Tuesday 7 July, 2015

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 is a book focused on and jam-packed with recounts of Jesus ministry. Jesus teaching, Jesus healing, Jesus delivering people from demons, Jesus feeding thousands, etc. Jesus radical teaching and miraculous works bring into question the traditional understanding and observance of the Sabbath, of fasting, of family, of a woman’s role and so on and so forth. By the time we get to this story in Mark the Synagogue leaders of the time are already opposed to Jesus radical ways and are looking for ways to confront him and to “bring him down”.

It is in this context that Jairus a local Synagogue leader throws himself down, in front of a large crowd, at Jesus feet and fervently pleaded with him to come and lay his hands on his daughter so that she may be healed and she may live. In his asking of Jesus to do this Jairus declares his belief in Jesus ability to do this miracle.

He humbles himself, he believes and he acts. And he does so in the midst of opposition, knowing he risks ridicule, and risks losing his job, his position, his livelihood and maybe even jail for such behaviour.

Jairus’ story encourages me to humble myself and come to Jesus, no matter what the circumstances and no matter who is looking.

Jesus, I am sorry for the times I have let my pride stop me from coming to you. I humble myself now and declare that you are my Lord and that I want to come to you where ever I am, in any circumstance, no matter who is looking.

Written by Zoe Stewart