Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
Sound & Season is a daily audio devotional designed to connect the routine moments of life to the rhythms of the Church seasons.
This is Sound and Season. It's Tuesday, 12th day of Lent. Our passage today comes from the gospel of Mark chapter 5 verses 21 through 43. And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him he fell at his feet, and implored him earnestly, saying, my little daughter is at the point of death.
Jeffrey Heine:Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live. And he went with him, and a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for 12 years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment, For she said, if I touch even his garments, I will be made well. And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.
Jeffrey Heine:And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, who touched my garments? And his disciples said to him, you see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, 'Who touched me?' And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, daughter, your faith has made you well, Go in peace, and be healed of your disease. While he was still speaking, there came from the Ruler's house someone who said, 'Your daughter is dead.
Jeffrey Heine:Why trouble the teacher any further?' But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, do not fear, only believe.' And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. And when he had entered, he said to them, why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but sleeping. And they laughed at him.
Jeffrey Heine:But he put them all outside, and took the child's father and mother, and those who were with him, and went in to where the child was. Taking her by the hand, he said to her, Talitha kumi, which means, little girl, I say to you arise. And immediately the girl got up and began walking, for she was 12 years of age, and they were immediately overcome with amazement, and he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and he told them to give her something to eat. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Jeffrey Heine:When Jesus says these words, do not fear, only believe, we must bear in mind that once again the authority and identity of Jesus are being revealed. A person can only say, do not fear, if they can do something about that which is causing fear. Otherwise, it's merely an encouragement, a call to buck up or to feel better. But that is not what Jesus is doing. He's calling Jairus to believe, to believe in him rather than the fear, because Jesus has the authority to act against what is causing his fear.
Jeffrey Heine:And while all of this is happening with Jairus, a woman who has suffered greatly reaches out and touches Jesus. It is a touch rooted in belief, not fear. Many people are in the crowd pressing in on Jesus, but only one hand reaches out in belief. Jesus calls Jairus to this same belief, to trust that he has the authority as the Son of God to bring healing and life. And Jesus calls us to this same belief today.
Jeffrey Heine:Lord, hear our prayer, and let our cry come to you. Let us pray. Lord God, whose son our savior, Jesus Christ, triumphed over the powers of death and prepares for us a place in his kingdom, grant that we who have this day given thanks for his life, death, and resurrection, may we praise you in your kingdom forever. Oh, lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Glory to the father and to the son and to the holy spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever.
Jeffrey Heine:Amen.