Life can be thought of as one giant obstacle course due to the curse of sin. And two of the biggest obstacles are sickness and death. In the gospel of Mark 5:21–43, sickness and death confront Jesus, a woman who has been bleeding for twelve years, and a father who has lost his daughter. How shall they all overcome?

The obstacles of sickness and death were not only a challenge to the people in the narrative, but also to Jesus. He was presented with a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. Her poor body had been broken in a specific way for roughly 4,380 days. That is 105,120 hours of pain! No other doctor was able to help her; perhaps they all concluded she was a hopeless case. Who would Jesus be able to ask for a second opinion? However, in one touch of His cloak, Jesus’ authority healed her instantly. The blood flow stopped; she felt it immediately in her body. In one supernatural moment in time her body experienced healing and deliverance from this obstacle of the curse of sin.

When the obstacle of human sickness meets Jesus’ authority, His authority overcomes. How long we are broken does not make a difference to His authority. Whether we are broken for 12 minutes, 12 months, or 12 years, Jesus can fix and restore our bodies. And He has promised to do so for all who trust in Him at the resurrection of the dead (see 1 Corinthians 15:42–44).

The woman who bled for twelve years had her own set of obstacles. She had to overcome the risk of public ostracism for being out and unclean. She had to overcome the risk of public offense against Jesus. She had to overcome the past failure and pain at the hands of doctors. She had to overcome the possibility of public rejection. She had to overcome publicly acknowledging that she was the one who reached out and touched Jesus. This poor woman faced what must have felt like insurmountable obstacles. But she believed Jesus could heal her; she believed He had authority to rule over the curse of Adam and Eve. And she was rewarded for it.

The narrative continues to challenge Jesus as almost to say, “I see you could handle the broken bodies of people, but what about death?” By the time Jesus gets to the little girl, she is dead, and death is pretty much undefeated (God took Elijah before death did). What would become of Jesus’ authority when faced with the (nearly undefeated) champion death? Jesus would (Mark 5:41–42) take “her by the hand [and say] to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.” With two words in Aramaic, Jesus overcame the obstacle of death.

The father faced the same obstacle as Jesus. And what did Jesus tell him? Don’t fear, just believe! Jesus calls him to believe in His authority, for He can overcome.

How shall we overcome sin’s curse and its effects? By faith in the saving and ruling authority of Jesus. His authority remains over our physical bodies and the curse of death. He is the great physician as well as the resurrection and the life.

Let us therefore believe upon Jesus the Christ to rescue us today, tomorrow, and for eternity! Let us believe upon Him for the exercise of His authority in this life and the next. And let us believe that those who trust in His messianic authority will experience the same relief these two ladies experienced, whether in this life or the next. Jesus’ messianic authority is worth placing your body and life into, for it is greater than any obstacle. He is our saving Lord!

Pastor Sean