Jesus Shows Unconditional Love #2

Mark 5:21-34

English Standard Version (ESV)

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 feet²³ 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.”

Today is day 2 of looking at Jesus' unconditional love toward several New Testament women. I believe we will benefit in that we are sure to see ourselves in one or more of these women and be able to relate more closely with our Lord through their experiences. Our unchanging Lord has the same heart toward us today as He did toward these women 2000 years ago. What joy that scripture is never outdated!
How did Jesus show unconditional love to the woman? It stands out to me that when He felt the power go out from Him, He stopped and took time to acknowledge her and commend her faith.
Who pressured Jesus not to show love? It was the disciples, his close friends, who encouraged Him to go on for certainly the crowd was too large to know who touched Him.
How did the woman feel? She felt valued. She knew she was healed. She had been shown compassion. I think she finally felt as though she had been "tended to"...taken care of.
How does this story relate to your life? Do you have a long term need like the woman experienced? Do you tend to rush on like the disciples? Do you need to learn to slow down like Jesus and take time with others? So much for us to see in these passages...thank you for coming on this journey with me! To find out what happened to Jairus' daughter, read the rest of Mark 5.