GOD’S DOORKEEPER
Opening Prayer
Holy Spirit, as I come to study the Word today, take what may be familiar and open my heart to deeper truths that will build my vision for who Jesus is, for what he has done, and what he is still able and ready to do.
Read MARK 5:35–43
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
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[a] 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.
Footnotes
- Mark 5:36 Or Ignoring
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously wrote, ‘Only believers obey; only the obedient believe.’ Our beliefs are not measured by our statements, but by our actions. Review the past week in light of this thought. Jesus told the woman he met on the way to Jairus’ house, ‘…your faith has healed you …’ (v. 34). Now he tells Jairus, ‘… just believe’ (v. 36).Faith plays a key role in Jesus’ healing miracles. Jesus was impacted by the lack of faith of his hometown (Mark 6:5, 6); elsewhere faith seemed to unlock healing. If someone is healed, we cannot take credit because we believed; nor can we say, ‘You were not healed because you didn’t have enough faith.’ But if faith is in the mix, whether it is the faith of the person who is sick or of the person who loves them, the atmosphere changes.
One commentator uses this striking phrase: ‘Faith opens the door to the power of God.’* It is not that faith is the power that heals, but it lets the power of God in.
As they made the long walk to Jairus’ home, Jesus encouraged him to play his part. As a father he would do anything for his ‘little daughter’ (v. 23). The best, and only, thing he could do for her was to put his faith in Jesus.
Apply
Who is on your heart at this time? Rather than focusing on the problem they face, hold them before Jesus and pay attention to his kindness and power.
Closing prayer
In my walk with you, Jesus, help me that it might be one of increasing faith, one in which I live with more and more expectancy as I look to you.
*DE Garland, Mark: NIV Application Commentary (Zondervan, 1996), 227.
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