Be not afraid, only believe

Jesus was speaking to a huge crowd....

Mark 5:21 ... much people gathered unto him:...

22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet, 23 and besought him greatly, saying, "My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live".

This man would have been one whose peers were against Jesus. But he walked through a large crowd of people, people that would KNOW him, and interrupted the teachings that were being given. For love of his child, he would risk or try anything, even one reviled by his peers...and he ASKED for help...

24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

He was ANSWERED, yes; Jesus said he would come.

Those that heard the request followed to see this miracle done. How often do you get to SEE a real healing? They all had questions and wanted to be where they had a good view. They "crowded in on all sides", bumping right into Jesus and his friends as they walked....there would be many touching each other in such a large crowd trying to fit on a road...

Yet there was another who needed Him and his help that day...

25 And a certain woman, who had an issue of blood (for) twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, ... was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. 27 When she had heard of Jesus, (passing by) came in the press (crowd) behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said (to herself), "If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole (healed)." 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

This woman BELIEVED that if she only REACHED OUT her hand and TOUCHED just his clothing, that she would be healed. And she was....

30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, "Who touched my clothes?" 31 And his disciples said unto him, "Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?" 32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

Jesus KNEW he had been touched in faith, he FELT the power in him react to that touch. He knew it was his clothes that had been touched and he knew a woman had done it. When he asked his friends who did it, they meant "You gotta be kidding?" when they answered. How could you tell which one touched you in a crowd this large? But Jesus kept looking for her....

33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

Like anyone who has taken something from someone without asking, she was afraid she would be punished...but she knew she was already healed. She knew he was aware of her. She told him all the truth.

34 And he said unto her,"Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole (healed) of thy plague (illness)".

His words to her were not a punishment, but an explaination, a comfort and a blessing.

What came to me as I listened to this passage is that he feels all of us around him. He feels our belief and our need.

Those that reach out to him with belief draw His attention. His power is ours to use, even for ourselves.

The man asked for and was going to be given help, not for himself, but for his daugher. She was too ill to ask for herself. He was afraid she would die. We can ask for help for others.

This healing slowed them down...

35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, "Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?"

36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, "Be not afraid, only believe."

His fear had come true...One of his own people had come to tell him his daughter died. Yet a man he did not know, except by reputation, told him it would be alright....what a quandry! Grieve his daughter or believe she would live? Believe in the word of one he had just met? But he would have SEEN the woman that was healed as she confessed to Jesus. And he had heard of other healings or he would not have come to ask for help. He must have kept believing, as hard as it was....

37 And he suffered (allowed) no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. 39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them,"Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth".

40 And they laughed him to scorn. (they ridiculed him, they didn't believe him) But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, "Talitha cumi"; which is, being interpreted, "Damsel, I say unto thee, arise". 42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

His daughter lived....The worst word that can come to a parent, "your child has died", was made untrue. What a relief! What a joy to share with his wife and family!

One reached out in belief and was healed, one asked for another and they were healed....the girl was too young and too ill to believe in a stranger - but her father believed for her and she lived...I believe she lived to know who healed her...and those who believed she was dead would have KNOWN a miracle when they saw it...

Try the impossible. Believe in God's unconditional LOVE.

Ask. Don't be afraid, even to stand in front of a crowd and ASK.
Reach out. You have to reach for what you believe will help you.
See. Pay attention and begin to see the miracles around you.
Know. The power of his Love is His to share with us all. Learn to know it is real when you begin to see it around you in answer to your requests and prayers.
Believe. Not just for yourself, your belief will touch others. Ask for those that don't believe.

Ask that they see His love is real, ask that they might have what they need, too. They will begin to see the miracles and know the power of God's love. In time, as they learn to believe, they will reach out to touch others, too.

Whatever comes to you in life, however hard it is, never forget that He tells us, "Be not afraid, only believe."

Be not afraid.

only believe.