Word@Work 062 - Mark 5:37-40
Published: Thu, 02/14/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 5:37-40 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, "Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. (NIV)
There were enough faithless people around! Family friends, the religious crowd and even the disciples were unbelieving - yet Jairus still had the courage (fuelled by his faith in Jesus) to invite the Master to his home. How often, close friends can be disastrous distractions from the gospel. They may ridicule or laugh for seemingly logical reasons, proving their unwillingness to trust Jesus - and resistance to the idea that anybody else should too. That mockery certainly discourages embryo faith; but strangely gives a fresh spur to those whose faith is growing.
So, Jesus excluded all except the inner circles of family and disciples (the trio of Peter, James and John also would grow in faith and later, lead the church), and teaches them that death turns to sleep when Jesus says so ... and Jesus has the power to wake the dead. Hopeless wailing has no place when Jesus is in charge.
True faith is confident that Jesus is in command. Cultural frenzy, personal grief or the domination of darkness will cling on to the last moment, even when the power and authority of God is about to be released. It was He who was setting the agenda, but the faith of Jairus gave the space for God to act. Letting Jesus take the helm is an early and essential sign of faith - without which it is impossible to know His transforming power. Lessons here for the believer too!
Prayer: Father God, help me to be willing to submit my will to yours - as my rule of life - so that I may please you and demonstrate to others that it is safe to give you space to do Your transforming work. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
There were enough faithless people around! Family friends, the religious crowd and even the disciples were unbelieving - yet Jairus still had the courage (fuelled by his faith in Jesus) to invite the Master to his home. How often, close friends can be disastrous distractions from the gospel. They may ridicule or laugh for seemingly logical reasons, proving their unwillingness to trust Jesus - and resistance to the idea that anybody else should too. That mockery certainly discourages embryo faith; but strangely gives a fresh spur to those whose faith is growing.
So, Jesus excluded all except the inner circles of family and disciples (the trio of Peter, James and John also would grow in faith and later, lead the church), and teaches them that death turns to sleep when Jesus says so ... and Jesus has the power to wake the dead. Hopeless wailing has no place when Jesus is in charge.
True faith is confident that Jesus is in command. Cultural frenzy, personal grief or the domination of darkness will cling on to the last moment, even when the power and authority of God is about to be released. It was He who was setting the agenda, but the faith of Jairus gave the space for God to act. Letting Jesus take the helm is an early and essential sign of faith - without which it is impossible to know His transforming power. Lessons here for the believer too!
Prayer: Father God, help me to be willing to submit my will to yours - as my rule of life - so that I may please you and demonstrate to others that it is safe to give you space to do Your transforming work. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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