Unbelief must be put outside

Mark 5:21-43

Can you picture Jesus being asked to leave an area where he has just seen a man who lived among the graves and was a big problem to the region free from the control of demons?  But Jesus is still being asked to leave, especially in the United States of America, He is not welcome in our government, in our schools, and universities.  I’m sad to have to tell you that He is not welcome in many homes, businesses, and even Churches that go by His name.

So without a word, Jesus honors the request and gets into the boat and returns to the western side of the Sea of Galilee.  And you recall the large crowds that watched Jesus and His disciples cross over to the other side of the Sea, they are there when He returns, just hoping He would return.

But a leader of the synagogue whose name was Jairus, a dad of a very sick little twelve-year-old girl sees Jesus, and he fell at His feet, and Scriptures tell us he kept begging with these words.  Found in Mark 5:23-24, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” And he went with him.”  Those last five words tell you a lot about Jesus, He was not too busy, He did not have to change His schedule because Jesus saw faith coming from Jairus, and it is faith that is the victory that overcomes the world.  It is our lack of faith that will keep Jesus from going to or meeting our needs and if you do not believe that just keep reading.

Unlike Jairus, we have no name for the lady in the crowd who had vaginal bleeding for 12 years.  Do you understand that means she was not welcome, even forbidden from going to synagogue, for she was unclean according to Old Testament Law?  The Scriptures tell us that she has been under many doctors care over the twelve years, and they had only done more harm.  Jesus was maybe her last hope, but she was not welcome in public, but her faith tells her just touch his robe, and you will be healed.  With that faith, she works her way into the crowd and reaches down and touches the robe of Jesus, and immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.  What faith, have you experienced such faith, if not is it because you are still putting faith in what someone else can do?  So many today are asking the government to fix this or that, but to my knowledge government has never fixed or made anything.  Can you imagine the joy this lady is feeling, and then Jesus asked the question; who touched me?

Often Jesus’ disciples are WOWED by Jesus, and this is one of them, you're in a crowd, they all are trying to touch you, have you lost it, are you out of your mind?  But Jesus knew that power had gone from Him, and the woman knew that she needed to confess and tell Jesus why she had needed to touch His garment.  These were Jesus’ words to the lady; “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”  It is faith that sets us free, two examples very different, but the same faith.

Now Jesus is at Jairus’ home and even before getting to the house people had come and reported that the daughter was dead.  Do you recall Jesus words to Jairus, “Do not fear, only believe.”   But now they are at the house, and people are weeping and wailing loudly, and when Jesus had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.”  Now, pay close attention, this is what unbelief looks like, they laugh at Jesus, see disbelief is always the smartest people in the room; just ask them, and they will tell you so.

So unbelief has to be put outside, then faith can work, and that is what Jesus did, He put them out and I bet that was a site to see.  He only allowed the mother and dad, and His three disciples.  Mark reports what happens when unbelief has been put out of the house in verses 41-43.  “Taking her by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Once more a verse I read over looking for the meat, has taught me my unbelief must be put outside for faith to flood my life.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice