THE CHRISTIAN’S NEVER-ENDING ADVENTURE
Jesus Heals – No Matter Who, What, When – Mark 5:21-43
As we come to the end of a year, the question uppermost in the minds of some of us older (more mature) children of God is, “Is It Well With My Soul?”
That question went through my mind once again this past week as a doctor discussed with me the possibilities, “at your age”, of what might be the cause of the ailment which brought me in to see her.
When we experience aches and pains on a magnitude that exceeds everyday occurrences, accompanied by congestion and coughing, we turn to physicians and pharmacies. After all, they have remedies for much of what ails us.
However, we all experience pain and sorrow that run the gamut from the physical---emotional---relational---spiritual which are beyond the scope of science.
And, as children of God, we turn to the Creator of our bodies and souls, the Author and Finisher of our Faith, our Great Physician who is Christ the Lord . . . He brings healing beyond anything we ever imagined.
We can trust Jesus to take care of us in all our ways for the rest of our days – no matter what this year brought, or next year might bring.
So, once again, tell me the story of Jesus, inscribe on my heart every word, help me to subscribe to what He said and did - to understand why, so that I too might experience the wellness of those who were touched by His Ministry of Hope – Mark 5:21-43 . . .
What we have here is an actual, factual account of what happened one day when Jesus encountered the spoken plea of a ruler on behalf of his dying, soon-to-be-dead daughter, and the unspoken plea of a sick woman who had just as soon be dead due to the nature of her ailment.
These are the kinds of encounters that occur often during our never-ending adventure with Christ. The setting of this story makes the point that, as ministers, we never run out of ministry opportunities as our journey continues day by day.
Jesus was continuing the journey begun earlier when He had finished the parabolic-teaching of the “multitude” and headed to “the other side” of the Sea of Galilee, a leg of the journey that had been interrupted by a great storm.
When Jesus arrived at the southeast side of the Sea, there awaited Him a demon-possessed man whose immediate healing by Jesus sparked a “bay of pigs” controversy to which our Lord responded by getting back in the boat and returning to the region where folks continued to wait for the return of this miracle worker sent from God whose power of healing fazed everyone. Most were amazed, but some were dazed, and later would become crazed by this man’s authority.
Remarkable, isn’t it - or maybe not - how it is that certain good things that happen to benefit people in general spark such contrasting emotional responses – humble gratitude on the part of many but hysterical outrage on the part of others.
Be that as it may, our Lord is neutral to political, sociological, class distinctions that often get in the way of the common good – that which benefits everybody. Why would anyone of a sound mind object to the healing of a demon-possessed man . . . and now a hemorrhage-plagued woman? Shouldn’t Jesus have bowed to his handlers’ advice to come back to the peasant woman after he first visited the home of a nobleman?`
By His actions, Jesus let it be known that anyone can approach Him with their needs, at any time, in any place. Jesus is interruptible in times of despair or distress! He makes no distinction whatsoever as to who, what or when. He took time with the woman who touched his garment, then He went with the ruler.
Now hear this:
Jesus always goes with us! Whenever we seek His presence and power in faith, as did Jairus, He will respond to our request, He will meet our need for reassurance . . . healing whether presently or ultimately . . . comfort.
Our Lord and Savior cares about us!
Yes, even when things go wrong, we can trust Jesus to take care of our situation, to turn the negative into a positive!
A messenger from the house of Jairus came looking for him with the worst words a parent would ever want to hear. “Thy daughter is dead.” How that pierced the soul of this father!
Surely, the father was overcome with grief - grief mixed with anger, resentment and doubt. He was no doubt angry over the whole situation and turn of events. He probably resented the woman who interrupted Jesus. Could she not have waited a while longer? Did Jesus not sense the urgency of his dire situation? Maybe Jesus did not care as much as he thought.
To add fuel to the fire of discontent, the callous words of the messenger only intensified the atmosphere – “She’s dead. Why trouble the Master any further?”
In other words, “why bother?” Here’s why bother: Jesus says to all people of faith in our times of distress and despair: “Do not fear, only believe.”
Granted: Easily spoken, difficult to grasp. Jesus urged the man not to let his fear of death snuff out the light of faith! You see, while peripheral followers were ready to throw in the towel and call it quits, Jesus did not change his course. He continued toward the man’s house where the daughter lay.
Jairus had demonstrated his faith that Jesus could heal his daughter. Jesus told him to “keep on believing” with that same faith, even in the face of death. What to most of us appears to be an impossible situation is to Jesus a greater opportunity.
Jesus proved to skeptical, scoffing, scornful bystanders a timeless truth for we who trust Jesus: Death is temporary as is sleep . . . an interlude . . . a transition. Our never-ending Hope lies in the fact that Jesus has authority over death to make us whole. Remember the invalid at the pool of Bethsaida to which the poor man dragged himself daily for thirty eight years to bathe in the healing water? Then Jesus came, reached down to him, and asked, “Wilt thou be made whole?” Of course that poor soul wanted to get well! So, Jesus said, “Get up. Pick up your mat and walk.”
Jesus did something so out of the ordinary when He went into the house of Jairus. He touched a dead person! Unheard of! His touch was accompanied by the spoken words, “Little girl, get up.” She got up and walked! “They were astonished with a great astonishment!”
This act of healing “blew their minds”! God is in the business of blowing people’s minds! Whereas some folks scoff at Him, mock Him, hold his followers in contempt, there will come a time when “minds will be blown” as we all stand before Him in amazement.
Folks: We are spiritual beings inhabiting physical bodies subject to ailments and limitations common to the flesh. Inevitably, these bodies will die. Nonetheless, we can approach Jesus with our physical needs because His presence and power do make a difference.
The biggest difference His presence makes for me is my understanding that He is not controlled or overwhelmed by my circumstances. Should my death be the immediate rather than ultimate outcome of my condition, my Lord assures me that it is not the end.
We have this hope – assurance, promise, guarantee – because Jesus proved His authority over death by His miracles of healing while on this earth, yes, but far more importantly, He proved it by His own resurrection from the dead. We will be made whole! Therefore, “It Is Well With My Soul.” Amen.
