion of her son Augustine, often with tears and apparent failure. Like Jairus and the woman, her persevering faith bore fruit in God’s time, leading to one of the greatest saints of the Church.
Application to Christian life today
Some suffer openly; others suffer silently. Jesus responds to both. Faith is not always loud or perfect—it can be trembling and hidden. Delays do not mean denial. When situations seem beyond hope, Jesus still says, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.”
Eucharistic connection
In the Eucharist, we touch Christ not physically but sacramentally. Like the woman, we approach in faith. Like Jairus’s daughter, we receive life. The same power that flowed from Jesus then flows to us now.
Messages / Call to conversion
-
Faith expressed in humility draws God’s power
-
Silent suffering is seen and honored by Jesus
-
Delays are invitations to deeper trust
-
Jesus restores dignity, community, and life
-
Choose faith over fear in moments of crisis
Outline for preachers
• Interwoven stories of faith and healing
• Public faith of Jairus and hidden faith of the woman
• Ritual impurity transformed by mercy
• From fear to faith in the face of death
• Jesus’ authority over sickness and death
• Restoration of dignity and community
• Eucharistic and sacramental meaning
• Call to trust Jesus in prolonged or desperate situations
