Markian Sandwiches

I learned something in New Testament Survey this morning- I know
that's why I am taking the course but this one was worth sharing! We are
studying the gospel of Mark and learning about the different literary techniques
that John Mark used to point toward his main point of the gospel- that Jesus is
the Son of God. A Markian sandwich is one of these techniques. It is
when Mark "sandwiches" a group of stories close together to make the stories
more than just stories but so that more life application or doctrinal truths can
be pulled from them. All throughout the gospel of Mark these sandwiches can be
found- for though as the Word of God all of these stories happened John Mark was
not bothered to put them in chronological order like some of the other New
Testament writers were. He uses the stories similarities or differences to
highlight a truth. For example take Mark chapter 5. Verses 22-43 tell the story
of the woman healed from her hemorrhaging problem and of the 12 year old girl
that was raised from the dead. I have color coded the similarities of the
stories that Mark included to prove his point.


22And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of
the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his
feet, 23And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at
the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be
healed; and she shall live. 24And Jesus went with him; and much
people followed him, and thronged him. 25And a certain woman, which
had an issue of blood twelve years, 26And had suffered many things of
many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but
rather grew worse, 27When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press
behind, and touched his garment. 28For she said, If I may touch but
his clothes, I shall be whole. 29And straightway the fountain of her
blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that
plague. 30And Jesus, immediately knowing in
himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and
said, Who touched my clothes? 31And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched
me? (in this similarity Jesus says something that to others seems
ridiculous) 32And he looked round about to see her that had done this
thing. 33But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her,
came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34And he said
unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of
thy plague. 35While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the
Master any further? 36As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he
saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. 37And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 38And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult,
and them that wept and wailed greatly. 39And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. 40And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. 41And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 42And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. 43And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.(KJV scripture courtesy of www.biblegateway.com)


Now for the similarities that are
not written down in the text- both the woman and the girl had no where else
to turn- Jesus was their, like our, only hope. Also both Jairus and the woman had
to endanger themselves by reaching out to Jesus. Jairus was an important
ruler in the synagogue and by acknowledging that Jesus had
the power to heal his daughter he would be in very high danger of
being expelled from his own synagogue. The woman on the other
hand was unclean (Lev. 15:25) and everything she got
near pretty much was unclean for a day as well. By touching Jesus she went
against the law.

The differences are there too though: Probably the most important one is that while Jairus was very well off financially, the woman had spent all of her money during the last 12 years on doctors. I think that one of the main points that John Mark was
pointing out in Chapter 5 is that Jesus is for everyone, both rich and poor. Socially accepted and shunned for being unclean. Whatever your status is; poor or rich your only hope is Jesus.The differences are there too though: Probably the most important one is that while Jairus was very well off financially, the woman had spent all of her money during the last 12 years on doctors. I think that one of the main points that John Mark was pointing out in Chapter 5 is that Jesus is for
everyone, both rich and poor. Socially accepted and shunned for
being unclean. Whatever your status is; poor or rich your only hope is
Jesus.