Instruction
Scripture: Mark 5:21-43
As Mark laid out the gospel of Jesus, he recorded a series
of miracles which move in an ascending pattern from nature to the demonic to
healing a long lasting illness to raising the dead. The miracles in this
reading took place as a synagogue ruler named Jairus asked Jesus to heal his
sick daughter. Jesus’ mission of mercy was delayed however by a woman who had a
bleeding disorder. She touched Jesus and was healed. In the meantime, the girl
died, and Jesus, undeterred, raised her back to life. This passage shows us
Jesus’ compassion for the sick and suffering even as it also reveals his divine
power.
Teaching
It is important to see that none of the people’s lives that
Jesus interacted with in this reading went the way they dreamed they would.
Jairus and his wife never wanted to intercede for a sick and dying daughter.
The woman with the flow of blood only wanted a normal life. Too often we think
we have God and his ways sorted out. We think we know what he should to in this
situation or that. Jesus shows in this reading that God uses those undesirable
experiences for his glory.
God is able to do something glorious with the parts of our
life that cause us to struggle. The pain and the sorrow that we think are the
end are for him the places where his glory can be seen. Jesus does not always
give us earthly glances of healing and resurrection as he did in this reading.
It would seem they get a happy ending, when many others remained ill or died.
We should see in these miracles a promise of what the kingdom of God does for
all people. All will be healed. All will be raised. This is but a taste.
Life
It is a horrible thing for a parent to mourn the death of a
child. So many hopes and dreams are shattered when something like that happens.
Perhaps you have had some taste of such sorrow. It may be that we have prayed
for people we love to get well and they didn’t, or worse, they died. It may be
that our own lingering illness has debilitate our lives. Does this mean that
God has abandoned us or doesn’t love us? Absolutely not!
Part of the challenge of our life is to live now possessing
all of God’s promises, but not having yet what was promised. We are promised
healing, relief from sorrow, everlasting life, etc., but we don’t have them
yet. We keep our eyes on Jesus waiting for the day when he makes his promises
our reality, and in the meantime we live in hope because of his faithfulness
and love trusting that he has won the victory.
Prayer
The theme of this
prayer is Instruction.
O Holy Spirit, teach us to see illnesses, sorrows, grief,
and pain as places where we experience your mercy and love. Teach us to be
compassionate in those times. Guide us to remember your faithfulness to us when
we see others in need so that we will be mindful of their need. Teach us the
words to say, to be comfortable with silence, to act in the best ways, and to
do loving deeds that proclaim your mercy and salvation to those in need. Guide
us into all wisdom to live according to your Word. Amen.
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