Mark 5:35-36 NLT
35 While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”
36 But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”
Have you ever started a project or pursued a particular goal with a high level of confidence only to have that confidence tested by other challenges? In the gospel of Mark 5:21-43 there is an account of a religious leader named Jairus who sought the help of Jesus on behalf of his deathly ill daughter. When he found Jesus these were the words he spoke:
“My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”
To me these sound like faith filled words. This man seemed to have a high level of confidence in the ability of Jesus. However, he was immediately faced with two challenges to what he asked and was believing for. In a time of crisis, we know what it is to pray and make it clear to God that we need him, not just now...but right now. In our times of desperation there always seem to be a delay. Jairus' delay came in the form of a woman who also decided to seek the help of Jesus and the release of her faith got His attention. Jesus was on his way to lay hands on the man's daughter but this faith encounter with the woman made it necessary for Him to pause. If you're not familiar with this story take a few minutes to explore the scripture reference. Meanwhile, Jairus was experiencing a delay, but delay doesn't mean denial.
We can see while Jesus was speaking with the woman concerning her issue a negative report was delivered to Jairus. "Your daughter is dead." We all can agree that those four words would make any parent just lose it. Not only did the girl die, but she died while the man had to wait for Jesus to finish commending this woman who received her miracle by the way, for her faith. On the surface it looked like Jairus was first in line, but still lost his turn. How demoralizing.
But when Jesus the Healer and promise keeper heard what was being told the man he immediately instructed him to not be afraid, but only have faith. Notice that Jesus didn't give Jairus an opportunity to verbally respond. At least, we're not seeing a response in the text. Allow me to imagine that before a negative response or even questions that would produce fear could leave his mouth, Jesus intercepted any chance of this happening by refocusing the man's faith. I can hear Jesus say, hey man, you already came talking in faith so just stick to it. Stick to faith talk.
Our emotions can erupt and lead us to speak in ways that are in line with the way we feel in the moment. The good fight of faith takes discipline of thought and speech. It's helpful to fill our minds with God's word until 1. faith is developed and 2. our daily communication becomes Word driven not for the sake of just quoting scriptures, but we speak what we believe. Whatever you may have prayed for or declared according to God's revealed will don't change what you already said because God hasn't changed what He said.
35 While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”
36 But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”
Have you ever started a project or pursued a particular goal with a high level of confidence only to have that confidence tested by other challenges? In the gospel of Mark 5:21-43 there is an account of a religious leader named Jairus who sought the help of Jesus on behalf of his deathly ill daughter. When he found Jesus these were the words he spoke:
“My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”
To me these sound like faith filled words. This man seemed to have a high level of confidence in the ability of Jesus. However, he was immediately faced with two challenges to what he asked and was believing for. In a time of crisis, we know what it is to pray and make it clear to God that we need him, not just now...but right now. In our times of desperation there always seem to be a delay. Jairus' delay came in the form of a woman who also decided to seek the help of Jesus and the release of her faith got His attention. Jesus was on his way to lay hands on the man's daughter but this faith encounter with the woman made it necessary for Him to pause. If you're not familiar with this story take a few minutes to explore the scripture reference. Meanwhile, Jairus was experiencing a delay, but delay doesn't mean denial.
We can see while Jesus was speaking with the woman concerning her issue a negative report was delivered to Jairus. "Your daughter is dead." We all can agree that those four words would make any parent just lose it. Not only did the girl die, but she died while the man had to wait for Jesus to finish commending this woman who received her miracle by the way, for her faith. On the surface it looked like Jairus was first in line, but still lost his turn. How demoralizing.
But when Jesus the Healer and promise keeper heard what was being told the man he immediately instructed him to not be afraid, but only have faith. Notice that Jesus didn't give Jairus an opportunity to verbally respond. At least, we're not seeing a response in the text. Allow me to imagine that before a negative response or even questions that would produce fear could leave his mouth, Jesus intercepted any chance of this happening by refocusing the man's faith. I can hear Jesus say, hey man, you already came talking in faith so just stick to it. Stick to faith talk.
Our emotions can erupt and lead us to speak in ways that are in line with the way we feel in the moment. The good fight of faith takes discipline of thought and speech. It's helpful to fill our minds with God's word until 1. faith is developed and 2. our daily communication becomes Word driven not for the sake of just quoting scriptures, but we speak what we believe. Whatever you may have prayed for or declared according to God's revealed will don't change what you already said because God hasn't changed what He said.
By: Tyheth Monsčan Humbert
August 9, 2021
TalkFAITHtalk