2011 JULY Clothesline

Greetings to all on 10 JUL 2011

Word for the Day

Narrative - A narrative is a form of storytelling. This technique includes all the conventions of storytelling: plot, character, setting, climax, and ending. It is usually filled with details that are carefully selected to explain, support, or embellish the story. All of the details relate to the main point the writer is attempting to make. [1]

Quote for the Day

The restoration of the church must surely depend on a new kind of monasticism, which has nothing in common with the old but a life of uncompromising discipleship, following Christ according to the Sermon on the Mount. I believe the time has come to gather people together to do this.  Quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer [2]

Thought for the Day

Several weeks ago our Sunday house church was holding a midrash based on Mark 5 and Galatians 6. The two stories in Mark are the woman with the “issue” of blood and Jairus’ daughter. Like you, I’ve read this many times but the link between these two stories had never occurred to me until that day.

The first woman had suffered from chronic hemorrhaging for 12 years. We know neither her name nor her age. If this ailment began around age 13, she would have been about 25 (and maybe older). Perhaps she had been married but was now past her prime. Because she was in a continual state of uncleanness, she would have been excluded from participating in synagogue. If childless, that would have been another mark against her. As Jesus nears, she manages to touch part of Jesus’ clothing and the blood flow instantly ceases. Jesus blessed her return to society by addressing her as “daughter.” [MAR 5.34] Could she ever have forgotten the gift of restored life from this mysterious man?

Next, we meet “Talitha,” the 12 year-old daughter of Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue. [3] Remember, Jesus was on the way to his house when he was sidetracked by the other woman. Jairus had described his daughter’s condition as near death. In a striking similarity to the story of Lazarus, Jesus is in no hurry to get there, perhaps delaying his arrival on purpose. Before Jesus gets there, word arrives that the little girl is deceased. He provokes laughter by saying that she is not dead but only sleeping. Jesus restores her blood flow thereby blessing her impending passage into womanhood. Jesus charges Jairus to tell no one. But how could he be silent?

Do you see the connection between the two stories in the narrative?

The nameless woman had a blood flow for 12 years, which was sapping her physical life as well as her spiritual life. Talitha’s normal first 12 years were unexpectedly ended when her blood flow ceased.

The woman was banned from the synagogue; Talitha’s daddy was the ruler of the synagogue.

The woman had probably missed her prime child-bearing years. Talitha was just entering puberty.

The woman was most impacted by her own healing. I’m going to submit that Talitha’s parents were the most awe-struck by her resuscitation.

So what is Mark’s point? We believe his gospel was intended for a Roman audience. It is the most compact and succinct of the gospel accounts. He emphasized Jesus’ authority and immediacy of his commands, something with which his audience would have identified. The word immediate occurs almost 40 times in this gospel (three times in ch.5). Mark’s Jesus often leaves the person alone with the warning to tell no one. But how could you not tell? The first hearers of Mark’s story must have thought the same thing. How could you not tell?

May God Bless

Mike Toole

Lori Moores, ed.

1. Defintion from http://essayinfo.com/essays/narrative_essay.php

2. Eric Metaxas, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, Thomas Nelson Publ., 2010.

3. Talitha means “little girl,” not her actual name.

Thanks to Paige E. and Sharon G. for initiating these thoughts.

A special thanks to Lori for helping me to be clear, concise and correct over the past few years.