"Don't be afraid, just believe." (vs.36)

On this journey with Mark there have been times when I have had to linger at the scene longer than usual. This story of a man about to lose his daughter, his plea for Christ to heal her strikes a familiar cord in my own heart. You see, as I write this I too have a twelve year child who faces a serious illness and I too have had to fall at the feet of my Lord pleading that he will spare my child. While Jairus' story covers a span of perhaps only a few hours, mine has been a prolonged one of months. In fact, it has now been two months since my son was first diagnosed with this brain stem tumor and since then he has undergone six intense weeks of radiation treatment. Today we wait another six weeks before we will know from a scan what the effect of the radiation has been. Waiting on our Lord to respond to our cry is often the most testing of times but it is also when our faith has the opportunity to be nurtured. That is what I believe to be happening in this story.

Jairus, Mark tells us, is a lay leader in the Synagogue at Capernaum where Jesus had visited previously. As Synagogue ruler it was Jarius' responsibility to maintain the upkeep of the temple. His view of life within the walls of the temple gave him rare opportunities to observe things others would not see. Perhaps Jairus had been captivated by Christ's teachings at the Lord's previous visit recorded for us in Chapter 1:21. But on this day there was little that mattered to Jarius but the condition of his daughter. Putting aside his job Mark tells us that on seeing Jesus Jairus "fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him. My daughter is dying"(vs.22-23). Mark records no response from Christ but one. "So Jesus went with him.." (Vs.23). But on the journey Jairus' hope for healing is shattered on two fronts. First, Jesus' attention is taken away from his daughter when a sick woman distracts him and receives healing from him. Secondly, this delay was enough to bring about the death of his dear daughter.

Our journey of faith will often take us on the path of pain, anguish and uncertainty. I have shared with you frequently in these meditations that I am presently on that path. There is nothing more needed on this journey than to know that our Lord Jesus Christ travels with us as he did with Jairus. We know that Jesus accompanies us because he has told us so in his word. We are to believe that in faith. On your travels equip yourself with these words from Hebrews 13:5-6. "I will never leave you; never will I forsake you.. So we can say with confidence, the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid."

You will also experience on this journey moments when you can only hang in there by faith as it will appear that our Lord delays in responding to your need. It happened to Jairus and it often happens to us. Sometimes it will appear that Christ has put our need to one side and is too busy ministering to the need of someone else. It is only when our story is complete that we discover otherwise. If it had not been for this delay to Jairus' pressing need, Jesus' words would not have been so penetrating. "Don't be afraid, just believe" were uttered by our Lord when the situation had grown desperate and all hope of intervention had past. The sort of belief and trust Jesus looked for in Jairus required this delay. It is the sort of belief we need when it appears that Jesus has abandoned us. It is the sort of faith that accepts Jesus is in control even when death has not been averted. A better rendering of this command by Christ would be, "just keep believing". "Do not give up Jairus. Keep believing in me even though it appears that all hope is lost. Hang in there Jairus! I am still with you." And isn't it wonderful that while teaching Jairus through this delay, Jesus had time to reach out to a desperate woman suffering from an illness no one else could cure? That is the way our Lord works. What he does and the way he does it is always for our best and for his glory. What ever you are going through, don't be afraid just believe.

What we need very badly these days is a company of Christians who are prepared to trust God as completely now as they know they must do at the last day. For each of us the time is coming when we shall have nothing but God. Health and wealth and friends and hiding places will be swept away, and we shall have only God. To the man of pseudo-faith that is a terrifying thought, but to real faith it is one of the most comforting thoughts the heart can entertain. -A. W. Tozer

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