This week's readings are from Mark 5. A complete list of this week's readings can be found here.
Today's Reading
When Jesus had crossed again in a boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he was by the sea. Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came up, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He asked him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Come and lay your hands on her so that she may be healed and live.” Jesus went with him, and a large crowd followed and pressed around him. (Mark 5.21–24 NET).
Resources for the Reading
- Podcast(s) for this Reading
- Parallel passages in the other Gospels.
So, something I didn’t get a chance to ask before, but I can’t help but notice a sort of parallel in the way Jairus responds to seeing Jesus and how the Legion-demonized Man responds to him.
When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him. (Mark 5:6 – the demonized man)
Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came up, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. (Mark 5:22 - Jairus)
I suppose a difference is that the demonized man bows down, and Jairus just falls at his feet. But is there anything to be drawn from this—or is it just a coincidence?
Travis, interesting point and question. I don't know that I have anything to add or respond to your question:
I suppose a difference is that the demonized man bows down, and Jairus just falls at his feet. But is there anything to be drawn from this—or is it just a coincidence
However, if it helps you to know the difference between 'bow' or 'fall', the demonized man 'bows' [Greek proskuneō] to Jesus. Originally, this word was about prostrating oneself (going face-down) before a god, king, ruler, or person of power.The word maintained this meaning by the time of Jesus, but also had the added element of simply greeting someone important or cared about. The definition from this period, according the Brill Lexicon, was 'to greet with affection, embrace, to adore, venerate, to prostrate oneself as a sign of respect or devotion.' This is generally in terms of "worship," whether it be a god or an emperor, where one goes face down before the one be adored or worshipped.
Jairus 'falls' [Greek piptō] at Jesus feet. The word piptō means 'to fall, rush,' and the idea in this case is that Jairus immediately or quickly dropped or threw himself down before Jesus. Though the word isn't used, this could be considered an active description of proskuneō.
The woman in the next story also throws herself before Jesus once it is revealed what she has done. The Greek word there is prospiptō, a combination verb of piptō with the prefixed preposition pros ('before, in front of, towards'). What's interesting is that this combination verb can mean 'fall before', but its primary meaning is 'fall upon, attack, assault' and another meaning is 'fall upon, embrace.' The idea may be not simply that she falls before Jesus but that she embraced him somehow or touched him.
@jimmy Thanks for that info!
This is where I sometimes feel stuck... I think I notice something within the text, but I don't really know how to figure out if there is meaningful correlation or not. Certainly, your Greek info helps me visualize each story on its own — but yeah... it seems there may not be any significance other than people in need of or truly threatened by Jesus's power respond in similar ways kind of like @amberhocker said. Maybe? Except those who seem inwardly threatened but actively plot against Jesus.
Travis, and something I was thinking about after listening to the podcasts was that all these people come to Jesus in my mind desperate. They KNOW He can cast out and heal and I sense this from each of them, so they are running, bowing down, elbowing through the crowd to get to him. Maybe desperation isn’t the right word, but it’s what came to my mind. I also thought about how I’m not often very desperate for God and that feels convicting. I think “I’ve got this”. Oh my pride! Always working on that.