NOTES for Mar 5:21-43

The evangelists always place these two episodes together. What is at issue here is one of the Christian virtues: bold trust. In the case of the woman with the flow of blood, this boldness borders not simply on audacity, but on a crime. According to the law of Moses, this woman is unclean and cannot touch people, yet here she touches the Teacher. One can imagine what it cost her to confess what she had done. But the Lord calls this not a crime and not an insult, but faith: "Your faith has saved you." The second example also speaks of such faith beyond expectation. The ruler of the synagogue is told that while he was going to the Teacher, his daughter died; there is no more hope. But here too the Lord speaks of faith: "Only believe!" These two episodes should still radically change and overturn our ideas about faith, about prayer, and about "politeness" toward God. For Him there are no conventions or etiquette. There is only faith or unbelief, love or lack of love.