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Mark 5:21-30
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?”
New International Version (NIV)
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Do you hate to be interrupted, too? Every day we awaken with our plans for the day, but so often as Robert Burns put poetically, “our best laid plans” don’t turn out as we had thought they would. The problem I’ve decided is the interruptions. We love it when a plan comes together and even better when nothing gets in the way. The problem if you think about it, is the people. Other people just don’t understand our plans.
Jairus brought his very sick daughter to Jesus’ attention. Jesus agreed to go and heal his daughter but along the way an anonymous woman, who really needed to be healed for twelve years, decided to take a leap of faith. She touched Jesus as he went by and God healed her. Jesus stopped and said, “Who touched me?” They thought he was joking. No one was “social-distancing” that day. Lots of people were touching lots of people. But Jesus knew someone had been healed, and the woman knew, as well.
Why didn’t Jesus just keep going? He was on a mission to heal a little girl. But the woman needed to hear him say, “Daughter, your faith has healed you.” She needed to receive his blessing of peace. Jesus wanted more than her physical healing. He wanted her to be spiritually whole, to live in his shalom knowing she was the beloved daughter of God. But while Jesus was talking they gave him the news: Jairus’s daughter was dead. Did the interruption cost the little girl her life? Jesus continued on the journey and told the little girl to get up and she did. Jesus was not finally finite. He had the power of life and immortality in his voice.
Do we see the connections? Both the woman and the girl were sick. The girl had only been alive the same number of years the woman had been sick. One was the daughter of a synagogue ruler. Both were daughters of God. What if the ministry God has for us today will happen not in spite of the interruptions but through the interruptions? I know. I know. We only have a finite amount of time and ability to get things done. God does not share our limitations. He is infinite. God has time enough today for us to love others who are broken and to help them find healing. Don’t be afraid of the interruptions. Be afraid the persistent pursuit of our own “perfect” plan makes us miss the people.
Our work for our King is not finally measured by successful completion of our agendas but of God’s agenda. People are not interruptions but others who are created in God’s image who also need to know the Father’s love. He has prepared good works for us to do today (Ephesians 2:10). When our light shines, others will see our good deeds and glorify the Father (Matthew 5:16). When you are interrupted today, ask God what he wants you to do. When he shows you, by all possible means, do that and watch God work. For some it may be a matter of spiritual life and death.
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Pray with me:
Father, you know that we have plans for today. Just now we bring them into your timeless presence to say, whatever you want to do in us and through us today, our answer is “yes.” Interrupt us today if you must so that we can help others realize how much you love them. Remind us that becoming your children and living in your love is the real plan. We relinquish our plans. Show us yours. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Join us in memorizing the Word. Scripture for this week:
Matthew 5:40-42
And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
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| Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week. In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.
Joyfully,
Duane
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