GPS Guide – November 26, 2018
HOLY INTERRUPTION
Monday
Read: Mark 5:21-43
“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. Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 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.” So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
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?” Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 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. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this,and told them to give her something to eat.” (NIV Mark 5:21-43)
Study: While Jairus appealed openly for Jesus’ help, the woman surreptitiously touched Jesus’ clothing. There were good reasons for her fear: people saw her illness as a curse from God and treated her as an unclean outcast. Have you ever approached God in a timid way, something like this woman did, and yet found divine strength and comfort even through that cautious approach? Jesus’ dealing with the woman slowed his progress to Jairus’ home enough that the little girl died. Hearing that news, Jesus said to the father, “Don’t be afraid; just keep trusting.”
If you had been Jairus learning that your little girl had just died, would you have been able to hear and trust Jesus’ message? When have you had to keep trusting God after a prayer of yours was not answered in the way you had hoped?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for inviting me to “interrupt “ you when I have a concern. Give me the faith to trust you even when, in your wisdom, you do not give me exactly what I ask you for. Amen