Desperate for a Miracle? Mark 5:21-43 “If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, not at the time of her menstrual impurity, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her impurity, all the days of the discharge she shall continue in uncleanness. As in the days of her impurity, she shall be unclean. Every bed on which she lies, all the days of her discharge, shall be to her as the bed of her impurity. And everything on which she sits shall be unclean, as in the uncleanness of her menstrual impurity. And whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening” (Leviticus 15:25-27). “On account of her condition, she is ceremonially unclean (cf. Lev. 15:25–28) and is not permitted to enter the temple section reserved for women; nor is she permitted to be in public without making people aware that she is unclean. By touching Jesus’ garment, she technically renders him ceremonially unclean (cf. Lev. 15:19–23), but Jesus is greater than any purity laws, for he makes her clean by his power instead of becoming unclean himself” (cf. Mark 1:41; 5:41, ESV Study Bible). “This emphasized Jesus’ ability to distinguish the touch of one who in faith expected deliverance from the inadvertent touch of those crowding against Him. There was, and still is, a great difference between the two.” (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Vol. 2, p. 125). Lessons on Being Desperate for a Miracle 1. Relentlessly pursue Jesus with all the faith you can muster 2. Regardless of how preoccupied you may think God is never let that prevent you from seeking Him. 3. Realize that sometimes Jesus allows things to get worse, or even impossible, before they get better. 4. Resolve to remain faithful even when God fails to perform the miracle.