Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Mark 5:35-40a While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher any more?" Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe." 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.
JESUS CARRIES ON
Everything seemed to be going well for Jairus. The doctor was on his way. But then some men came with a message: "Your daughter is dead ... Why bother the teacher any more?" It was like being told at the door of the hospital, "It's no use. The doctors can't help you."
But the discouraging words from the messengers did not have any impact at all on Jesus. In fact, the Bible says that He ignored what they said and just kept on walking toward the place where the little girl lay. He even reassured Jairus: "Don't be afraid; just believe."
Jesus was not bothered either when they arrived at the home of the synagogue ruler and He found that outside the house there was a huge commotion with people crying and wailing loudly. When He remarked that this death would not be any more troublesome to deal with than if the girl were asleep, the crowd began laughing--and then too Jesus ignored their mockery as though He did not even hear it.
It may call to our minds another scene in the life of Jesus. Another place where He was laughed at; where it was suggested that there was nothing He could do to help. Remember when He was on the cross; when He was dying because He was bearing the load of the world's guilt before His Father in Heaven. There He was, suffering on account of the sin, the disobedience, of all mankind. And while He was enduring all those terrible moments that He had to endure, we are told (Luke 23:35) the people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One." There too Jesus ignored the laughter. Jesus' carries on with His work!
