two realities

This has been slowly developing all week – my son has taken over my computer the last few days! Later this week (or next), i’ll continue my thoughts and explanations regarding our ministry strategy, “serve, love, pray”.

The message i shared Sunday during Worship continues to speak to me. In Mark chapter 5, Jesus is surrounded again by an eager crowd. Through this crowd, two different individuals work their way to Jesus, seeking healing. The first is Jairus, one of the local synagogue rulers whose 12 year old daughter is sick and at the point of death. The other is the woman with the issue of blood, who reaches through the crowd and receives healing just by touching the hem of Jesus’ robe (5:28-29). Much is preached and taught about the extreme faith, risk, and healing of the woman that the daughter of Jairus and his faith is often overlooked.

First, some background. The fact that Jairus’ name is recorded lends us to believe that he may have become a follower, a member of the early church that the audience of the Gospel would know and his name recognized. As a synagogue ruler, he was used to dignity and respect. Yet he comes in great humility to Jesus, not pulling him aside to confer a favor between teachers, but to Jesus’ feet. He was filled with belief that Jesus could make a difference, “please come place your hands on her so that she will be healed and live’ (v.23). Jesus honors Jairus’ humility and faith and sets off through the crowd to Jairus’ house; until the woman with the issue of blood delays them. Yet Jairus, with the cure for his daughter literally at hand, doesn’t get high and mighty on her, is never impatient, is never recorded as speeding Jesus along.

Then messengers come from his household. i can only imagine the grief of a parent seeing the grim news of your child’s death coming toward you. It’s in these two verses that i’m most challenged (v.35-36). Jairus is confronted by two realities. First is the “seeing is believing” reality – the reality the messengers brought to him, “we’ve seen your daughter—she’s dead. No need making the teacher take another step.” Then there’s the reality that Jesus presents to Jairus, the “believing is seeing” reality. Jesus ignores the messengers—see that, Jesus IGNORED someone (specifically, those who were not speaking by faith)! Jesus pays them no attention, he continues with Jairus on his previous course to heal the daughter. Jesus encourages Jairus not to be afraid--don’t run in the other direction. Then Jesus strengthens that shred of hope, the now mustard seed size of faith that once brought Jairus from his daughter’s death bed seeking the cure in the Lord of life. Jesus spoke similarly and in more detail to Martha, in John 11:25-26, “Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

As the pastor of a church that has seen little change in its history, i’m continually confronted by the first reality. You know, “we’ve tried that before,” as well as, “we’ve always done it this way.” Honestly, i’d like to ignore those statements and that reality. Actually, i’ve been accused of doing that and am told to cater to that reality for the sake of peace and unity—you know, “Don’t upset the apple carts.” But to live in the second reality, you have to ignore the first – continuing on the course the Master is leading you to pursue. It’s not easy to do this, as i’m finding out, especially now. Honestly, i’m more weary these past few days than i’ve ever been.

So i look to how Jesus encouraged Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, just believe” (v.36). The word “afraid” carries an original meaning of running away in fear or terror. When Jesus ignored the messengers, i think he was simultaneously helping Jairus to continue to step toward his home. Amazing Grace has a verse that says, “T’was grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.” The fear of her death drove him toward Jesus in hope he could bring her to life; now Jesus is driving him to the “reality” of her death to see his hope come to life. There are times when i just want to run away – what’s the point? Can anything change the “reality” we’re facing? But God won’t let me go—He keeps leading me into my fears, and the fears of others.

“Just believe” – mustard seed faith is pretty small, but apparently Jairus is watching even this slip through his grasp. In this statement, Jesus is underscoring the second reality, the realm of faith. Essentially, if he would continue to believe (literally to place his faith, his trust, his daughter’s life, his hope) in Jesus, he would indeed see his daughter healed and living. Am i to continue to believe? Can this sleeping church spring to vibrant life again? As Ezekiel said in the valley of dry bones, “you, O Lord, know.”

The rest of the story: Jairus goes on with Jesus. And, after Jesus puts out mourners who are doubters, Jesus restores life to the daughter and her care to her parents. Jairus is also awakened to new life. The scripture records that “they were completely astonished” (v.43). This literally is amazed and astonished – words that referred to being displaced from their reality. Jairus is awakened to the Lord of life and His power over death.

Are there mourners that need to be put out for you to work, Lord? If so, will you direct them out the door? i want to see the young revived, awakened into your presence while my own faith is resurrected to a new level of belief.