The Woman with the Issue of Blood (Mark 5:21-43)

Staking everything on a desperate hunch, the bleeding woman, one of the bravest women in the Bible, reaches out to touch the cloak of Jesus. In his famous sandwich format, Mark pairs her story with Jairus, a powerful man’s story, juxtaposing the two characters in every possible way. Winking at us all the while, Mark cleverly proclaims that Jesus is for everyone, especially those the rest of us choose to ignore.

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The Bible and the English Major: All Episodes & Articles
Seeking Justice: Jairus & The Bleeding Woman with Pastor Bobby Harrison
Seeking Justice: Jairus & The Bleeding Woman with Pastor Bobby Harrison

We conclude our series on Mark 5 with a conversation with Pastor Bobby Harrison from The Church We Hope For. He shares the story of his dismantling journey toward advocating for justice and equity in the church, tells a great story about his son as a framework for seeking God wholeheartedly, and explains how he relates to Jairus. Then he turns the tables on Maren to find out why she's doing all of this, anyway.

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Radical Inclusivity: Jesus, Jairus & the Bleeding Woman
Radical Inclusivity: Jesus, Jairus & the Bleeding Woman

With even more artistry, the writer of the Gospel of Mark uses juxtaposition, symbolism, merism, and a 6-foot party sub to make a very big point about Jesus' renewal of Israel and the faith lying at its heart. And you thought we'd discovered everything.

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The Bleeding Woman & Jairus: Risk & Sacrifice
The Bleeding Woman & Jairus: Risk & Sacrifice

How do we best understand the Pharisees and scribes in the Gospel of Mark from a literary point of view? And what does the juxtaposition of one of their own with a desperate, bleeding woman tell us about taking risks, faith, and healing?

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The Bleeding Woman & The Genius of Mark's Sandwich
The Bleeding Woman & The Genius of Mark's Sandwich

Mark, the best cook among the Gospel writers, turns Mark 5:21-43 into a yummy literary sandwich full of plot twists, juxtaposition, and faith. Come taste the beauty of a Markan Sandwich and consider: Can art reveal things that science cannot?

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The Bleeding Woman: Rebel with a Cause
The Bleeding Woman: Rebel with a Cause

What could women in the Bible have to say to the ancient historian Pliny the Elder? Probably quite a lot, as long as they aren't bleeding. Here's some historical context on Mark 5:21-34 to help us understand the immense faith required of a desperate woman who must ask the question, 'What do I do when my religion is killing me?’

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Walking with the Bleeding Woman: A Personal Connection
Walking with the Bleeding Woman: A Personal Connection

Welcome to this new series on Mark 5:21-34! This mini-episode is a personal introduction to one of the bravest women in the Bible: the bleeding woman found in the Gospel of Mark. Why not start with blood and suffering?

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* This passage is also found in Matthew 9:20-22 and Luke 8:43-48 but with a bit less artistry.