Help!

We can learn so much from reading the Scriptures. Reading, and asking questions, and meditating on the Scriptures. I like to use different versions, otherwise I can find myself flying over passages that I have read many times before, thinking that I know this part. I’ve read the four gospels hundreds of times, and yet there is still more for me to learn from them.

The other day I was spending some time in Mark, chapter five. It was the story of Jairus, one of the synagogue leaders. I realised that he would have been a well-known man, and that he would have had a position that many looked up to. His daughter was very sick, and Jairus loved his daughter. Probably Jairus had witnessed Jesus’ healing some people, and hoped that he could also heal his daughter. The thing was, Jairus did not come up alongside Jesus and politely say “hmm, excuse me. I was wondering if you could help me please.” No. Jairus came and fell at Jesus’ feet.

Maybe I should add that when Jairus fell at Jesus’ feet, there was a large crowd present. Many in that crowd would have known who Jairus was. This did not deter him, however, because he was desperate for Jesus to help him. His daughter was dying, and clearly no one else was able to help him. At that point Jairus did not care what anyone thought of him, he just wanted to get Jesus’ attention, and get him to come and lay hands on his daughter and heal her. And Jesus went with Jairus.

How desperate am I when I pray? Do I believe that Jesus can give me the answer that I need when I pray? It would have cost Jairus something when he fell at Jesus’ feet – do my prayers cost me something?

Jairus’ story doesn’t end when Jesus goes with him, though. On the way to his home another desperate person reaches out to Jesus. We are not given the name of this woman. Socially she is almost the opposite of Jairus. She is unknown, and she was not in a position to fall at Jesus feet. This woman had been bleeding for twelve years, and had spent all her money trying to get the help she needed. But no one had been able to help her. And the awful thing was, since she was still bleeding, she was unclean.  According to the Jewish laws she was not permitted to be with other people, and yet here she was in a crowd! Her hope was to just touch Jesus’ clothes, and then she could be healed. No way could she ask Jesus to touch her. She was unclean.

This unnamed woman grasps Jesus’ clothes, and she is healed! But then something disastrous happens – Jesus asks who touched him. Lots of people were touching Jesus, but only one was doing so in faith. Jesus wouldn’t let it go, he insisted on knowing who had touched him. The woman knew she had been healed, so reluctantly she identifies herself, now falling trembling at his feet. Jesus could insist that she be stoned! She is unclean, and she touched his clothes. That is not what Jesus does, however. He tells the woman that her faith has healed her. She is to go in peace and be free from her suffering.

Two desperate people, reaching out to Jesus. Faith made this woman whole, but what happened to Jairus? I wonder what he was feeling while Jesus was ministering to the woman. If it were me I would be thinking “that’s great that this woman is healed, now please can we hurry to my daughter?” And it didn’t help when some people came and told Jairus that it was too late now, because his daughter had died.

While the people thought that it was too late, Jesus knew that was not the case. He doesn’t want any spectators for his next miracle, so he leaves the crowd behind. And when he arrives at Jairus’ home he makes the mourners stay outside of the home. They had laughed when Jesus said that the girl was simply sleeping. Jesus didn’t need to prove anything to these people. He takes the parents, and the disciples who were with him, and he raises the girl from the dead. Gently. And then he tells the parents to feed their daughter.

This miracle was not for show. Jesus tells the parents to not tell anyone what had happened. Jesus gave Jairus what he had asked for.

Two desperate people reaching out to Jesus, receive the help that they needed. God is encouraging me to ask for more. This morning I felt that he said that I had been asking for a pond when he wanted to give me an ocean. I’m not going to politely tap him on the shoulder and say, “excuse me, can you give me this ocean please.” No. I’m going to throw myself at his feet and ask him to give me that ocean that he has encouraged me to ask for.