I wish I'd thought to look into that--I'd have reached out for more insight into the day-to-day impact of those regulations. Thanks for taking the time to read this, Nadine!
You know Patty, I've wondered the same thing. But I do think the stigma of being "unclean" would wear on my sense of well-being. I just read a little about Chaupadi in Nepal.
Wow… so much to unpack here! Absolutely LOVE your insight! As I read the whole chapter I was surprised when Jesus said to the woman “go in peace and be healed of your disease.” The text said that she felt that she had already been healed. Her healing wasn’t just physical but also spiritual and emotional. She had been separated from her spiritual community for 12 years. We don’t know if her family was supporting her or if they had abandoned her because she was always unclean. She risked so much by even approaching Jesus.
What really blew my mind was how the healing of Jarius’ 12-year old daughter is before and after the healing of the women who had been bleeding for 12 years. 12-years in the Jewish text typically symbolizes the 12 tribes of Israel. In the case of the woman, she might have been an alienated Jew because of her bleeding.
The story at the beginning of chapter 5 is the healing of the demoniac - a gentile. Associating with a gentile made the Jew ritually unclean. Then you have the healing of the woman, who by touching Jesus, made him ritually unclean. Jarius was with Jesus when the woman was healed and he had been waiting for Jesus to come to his house to heal his daughter. Jarius was a synagogue ruler. Jarius knew that since she had touched Jesus, that Jesus was now unclean. Jarius’ friends arrive and tell him that Jarius’ daughter was dead.
Jesus responds by telling him to not be afraid (seems odd to me). Was Jarius afraid of Jesus now being unclean and not being able to touch his daughter to heal her? Had Jarius just lost his opportunity for his daughter’s healing because some woman was selfish in wanting to be healed and touched Jesus’ cloak?
Jesus arrived at Jarius’ house and then touched a dead body, Jarius’ daughter. Which again made Jesus unclean.
Three healings associated with uncleanliness - Gentile, alienated Jew and religious Jew. All of which Jesus healed and showed everyone that loving/healing people was more important than following the Law. 😮🤯
Keep your insights coming! You have so much to share!! Love you!
Oh wow, wow, WOW, Michelle!! Can I just copy and paste this for my next post? 😄😇 The Bible never ceases to unfold itself--in our lifetimes, we'll never see it all. I can't wait to look further into the other people you mentioned. Thank you SO much for taking the time to put all that together--just brilliant! 🙏Love you❣️
So thoughtful and insightful as always Kathleen. Thank you for being a lifetime learner and allowing me (and all of us) to benefit from your work! No matter what I’m reading in my Bible I always include reading through the gospels as well. Jesus is so good. I’m just astounded by his love. Thanks again - love to you!
I'm so glad you're enjoying these articles--your encouragement means so much to me. 🤗 Writing this article, in particular, inspired me to start a new in-depth study: a close look at everything Jesus was recorded to have said. I can't wait to put that all together--like you, I'm astounded by his love. Showing us how to be human. Love you, too❣️
Every post you write helps me think and brings new insights. I’ve always loved how Jesus called her daughter, but I didn’t realize this was the only time recorded that he did that. Jesus included her and “For her, there was no great gift than belonging.” So inspiring to see his love in that way! Thank you, Kathleen
Now, I want to look at every person Jesus interacted with and pay attention to how he addressed them--there's always another stone to turn over. :) Thanks for your comments, Patty!
I love that he called her “daughter,” I hadn’t realized how unique that was in Jesus’s interactions. Also that he freed her from her suffering—Jesus healed her in every way.
Aw, me too! I'm glad that stood out to you; there are so many subtle details in his interactions. And has anyone needed family more? She was definitely seen!
I live in Nepal, and it is still that way for women here. It is called "Chaupadi".
I wish I'd thought to look into that--I'd have reached out for more insight into the day-to-day impact of those regulations. Thanks for taking the time to read this, Nadine!
I didn’t know that. I’ve always wondered how women felt about being untouchable each month. Do they view it as a break or a hardship?
You know Patty, I've wondered the same thing. But I do think the stigma of being "unclean" would wear on my sense of well-being. I just read a little about Chaupadi in Nepal.
Wow… so much to unpack here! Absolutely LOVE your insight! As I read the whole chapter I was surprised when Jesus said to the woman “go in peace and be healed of your disease.” The text said that she felt that she had already been healed. Her healing wasn’t just physical but also spiritual and emotional. She had been separated from her spiritual community for 12 years. We don’t know if her family was supporting her or if they had abandoned her because she was always unclean. She risked so much by even approaching Jesus.
What really blew my mind was how the healing of Jarius’ 12-year old daughter is before and after the healing of the women who had been bleeding for 12 years. 12-years in the Jewish text typically symbolizes the 12 tribes of Israel. In the case of the woman, she might have been an alienated Jew because of her bleeding.
The story at the beginning of chapter 5 is the healing of the demoniac - a gentile. Associating with a gentile made the Jew ritually unclean. Then you have the healing of the woman, who by touching Jesus, made him ritually unclean. Jarius was with Jesus when the woman was healed and he had been waiting for Jesus to come to his house to heal his daughter. Jarius was a synagogue ruler. Jarius knew that since she had touched Jesus, that Jesus was now unclean. Jarius’ friends arrive and tell him that Jarius’ daughter was dead.
Jesus responds by telling him to not be afraid (seems odd to me). Was Jarius afraid of Jesus now being unclean and not being able to touch his daughter to heal her? Had Jarius just lost his opportunity for his daughter’s healing because some woman was selfish in wanting to be healed and touched Jesus’ cloak?
Jesus arrived at Jarius’ house and then touched a dead body, Jarius’ daughter. Which again made Jesus unclean.
Three healings associated with uncleanliness - Gentile, alienated Jew and religious Jew. All of which Jesus healed and showed everyone that loving/healing people was more important than following the Law. 😮🤯
Keep your insights coming! You have so much to share!! Love you!
Oh wow, wow, WOW, Michelle!! Can I just copy and paste this for my next post? 😄😇 The Bible never ceases to unfold itself--in our lifetimes, we'll never see it all. I can't wait to look further into the other people you mentioned. Thank you SO much for taking the time to put all that together--just brilliant! 🙏Love you❣️
It was so crazy to piece it together today! I’m sure you will even find more than I did!
Don't you love it when it all just clicks like that? You did a pretty impressive job piecing it all together my friend!
So thoughtful and insightful as always Kathleen. Thank you for being a lifetime learner and allowing me (and all of us) to benefit from your work! No matter what I’m reading in my Bible I always include reading through the gospels as well. Jesus is so good. I’m just astounded by his love. Thanks again - love to you!
I'm so glad you're enjoying these articles--your encouragement means so much to me. 🤗 Writing this article, in particular, inspired me to start a new in-depth study: a close look at everything Jesus was recorded to have said. I can't wait to put that all together--like you, I'm astounded by his love. Showing us how to be human. Love you, too❣️
Every post you write helps me think and brings new insights. I’ve always loved how Jesus called her daughter, but I didn’t realize this was the only time recorded that he did that. Jesus included her and “For her, there was no great gift than belonging.” So inspiring to see his love in that way! Thank you, Kathleen
Now, I want to look at every person Jesus interacted with and pay attention to how he addressed them--there's always another stone to turn over. :) Thanks for your comments, Patty!
I love that he called her “daughter,” I hadn’t realized how unique that was in Jesus’s interactions. Also that he freed her from her suffering—Jesus healed her in every way.
Aw, me too! I'm glad that stood out to you; there are so many subtle details in his interactions. And has anyone needed family more? She was definitely seen!