Mark 5:21-43
AT THE REQUEST of the people, Jesus leaves the coast of Decapolis and returns to Capernaum, where He is gladly received. It is nice to learn that there were many attracted to the Lord, but we learn from His own sayings and the report of the gospel writers that much of this was an outward attraction, because people loved to see the miracles and hear His words of wisdom. Belief in the heart was yet another thing, and it is not usually in the response of large crowds but in the story of individuals that we turn to find a genuine response to the Lord and His saving power.
Many years have gone by since this scripture was written, but the pattern is yet the same. It is quite common today to see large crowds turning out to hear the gospel preached — at least where the speaker is popular — but when a faithful word strikes the conscience it is only the individual here and there in the crowd who humbly accepts the words of truth, to the acknowledging of his sins and confession of Christ as his personal Saviour.
Perhaps it is timely to ask yourself: “What has attracted me to the company of those listening to the Word?” Or what has urged me to read a paper such as this—or to scan the Holy Bible?” May it be more than idle curiosity or enjoyment of the company of happy Christian people; or if it be this that has brought the truth before you, then weigh well God’s message to you, whatever your heart’s need may be!
“And behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and besought Him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray Thee, come and lay Thy hands on her that she may be healed; and she shall live.” “And a certain woman, whit had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians... came in the press behind, and touched His garment. For she said, If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole.”
The individual faith of both these people is most refreshing. Happy we are to see the good results — the daughter, though dead, being restored to life; and the older woman being immediately healed. We think how extremely different these two people were: the man is bold—the woman timid. One comes openly—the other in secret. But faith motivated them both and to this the blessed Saviour fully responded. There is a delight too in thinking about Jairus — the loving parent—so concerned about his daughter. Well it would be if more parents were concerned about their daughters and sons being “dead in trespasses and sins,” and earnestly brought their needs to the Lord. Many loving parents spare no cost or effort to give their children every benefit in this world, but carelessly overlook or ignore the most serious of all needs — the child’s salvation. The story of Jairus who earnestly bought Jesus about his child and was rewarded for his faith, is a happy example that all parents would do well to follow.
The enemy saw to it that there was opposition to both these people. The crowd stood in the way of the woman and added to her timidity. The faith of Jairus might well have been shattered when he learned that his daughter had died before Jesus reached his home. There is no one who has ever sought the Lord that has not had something put in the way by Satan to discourage the act of faith, but the Lord knows our hearts and will ever answer the faith of every true seeker.
ML-07/21/1963