"The Power of Believing" (Mark 5:21-43)

Introduction

The Gospel of Mark continually challenges us about faith, and also often confronts us about the disruptive nature of fear. All this plays out within the interactions between Jesus, his disciples, and the people he encountered. There was also other people watching on, often criticising, and sometimes bewildered by what was happening around them. Questions are being asked of us (in this text)! Are we able to express the sort of faith that makes a difference in our own life, and also makes a positive difference within the community of people around us – people who are also watching, sometimes criticising, often bewildered in life??

Definition

I have entitled this message, “The power of believing” … “believing”, not just ‘belief’. The difference for me, is that “believing” has the connotation of putting faith into action, whereas sometimes ‘belief’ is just intellectual assent, something we agree with, hold on to, and maybe defend, but not necessarily form our whole life around. “Believing” also involves trust, and involves a relationship in which that trust is developed. So, more than having a ‘belief’ in this or that, we are actually “believing” in Jesus. And it is “believing” in Jesus that broadens all possibilities in life. Once we have recognised our brokenness, and encountered God’s grace … then faith (i.e. believing in Jesus) is the only fitting response, and also the pathway to salvation.

Two Encounters - two real life stories brought together

This particular day, Jairus, a synagogue leader, heard the news that his daughter was very sick and possibly dying. And he came upon Jesus. We don’t know if he heard the bad news at home, and went out looking for someone to help his daughter. Or perhaps he was already away from home on his duties, and people came and told him about his daughter’s condition. What we do know, was that in a desperate situation, when he came across Jesus, Jairus fell to his knees in front of him (v.22). The first question then … is why would Jairus do this? It can’t just be his desperation – if just that, then surely a doctor would have been a better bet.

But Jairus was confident in what Jesus could do, for he said, “Come and lay your hands on her [his daughter] that she may be made well” (v.23). So there must have been something else going on?!? Perhaps Jairus had heard good reports about Jesus from various witnesses, and knew that some people were following him around the clock. THIS REMINDS US ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT OUR WITNESS TO JESUS CAN BE! Perhaps this was purely the preparation of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jairus for this very moment. THIS REMINDS US OF THE FACT THAT WE DON’T WALK ALONE TRYING TO SHARE JESUS, BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS ALREADY GONE BEFORE US! Perhaps, then, it was most likely a combination of both … witness and spiritual preparation … that drew Jairus to Jesus that day.

Certainly we see here the beginnings of ‘believing’, as this well-known synagogue ruler was not frightened to bow before this Jesus, who many of his colleagues were opposing; and he was also prepared to do so … very publicly in the midst of a large crowd (this surrounding “crowd” being mentioned twice). We should note that Jesus then, unreservedly, “went with Jairus” (v.24). Where we see the beginnings of ‘believing’, there will always be follow-up and nurture needed. Where the light has dawned, people will need someone to go with them! And this may be in the context of a large crowd full of alternative agendas, yet a crowd that may still be watching very carefully.

Then along the way to Jairus’ house, there is a second encounter (v.25ff). This might have been seen as disruptive or inconvenient – the disciples may have thought so; but, as we come to see, Jesus did not. Being totally about God’s business, Jesus would naturally and spontaneously connect with human need; and here was another such opportunity for ministry. If Jairus’ young daughter were our daughter, especially given her dire condition, we may have found this interruption irksome. We could imagine how Jairus may have felt about it! Jesus, however, had matters under control, and this is part of the faith equation, for us to understand that.

In this case, we know that this woman had heard about Jesus; and whatever she had heard about Jesus … it was compelling! Because of her constant bleeding – this in the minds of the religion of the day rendering her unclean, she would have been unable to attend synagogue services, and be generally limited in her access to community. She was personally, socially and spiritually cut off! Yet she remained open to God. This woman was a little more forward on the ‘believing’ track than Jairus: despite the invasive, painful and expensive treatments she had endured for twelve long years, and the fact that she was only getting worse – she believed that she could be healed by Jesus merely by touching his clothes. And she was right!!

The crowd was so large, Jesus so important, and she so humiliated, that just a brief touch would have to be enough … and in her mind it would be enough (v.28)! Perhaps because of her level of desperation, but I think more so by her level of faith and understanding, she was not concerned that touching him would render Jesus religiously unclean. Jesus had shown that he was far more concerned for people than for empty rules. She courageously managed to get her way through the crowd, and touched Jesus’ “cloak” – and immediately her bleeding stopped – she just knew it had (v.29)! And Jesus knew it too – someone had touched him, and power had gone out from him (v.30a).

Personal relationships

Jesus could have left it at this, and continued on his journey with Jairus, but he knew that, amongst all this crowd, there had been someone who had expressed deep need in this effort to touch him. The disciples … thought that it would be impossible, in such a big crowd, to find whoever it was that touched Jesus (v.31). It sounds like they thought it unnecessary and a matter of further delay. They may have become fixated on the more important situation around the synagogue leader. Not so, Jesus – he sought the woman out (v.32 … “he looked all around”)! Jesus wanted to know who had become the beneficiary in this encounter. For there is a personal note to ‘believing’ – there is an ongoing relationship involved. Jesus wanted to speak with this woman, and interpret what had happened for her, and bring her into discipleship.

We read that the woman put up her hand and came to Jesus in “fear and trembling”, as it had been awesome what Jesus had done for her (v.33). What she had done was a little daring, yet she knew she was in safe hands, and fell at Jesus’ feet in worship. So, she moved past her reticence, built on her long isolation from human contact, and made herself vulnerable. This gave this woman the chance to tell her story, all of the pain and the horrible things that had happened to her – with the realisation that everything had now changed. So, far from an interruption, this had been a Divine appointment!

Jesus then said to this brave woman the most beautiful words she could ever imagine – “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace” (v.34). Here was physical health, salvation, and a return to community life … all wrapped into one – a complete restoration of her life. To hear “Daughter … go in peace”, means to “go” as one ‘restored to a full relationship with God’. Through her faith, God had been released to work in her life.

We should note that not everyone with strong faith gains physical healing. [Of course, there is always spiritual healing.] The Gospel highlights a great number of instances of where faith led to healing, yet you would expect the Gospel narrative to do this, as it attempts to draw attention to the centrality of Jesus as Son of God. Healings in the Gospel are always ‘signs’ of even greater realities. With Jesus’ call to not talk about what had happened (verse 43), we see that it wasn’t so much about the healing, but about what it indicated. Jesus wanted to be known not as a miracle-worker, but more so as Son of God.

In this text, we see the basic truth that faith works – there is power in "believing". How that faith works, is often different for different people in each different situation. Sometimes we have to accept the mysterious wisdom of the Kingdom of God. I feel for those who have lost, when it has seemed seriously before time. We can acknowledge that God knows what He is doing. And we also acknowledge the frailty, and sometimes shortness, of life, and invest all the love and faith possible into it. We know that "believing" on the name of Jesus, and living that out, brings us closer to the will of God for our lives, AND, brings heaven closer to earth every time!

A Remarkable Outcome

As Jairus witnessed this encounter with the woman, he may have found some encouragement. But now … some very sad news. People come out to Jairus to tell him that his daughter had died; that there is no point in bringing Jesus home. You could imagine Jairus lowering his head, having  become completely deflated by this news. He might have easily agreed with the messengers, and told Jesus he was no longer needed. But, Jesus overheard this conversation. This gave occasion for Jesus to say the words that are so central to the Gospel in Mark, and I would say, are so central to our lives today. Which are what?? To the tragedy that Jairus was facing; and to all the complexities in life we are facing … Jesus says, “Do not fear, only believe” (v.36)!

We should not be put off by perceived setbacks. We should not be dissuaded when we are clearly on the right track. We should not let purely human assessments block our path. As if God’s timing would ever be wrong! Fear is the exact opposite of “believing”, for it causes us to run, evade decisions, become passive, and ultimately reject the foundations that have been established. Fear takes away our desire and capacity for engaging broadly in community. So, “believing” is the only pathway forward.

Yet, for Jairus, this would require believing in more than just healing the sick – this was a radical leap to believing that Jesus could raise the dead – a feat that no conventional healer could be expected to achieve. We can see that the common wisdom meant that later many scoffed at this notion. Ignoring the others, Jesus eyeballed Jairus, and said, “Do not fear, only believe”! Do not be concerned about what others may think, or what limitations they might impose on what can happen … “just believe”! With Jesus … no level of hopelessness can be seen as final!

I think the particular fear in this situation with Jairus, was the fear of being unable to control the circumstances happening around him: the severe illness that his daughter had suffered, the need to reach out to a healer that he didn’t really know, then this delay – Jairus was away from home and feeling powerless. This dad just couldn’t fix any of this! And he, a leader of the synagogue! Well, vulnerability like this can be good – if we hear the ‘good news’ and we grab hold firmly to the possibilities of faith in Jesus; coming to know for sure … that his compassion, timing and wisdom know no bounds! Jairus had shown faith in Jesus earlier … just because things had seemingly got worse, there was no (good) reason for Jairus not to continue on believing!

At this point, Jesus only took three of his disciples with him – Peter, James and John (v.37). Why just three? Did Jesus judge, having just made this statement about “believing” over against ‘fear’, that only these three were up to what lay ahead … in the sense of faith and readiness?! What else are we to make of it!? Were these the spiritually maturing ones; or perhaps they could have been described as the humble, gentle, compassionate ones, or perhaps the ones who were open to learning on the job?! These three may falter later, but for now they were the ones Jesus wanted with him; and ultimately they would become outstanding apostles.

Jesus calls us to his side into greater challenges of mission, as we are ready. And, understandably, it was all happening there at Jairus’ house – loud weeping and wailing for a dead girl - a bit challenging! Jesus tried to suggest that because he was now here, things would be different – “The child is not dead but sleeping” – in the sense that what may seem hopeless and permanent is not necessarily so (v.39). The young girl will be raised to life, just as if she had only been sleeping. When the mourners laughed at this, actually “laughed at him” (v.40), they had to go – “he put them all outside”. You see … faith counts, and lack of faith doesn’t! Those without faith were not going to be able to help in this grave situation (and they just might have got in the way).

Jesus took the twelve-year-old girl by the hand, and raised her up. What had seemed dead, still had the capacity for life. Everyone there could be assured, that despite evidence that she had died, this girl was certainly now alive … for she would need something to eat, and no spirit nor ghost could eat food like she was about to.

Conclusion

What Jairus and the woman had in common were hopeless situations: one a sudden illness resulting in death, the other a twelve year battle with a debilitating condition (and getting worse). Their place in society though were at extreme opposites – Jairus … a well-known man of position, property and wealth; and an anonymous woman on the margins, suffering poor health, impoverished, displaced from family and community. But, in both cases, their faith, though differently expressed, was absolutely real. They both came to Jesus and (publicly) fell at his feet. And Jesus made sure that he responded to both of them equally and completely … according to their need and their future. The possibility of faith is open to everyone.

We are here reminded to look beyond the limitations of human understanding, to see what might just happen when Jesus turns up. Here were two complete reversals: in one case – a woman who was desperate and lonely, was completely restored to health and community, and placed on the path of discipleship; in the second case – a girl who had passed away was restored to life, bringing blessing to a whole household. Both were the result of “believing” in Jesus, and led to even greater faith.

Along the way, the disciples were challenged about whether they were fully engaging with what Jesus was setting out to achieve. First it seemed to them too hard to locate the woman who had touched Jesus’ cloak; and then only three of them seem to have qualified to enter that resurrection space with Jesus. Where are we? Do I intuitively understand what Jesus is about; and would Jesus take me into that more challenging place of ministry with him??

We can know that even faith as small as a mustard seed, that is focussed in Jesus, can move mountains! What might seem unachievable or out of reach, might look very different when we realise that Jesus has entered our house. Let the weak now say I am strong; let the poor say I am rich - because of what the Lord has done in me!! Amen!