A Word from the Word…

When I was single, and in my twenties, my best friend and I would often ride to church together. On the way home, we would ask…”Did you get a Word from the Word?” Which meant: “Did the Holy Spirit draw anything out of the message or service that challenged, encouraged or convicted you?”

A couple of weeks ago, I was reading Mark 5:21-42 when the Holy Spirit gave me a Word from the Word. I’m not sure how well it will translate into a blog post. It may be one of those messages best shared in person. Nonetheless, I’m going to give it a try. I’ve copied the scripture and written in bold the parts that “jumped” out at me. I then highlighted in blue the “message” I believe the Holy Spirit was trying to convey. Hope this works..

Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman

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.

#1. Jarius was Desperate for a Miracle. A leader in the synagogue falls at the feet of the man many in the synagogue were looking to persecute.

A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 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. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

#2. Even-though Jarius was desperate—Jesus was DELAYED. Even-though sometimes I am desperate; God (my answer to prayer) seems to be delayed.

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?”

#3. There’s always a Debbie Downer; a naysayer.

36 Overhearing (Ignoring) what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

Totally different message but note to self—sometimes I need to #1. Ignore what people say; #2 Don’t be afraid; #3. Just believe.

37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James.

#4. Jesus DECIDED which DISCIPLES to bring. He didn’t take everyone. He chose 3.

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.”

#5. Jesus made a DECLARATION of FAITH. He started prophesying or speaking to that which be not as though they were. Romans 4:16 KJV.

40 But they laughed at him.

#6. They laughed at Him—People will laugh at me.

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.

#7. Jesus REMOVED the DOUBT (ers); and then He brought in the FAITH (believers).

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.

God pressed into me the different kind of people present in this passage and it’s relevance for today:

#1. There’s always someone who is DESPERATE for a miracle.

#2. There’s always someone or something in NEED OF A RESURRECTION. The little girl was dying and then she was dead. I am sure her parents had done all they knew to do to heal her. But in the end, they needed a SAVIOR or a DELIVERER.

Sometimes I am the one in need of a resurrection and sometimes I know the one in need of the resurrection. Maybe the death I experience is like that of this little girl… a physical illness or disease. Maybe the death I see is the death of a relationship, or a depleted bank account, or a shattered heart or a seemingly hopeless circumstance.

What I love about this passage is that the even-though the person in this account was dead and unable to seek out her SAVIOR there was still hope for her deliverance. Because someone was willing to INTERCEDE on her behalf. Someone who loved her sought out the SAVIOR for her. And because her father sought out her SAVIOR she was DELIVERED!

#3. And just as sure as there is someone desperate for a miracle, or someone/something in need of a resurrection; I can rest assured there will always be a DEBBIE DOWNER-NAYSAYER. Unfortunately, the devil seems to be able to find someone willing to speak doubt to me.

Someone will say it can’t be done. And more times than not, it will be someone I’m close too, or admire or believe would be stronger in the faith.

There always seems to be someone around to tell me there is no reason to have hope, or it is pointless to have faith or there is no need to bother my Savior. For my problem is too BIG for Him or it is simply too late for me.

#4. But then there were the DISCIPLES…Peter, James and John.
These were the men Jesus called on when He needed to get some Kingdom work done. When Jesus needed to raise the dead, He called on Peter, James and John to go with Him. Jesus brought in some Faith to overcome the Doubt.

#5. Then there were the DOUBTERS.
When Jesus arrived at Jarius’ house and pronounced the little girl was not dead rather asleep, the people laughed. They ridiculed Him. They did not believe Him.

So, Jesus removed the Doubters.

#6. Once Jesus had removed the Doubters; He brought in FAITH–THE BELIEVERS. Jesus took Peter, James, John and the parents of the little girl into the room. He demanded the dead to be raised to life. He said to her Get Up! And she did!!

In light of all this, I seemed to be left with three questions?

#1. Which one am I?

• Am I the one Desperate for a Miracle?
• Am I the one in Need of the Resurrection?
• Am I the Debbie Downer??…the one saying “Don’t bother the teacher…it’s too late? It’s pointless to keep praying about it…it’s done.
• Am I the The Doubter? Am I the one who can only see with physical eyes? Am I the one God needs to clear from the room before He raises the Dead?
• Or am I The Disciple? Am I the one God calls in when He needs to get some Kingdom work done? When God needs to raise something or someone from the dead, am I the one He brings along with Him?

Unfortunately, I know what it’s like to be desperate for a miracle. And I have needed my fair share of resurrections. And truth be told, I have spent too much of my life being the Doubter or the Debbie Downer. I know what it means to want to quit praying, quit hoping, quit struggling or only see things through physical eyes.  

And so this led me to the next more important question…

#2. Which one do I want to be?

I want to be the one who is able to see life in the face of death.  I want my spiritual eyes to be sharper and more dependable than my physical eyes;  whether I am desperate for a miracle, in need of a resurrection or the disciple He is willing to use.

I want Him to know my name.

 

And this led me to the most important question…

#3. What am I willing to do about it…?

Do I need to fall at His feet?  Intercede on someone’s behalf? Or get up and go?