The Skeptics Annotated Bible (779 page)

24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

(5.25-42) So this is where all those phony faith-healing stories came from! Notice that the doctors made her condition worse, but she was instantly cured by faith.

25 And
a certain woman
, which
had an issue of blood twelve years,

(5.25)
“A certain woman … had an issue of blood twelve years.”

26
And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

(5.26)
“And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,”

27
When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

(5.27)
“When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.”

28
For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

(5.28)
“For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.”

29
And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

(5.29)
“And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.”

30 And
Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned
him about in the press,
and said, Who touched my clothes?

(5.30)
“Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned … and said, Who touched my clothes?”
Jesus loses some virtue whenever sick women touch him.
346 Did Jesus know everything?

31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

34 And he said unto her, Daughter,
thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

(5.34)
“Thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”
If you have enough faith, you will never get sick. (Illness is caused by sin and lack of faith. Medical science is unnecessary.)

35 While 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?

36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

39 And
when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why
make ye this ado, and
weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

(5.39)
“When he was come in, he saith unto them, Why … weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.”

40
And 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.

(5.40)
“And they laughed him to scorn.”

41 And
he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her,
Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee,
arise.

(5.41)
“He took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her … arise.”

42
And straightway the damsel arose
, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

(5.42)
“And straightway the damsel arose.”
167 Is death final?

43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

6
And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.

2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

3
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary
,
the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us?
And
they were offended at him.

4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

5
And he could there do no mighty work
, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

(6.3a)
“Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?”
This is the only verse in the New Testament where Jesus is referred to as a carpenter. And in the earliest manuscript of Mark, the verse says, “Is not this the son of the carpenter?” Apparently it wasn’t in any of the Gospels at the time of Origen, who said that “in none of the Gospels current in the Churches is Jesus himself ever described as being a carpenter.”

(6.3b)
“The brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us?”
Jesus had at least six siblings, four brothers and at least two sisters. Yet it is a doctrine of the Catholic church that Mary was always a virgin.