Thursday, July 17, 2014
Mark 5:35-42a 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." ... When they came to the home ... 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. He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!"). Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old).
JESUS STRENGTHENS US ALONG THE WAY
What if Jairus had become discouraged when he was told that his daughter was dead and he should leave Jesus alone? If He had not trusted Christ in the face of laughter and criticism, He would have missed out on a very important blessing God wanted to give Him.
Do we, like Jairus, know that we can go to Jesus for help and count on Him to do what is best for us? Certainly we do. But Satan wants to discourage us from coming to the Lord. He wants to suggest to our minds and our hearts that it's no use to go to Jesus, to call on Him or turn to His word.
The unbelieving world becomes the devil's ally in this too. There are those who belittle Christians either by word or action, and it can discourage us from putting our full confidence in Jesus.
Jairus might have gotten discouraged by the words and the laughter of those who did not think the Lord could help him, but because Jesus was with Him, his faith was strengthened and He got to see His daughter alive again.
Your faith too is strengthened by your Savior who goes with you. He strengthens you through His word, showering you with His blessings in the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. He goes with you and puts His cross before your eyes time and again, showing you that He has died for you, that you are His child whose guilt He does not count against you, that He gave His own life to set you free from everlasting condemnation, and that He has risen again to be with you forever. You will be strengthened and you will be able to stand up to those who say, "Why bother the teacher anymore?"
Jesus loves you. He invites you to put your confidence in Him for every needful thing. Don't go away discouraged, for Jesus goes with you.
