“Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.”
“When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He stayed by the seashore. One of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up, and on seeing Him, fell at His feet and implored Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death: please come and lay Your hands other, so that she will get well and live.” Mark 5:21-23
[Below paraphrased from Mark 5]
What kind of fear did Jairus feel? His daughter - whom he loved - was “at the point of death.”
As Jesus was on His way to Jairus’ home friends from Jairus home came and brought the feared news, “Your daughter has died” and they added, “Why trouble the Teacher anymore?”
Looking at the circumstances it seemed the rational thing to do. Why bother Jesus - what you have feared has already taken place.
But Jesus
“But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, ‘Do not be afraid any longer, only believe’ ”
What fear was Jesus speaking about - Jairus’ daughter was already dead - what fear was Jairus carrying? Fear of a father not having done enough, how to bear the grief? How to keep on living?
Jesus knew the outcome - he went on to the house of Jairus. When Jesus arrives He sees “commotion and people loudly weeping and wailing.”
Entering the house Jesus says, “Why make a commotion and weep? The child has not died, but is asleep.”
“They began laughing at Him”
Belief at a time of crisis is absurd - not only is it unbelievable - Jesus is even taunted for it.
But Jesus knew - He put all the mourners out and “took along the child’s father and mother and His own companions and entered the room where the child was.”
If you know this story Jesus takes the child by the hand and says, “Talitha kum!” and the girl got up and walked and everyone was astounded.
The mourners did not know who it was who was saying the child had not died - and what authority Jesus had. It should be noted that they were also not the family - they were there to console. Sometimes we can dramatise our situation - we think it will not help to “trouble the Master.” But in every circumstance our God says “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.”
We can calculate outcomes till our hair goes grey but do we count on God?
