Within this chapter, we witness a series of three healings, the demoniac, the woman with the flow of blood, and finally, Jairus’s daughter.  All three of these healings have a common element that we can examine, and that element is the fact that their infirmity causes them to stand outside of the broader social order.  For the demoniac, it is seen in his living among the mountains and tooms, the woman with the flow of blood it is seen in her ritual impurity, which causes her to have to stand apart from the broader Jewish society, and finally, with Jairus’s daughter, it lies in the threat of death, which will separate her from the community of the living.  In all of these cases, we see infirmity lead to division from humanity. Yet, Christ shows us that in Him, this disunity can ultimately be transformed, back into the intended state of true unity, for in Christ, we are all to be made brothers and sisters of the Most High God, united in the true family of the Body of Christ.

St. John The Baptist website:

https://www.saintjohnthebaptist.org/

GOA Parish Directory:

https://www.goarch.org/parishes

List of Sources Used For This Study:

Revised Standard Version of the Bible

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%201&version=RSV

The Religion of the Apostles

Fr. Stephan De Young

https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-religion-of-the-apostles-orthodox-christianity-in-the-first-century?_pos=1&_psq=the+religion+of+the+ap&_ss=e&_v=1.0

At the End of Time: The Eschatological Expectations of the Church

Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos

https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/at-the-end-of-time

The Gospel According to Saint Mark

Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos

https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-gospel-according-to-saint-mark

Explanation of the Holy Gospel According to Mark (Soft Cover)

Theophylact of Ochrid

https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/0635c1b0-0fb9-11e7-e820-5b79d48c82f2?_pos=6&_sid=5f044f26b&_ss=r

The Gospel of Mark: The Suffering Servant

Fr. Lawrence R. Farley

https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/the-gospel-of-mark-the-suffering-servant?_pos=3&_psq=The+gospel+of+ma&_ss=e&_v=1.0

The New Testament Introduction, vol. 1. - Paul and Mark

Fr. Paul N Tarazi

https://holycrossbookstore.com/products/new-testament-introduction-the-vol-i-paul-and-mark?_pos=9&_sid=81aa9a5a0&_ss=r

Authority and Passion

Archbishop Demetrios, Formerly of America

New Edition Coming Soon

Mark

C. Clifton Black

Mark 1-8

Mark 8-16

Joel Marcus

Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Mark

Thomas C. Oden & Christopher A. Hall