Spreading Life

Mark 5:21-43

Yesterday, we heard about two of Jesus' miracles: healing a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years and raising Jairus' 12-year-old daughter from the dead. Many of us are familiar with these stories from the synoptic Gospels, but some might not know how the Law in Leviticus prepared us for these miracles.

In Leviticus 15:1-15, the law concerning discharges outlines how to prevent the spread of uncleanness and how to be made clean again. This context illuminates the significance of Jesus healing the woman with the discharge. The laws concerning discharge remind us that sin and death affect everything and everyone. Uncleanness spreads quickly, requiring quarantine and atonement for cleansing. This sets the stage for Jesus' ministry, showing how death spreads.

However, when Jesus lived among us, He changed everything. In Mark 5:21-43, we see that when the woman touches Jesus' cloak, He doesn’t become unclean; instead, she is healed and made clean, rejoining the community. According to the Law, Jesus should have become unclean, but He didn’t quarantine or make any sacrifice. Instead of death spreading, life spread through Jesus. He stops the spread of death and initiates the spread of life.

This spread of life continues today for those who believe in Jesus. Since His time on earth, Jesus has conquered death and brought life to believers. Life now overcomes death. We see this in the Book of Acts with Jesus' disciples (Acts 5:14-15; Acts 9:36-43; Acts 19:11-12).

Believers are given Jesus' authority and power through the Holy Spirit to continue His ministry of spreading life. Only those fueled by faith can wield this power.

As people of faith, we must spread life by sharing the gospel, testifying about the life we have received through Christ, and interceding for those who haven't yet experienced it. A life fueled by faith spreads life to others. Now go and spread life!

Peace be with you!

- Pastor Bruce