Waiting for God – Mark 5:21-43 [Daily Devotional] by Dr. David Winkle Mark 5:21-43 The story of the raising of Jairus’ daughter and the healing of the woman who touched the “hem of Jesus’ garment” are among the best known and best loved in all of scripture. These events in the ministry of Jesus reveal so much to us. They display the tremendous power of Jesus to heal. They show us that Jesus has power even to give life to the dead. They also reveal the importance role of faith in giving Jesus the opportunity to work in our lives. However, as I read today’s text, this time I found that I was amazed by one of the virtues of Jairus. He has to be one of the most patient human beings who ever walked the earth. Reread the story and place yourself in his sandals. Replace Jairus’ name with your own as you read. He came to Jesus and fell at his feet, begging Jesus to come with him and heal his little girl. He was desperate and we are told that he begged Jesus repeatedly. As the father of five daughters, I can understand his anxiety and distress. Jesus agreed to his request and they started toward his home. I am sure that in Jairus’ mind they were not moving fast enough, as his daughter was near death. Think of the times you have tried to get people to move along a little faster with a polite tug on the arm, or some other gesture. Then to all appearances, Jesus just suddenly stopped. He stopped and he asks what had to seem like a trivial question. “Who touched me?” At this point the needle on Jairus’ anxiety meter must have pegged out, but he said nothing. The disciples raised the issue with Jesus saying, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” The woman who touched him came forward and she and Jesus have a conversation, during which she tells Jesus the whole story of her medical dilemma. Again, Jairus said nothing, but I can imagine the turmoil within him. One of the definitions of patience is “an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay.” Jairus’ picture should be beside this definition. As Jesus is finishing his conversation with the woman, people arrive from Jairus’ house to inform him that his daughter has died. I cannot even imagine how his heart sank at the news. Most of us would have begun the “if only” statements, chief of which would have been, “if only we had not stopped for this woman.” If Jairus had intended to say anything, Jesus cut him off by saying, “Do not fear, only believe.” To Jairus’ credit he did just that and he and Jesus walked the rest of the way to his house. As they say, “the rest is history.” Jesus knew what would transpire, and how the events would unfold. Jesus was in complete control of the situation. Jairus was able to place his trust in Jesus, not knowing exactly how things would turn out. Think of the times when you knew exactly what you wanted God to do for you, and how anxious you were in waiting. Sometimes the most difficult thing in the world is to wait on God to act. This is especially true when we think we know exactly what God should do. God does not always work on the time schedule we would initially hope for. Jesus does not always answer our prayers and requests in the way we had initially hoped. Whether we are patient or not, God acts in accordance with his will, not with our wishes and desires. However, like Jairus, we find that when God does act, it is usually much more powerful and beautiful than what we had imagined it would be. Waiting for God – Mark 5:21-43 [Daily Devotional] by Dr. David Winkle Mark 5:21-43 The story of the raising of Jairus’ daughter and the healing of the woman who touched the “hem of Jesus’ garment” are among the best known and best loved in all of scripture. These events in the ministry of Jesus reveal so much to us. They display the tremendous power of Jesus to heal. They show us that Jesus has power even to give life to the dead. They also reveal the importance role of faith in giving Jesus the opportunity to work in our lives. However, as I read today’s text, this time I found that I was amazed by one of the virtues of Jairus. He has to be one of the most patient human beings who ever walked the earth. Reread the story and place yourself in his sandals. Replace Jairus’ name with your own as you read. He came to Jesus and fell at his feet, begging Jesus to come with him and heal his little girl. He was desperate and we are told that he begged Jesus repeatedly. As the father of five daughters, I can understand his anxiety and distress. Jesus agreed to his request and they started toward his home. I am sure that in Jairus’ mind they were not moving fast enough, as his daughter was near death. Think of the times you have tried to get people to move along a little faster with a polite tug on the arm, or some other gesture. Then to all appearances, Jesus just suddenly stopped. He stopped and he asks what had to seem like a trivial question. “Who touched me?” At this point the needle on Jairus’ anxiety meter must have pegged out, but he said nothing. The disciples raised the issue with Jesus saying, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” The woman who touched him came forward and she and Jesus have a conversation, during which she tells Jesus the whole story of her medical dilemma. Again, Jairus said nothing, but I can imagine the turmoil within him. One of the definitions of patience is “an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay.” Jairus’ picture should be beside this definition. As Jesus is finishing his conversation with the woman, people arrive from Jairus’ house to inform him that his daughter has died. I cannot even imagine how his heart sank at the news. Most of us would have begun the “if only” statements, chief of which would have been, “if only we had not stopped for this woman.” If Jairus had intended to say anything, Jesus cut him off by saying, “Do not fear, only believe.” To Jairus’ credit he did just that and he and Jesus walked the rest of the way to his house. As they say, “the rest is history.” Jesus knew what would transpire, and how the events would unfold. Jesus was in complete control of the situation. Jairus was able to place his trust in Jesus, not knowing exactly how things would turn out. Think of the times when you knew exactly what you wanted God to do for you, and how anxious you were in waiting. Sometimes the most difficult thing in the world is to wait on God to act. This is especially true when we think we know exactly what God should do. God does not always work on the time schedule we would initially hope for. Jesus does not always answer our prayers and requests in the way we had initially hoped. Whether we are patient or not, God acts in accordance with his will, not with our wishes and desires. However, like Jairus, we find that when God does act, it is usually much more powerful and beautiful than what we had imagined it would be.
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 00:45:06 +0000
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