Tag Archives: dying

THE GOSPEL OF MARK – DAUGHTER …WHOLE

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DAUGHTER …WHOLE

21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him.

A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’”

32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”

36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 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. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat. Mark 5:21-43

As Jesus moved from the lakeside towards the town, He was shoved and pushed by many kinds of people, curious people, sensation-seeking people, expectant people, hostile people, critical people, sick people, disabled people, desperate people – all wanting to get near Him, all clamouring for attention or shooting taunting comments at Him.

It amazes me how He seemed oblivious to the general hubbub but always caught the sound of a heart cry. His spirit could detect the touch of faith from a dying woman that drew healing energy from Him, and He responded immediately. It was not enough that she received her physical healing in response to her touch of faith. She needed the reassurance of a personal encounter with Him that connected her spirit with His forever.

Jesus ignored the sarcasm that His question drew from His disciples. They were ignorant and without understanding. He was vibrantly alive in the spirit to what was transpiring in the unseen realm. He wanted to move this incident to its completed end. He continued to ask and wait until the healed woman owned up. She was afraid, thinking that she was in for a severe reprimand and perhaps humiliation in front of the crowd. She had broken the law and was in for big trouble!

Instead, she felt the gentleness of the Rabbi’s yoke, reassurance, commendation, shalom; mental, spiritual and physical wholeness. He called her, ‘Daughter!’ Relief, joy, gratitude, excitement must have flooded her heart. She felt reconnected to God. She was no longer unclean. She could love and be loved again. How good it must have felt to have the great load of guilt, shame and fear lifted off her.

Did she have a husband, children, perhaps even grandchildren who have never touched her? After twelve long years she was free to be an active and loving member of her family again. Would she ever forget Jesus? Would she somehow realise who He was?

THE GOSPEL OF MARK – DESPERATE SITUATION…DESPERATE MEASURES

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DESPERATE SITUATION…DESPERATE MEASURES

21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him. Mark 5:21-24

35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”

36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 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. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat. Mark 5:35-43

Once again, the impact of the details of this story jumps out at us. Jesus, ever-popular because He was meeting people’s needs, was back on the Jewish side of the lake. He was thronged by the crowds as He disembarked. One man pushed through the crowd with an urgent plea, Jairus, a man of some importance and influence in the religious community.

Would he have been one of those who opposed Jesus, either because He did not live up to his religious scruples or, because He did not match his expectation of Messiah? Whatever Jairus’ religious stance was, it crumbled in the face of a looming domestic disaster. His twelve-year-old daughter lay dying and he was helpless to do anything about it.

Whatever he believed at that moment meant nothing in the face of this impending loss. He knew what Jesus had been doing in his region and he had seen the effects of His presence among his people. And, miraculously, Jesus was right there then. Flinging every caution to the wind, he pushed through the crowd to Jesus and begged for help.

It’s funny how our own scrupulous belief system falls apart in the face of desperate need. When the chips are down, our carefully constructed doctrinal, protective castle collapses and we run, screaming, to Jesus. Even those who have argued or reasoned their way into atheism, cry out to God in a crisis. Why is that? Is it because fear or despair melts all our antagonism towards God and we stand naked before Him with our broken hearts, knowing instinctively that He is the only one who can help us?

Jairus was no longer the synagogue ruler, but a desperate father, crying out to the only one who had the power to help him. His need immediately connected him with Jesus’ compassion and He set out with him to his home where his child was slipping away from him beyond his voice and his touch.

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE- DON’T PANIC

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DON’T PANIC

“On His return, Jesus was welcomed by a crowd. They were all there expecting Him. A man came up, Jairus by name. He was president of the meeting place. He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his home because his twelve-year-old daughter, his only child, was dying. Jesus went with him, making His way through the pushing, jostling crowd.” Luke 8:40-42.

This is part one of a twofold story.

The first person introduced was a man with a name and a pedigree. He was Jairus, an important person in the community. He had a title and a function – he was in charge of the local synagogue where the townspeople met every Sabbath for worship and the reading of the Word of God. It was also probably the venue for the local school where the boys were taught to read and write and study the Torah.

Was Jairus part of the group of religious leaders who rejected Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah? Was he one of those who were quick to jump on Him for breaking the Sabbath? We don’t know. Luke not only identifies him as a religious ruler but also as a desperate father. Whatever religious scruples he had fell away when his circumstances spun out of control.

His only child was dying. He knew that there was no doctor who could do anything for her. There was only one man who could help him, who had the reputation for having authority over demons, disease and death and who had healed many sick people in his own town. When Jesus, to his great relief, put in an appearance just when he needed Him, he wasted no time in hurrying to get help.

At the very moment when Jairus was putting his urgent request before Jesus, there was another needy person in the crowd, pushing her way towards Him.

“In the crowd that day there was a woman who, for twelve years, had been afflicted with haemorrhages. She had spent every penny she had on doctors but no one had been able to help her. She slipped in from behind and touched the edge of Jesus’ robe.” Luke 8:43-44.

The contrast between these two people could not have been greater. Jairus was an important man; the woman was not even named. Jairus was a religious man; she was a despised and unclean woman. His little daughter was the child of probably the most important man in the town; the woman was nobody. Strangely enough, for every day that the little girl was growing up in her parents’ home, healthy, cherished and no doubt pampered, the woman was living a lonely life of suffering, an outcast and unclean; twelve years of living lives that were worlds apart.

Now the little girl was on the brink of death while the woman was dying slowly. Both she and Jairus needed Jesus. Which one needed Him the most? Which situation was the most critical? Which one would get His attention first? Had it been one of us who had to make the choice, we would probably have told the woman to wait while we attended to Jairus’ child because her need was the more urgent. The woman was alive and walking; the child was dying.

This story is a masterpiece of revelation. Although Luke may have borrowed the record from Mark, the story itself is a mirror of the heart of Jesus. He did not have to make a choice. As we read on, Jesus took the events in His stride. He did not stop and weigh up whose need was greater. He dealt with each situation as it arose. To Jesus, neither need was a crisis, not even the child’s imminent death.

In our lives, situations arise which we view as crises and which throw us into a panic. We rush off to Jesus and breathlessly beg Him to come immediately, forgetting that He is already there and that He is fully aware of every detail, even more than we are. What should be our attitude when we call on Him in desperate moments like these?

Jesus Himself gives us the answer: ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe…'”

Dead And Alive

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DEAD AND ALIVE

When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around Him while He was by the lake. Then one of the synagogue leaders named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at His feet. He pleaded earnestly with Him, ‘My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her and she will be healed and live.’ (Mark 5: 21-23).

Jairus – who was he? One of the synagogue rulers, according to Mark. He was an important man in the community, one of the religious ones. What was his attitude towards Jesus? Was he like the other religious leaders – knew all the answers and had no room in his thinking for what Jesus brought? He, no doubt, taught the children who came to school at the synagogue. He drilled them in the ABC of the Torah. Was he as arrogant as the rest, rejecting Jesus and His compassion in favour of obeying rules?

Something happened to change everything. His only child, a twelve-year-old girl became deathly sick. All his religion and his scruples went out the window. He had no answer for this crisis, but he had seen and heard the effects of Jesus’ presence in the village. People he knew who had chronic conditions and were not permitted in the synagogue, arrived on the Sabbath, healed, whole and beaming with joy.

Jesus! His name rippled around the community and He happened to be in town! Jairus just had to get to Him before his daughter died. He rushed after the crowd, pushed his way through the jostling mob and fell at Jesus’ feet, breathless, sobbing and pleading for a hearing. In spite of the noise and the turmoil around Him, Jesus bent down to listen.

Then something happened – an interruption that sent Jairus into an agony of impatience . . .

While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. ‘Your daughter is dead,’ they said. ‘Why bother the teacher any more?’ overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, ‘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 leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly (Mark 5: 35-38).

The interruption delayed Jesus. Jairus was in an agony of impatience. If He didn’t get to his house immediately it would be too late. “Come on, Jesus. Hurry up! Don’t you realise this is urgent?” Then he saw the contingent from his home and he knew. She was dead. His heart broke. He was shattered. Too late!

Jesus heard the news but seemed unperturbed. With a quiet word of encouragement, “Don’t be afraid, Jairus. Just trust me,” He followed the people to Jairus’ home. What a carry-on met Him there. Wailing and crying enough to wake the dead!

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. (Mark, 5: 39).

That was a sudden change of mood. Crying because the child was dead and then laughing at Jesus because they thought He didn’t know what He was talking about. Professional mourners – that’s what they were – hired to weep and wail when someone died. Jesus was irritated with them. What was the point of all the noise? It would not bring the dead back to life. Perhaps it was their way of “sitting shiva” – mourning with the bereaved parents.

After He put them all out, He took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with Him, and went to 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 began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave them strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat (Mark 5: 40b-43).

Why the secrecy? How were they to keep quiet about what happened when their dead child appeared at the door? Everyone would demand to know how this miracle happened. What were they supposed to say/ “No, she wasn’t dead, only asleep or in a come!” Who would believe them?

There are some interesting intricacies to this story which I shall explain tomorrow.

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

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King of the Jews

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KING OF THE JEWS

“The soldiers also came up and poked fun at Him, making a game of it. They toasted Him with sour wine. ‘So you’re the king of the Jews! Save yourself!’

“Printed over Him was a sign, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

“One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed Him. ‘Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!’

“But the other one made him shut up. ‘Have you no fear of God? You’re getting the same as Him. We deserve this but not Him — He did nothing to deserve this.’

“Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom.’

“He said, ‘don’t worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise.'” Luke 23:36-43 (The Message).

If they had known what they were doing, would the people who were thoughtlessly mocking and taunting Jesus, ever have said and done what they did?

Surprisingly, there was only one unlikely man who understood, and he was at the point of death. Up to this moment he was like everyone else — denying his responsibility for, and ignoring the consequences of his deeds; part of a race of rebels against God, doing what he chose at the expense of others, but one of the unfortunate ones who was caught out. Both men hanging beside Jesus were paying for their misdeeds and he finally knew it.

One was behaving in a typically human way, defiant all the way and using Jesus as a scapegoat for his angry rebellion. The other one watched Jesus’ reaction to the torture and listened to His gracious words of forgiveness. He was not ‘religious’ but in a flash he realised that there was a world of difference between them and Jesus. Perhaps for the first time, he became aware of God and acknowledged his responsibility for his ungodly life.

His rebuke of the other criminal mirrored a reverence for the man dying beside him. Jesus was so different from any other man that he instinctively knew He was God. We might think that his plea was a last desperate effort to escape judgment. I think there was something far nobler in his request than what we give him credit for.

Those around the crosses were taunting Jesus. ‘Save yourself!’ they mocked Him, not understanding that it was the last thing He wanted to do. His response to the dying thief was the culmination of His coming to the earth. It did not matter at what stage of his life the man next to Him recognised and acknowledged who He was. All that mattered was that he had answered the question every human being must answer at some time in his life.

‘Who do you say that I am?’ Jesus had once asked His disciples and Peter had responded, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ That is the answer that transforms a life and settles an eternal destiny.

KING OF THE JEWS! A title of contempt or a declaration of faith? For this man it was a declaration of faith and the last words he ever uttered in this life. But he died with the assurance that he would join Jesus in the presence of God because, like Peter and his fellow-disciples, he embraced Him as Messiah and rightful king of God’s people.

What tipped the scales for him? He answered that question in his comment to his fellow-criminal. “Have you no fear of God?’ His eyes were opened to the realisation that he was where he was because he had never acknowledged God or taken Him seriously. The apostle Paul diagnosed the reason for human depravity. “‘There is no fear of God before their eyes.'” Romans 3:18 (NV)

The moment we take Jesus seriously and acknowledge who He is, the truth of our accountability to Him will dawn on our souls. Like the dying thief, we will step into the realm of understanding the truth and be joined to Jesus forever.