From Pastor Jane July 1, 2018

Pentecost B-6, Lectionary 13, ‘18
Mark 5:21-43
7/1/18
Trinity Lutheran Congregation
 
I always like a two-for-one deal.  BOGO as it is known in some places – buy one get one.  But you can’t go into the store and ask for the second one – for free – without getting the first one first.  You have to get them both.
 
That is what we have in today’s gospel reading from Mark.  A two-for-one-deal.  Mark does that a lot.  And when he does he is always trying to make a point. 
 
In today’s reading Mark describes Jesus healing two daughter of Israel.  In the verses just before these Jesus had performed an exorcism on a non-Jewish person.  Here Jesus returns to the other side, the Jewish side of things and heals two daughters of Israel.
 
Not only is it a two-for-one deal, it’s like a sandwich.  Mark begins with Jairus coming to Jesus and asking him to heal his daughter.  The lesson then moves into the healing of the woman with the flow of blood for twelve years.  It all comes to a close with Jesus raising Jairus’ daughter, whom many agree just happens to be around twelve years old.   Like any good sandwich you can’t have one without the other.  Peanut butter and jelly.  Ham and cheese.  Or an Oreo sandwich cookie – crunchy chocolate cookie with creamy filling inside.

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