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?" …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."…
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. (Mk 5:21-43)
There are two miracles in today’s reading. As one miracle is on progress there is another taking place within it. But when we look at them both, they reveal two different messages. In the first miracle, which is about the healing of the daughter of Jairus, Jesus is called and asked to do the miracle. Jesus goes to his house willingly. He knows what he is about. He is in control of the situation. That is why he commands the people and he takes with him those whom he wants. He orders the child and it happens.
In the second miracle, which is about the woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years, Jesus does not know about the woman following her. He does not know about her sickness. He does not know that she is healed (he only knows that power has gone out of him) and he is not in control of the situation.
Both the miracles take place because of the faith of the persons involved. Jesus is either directly or indirectly involved in these miracles. Jesus only realized that power goes out of him. Faith of the person can draw the power of healing from God. Jesus also affirms that only faith saves. Faith of the people only move them to Jesus.
