Expectation

"Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, 'Don't be afraid; just believe.'" Mark 5:36

I spent some time in Mark 5:21-43, this morning. Two healings take place; a 12 year old girl is brought back from the dead and a woman with a bleeding problem is healed after 12 years of suffering.

Jesus is on his way to the home of the dying little girl. The girl's father, Jairus, a synagogue ruler is with him. The disciples are there. The crowd, that was with Jesus when Jairus came to ask for help, follows along. They want to be wherever Jesus is going. They follow in expectation.

The woman who suffers from a chronic bleeding condition is in the crowd. She works her way through the masses in order to touch Jesus' cloak. She believes,

"If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." Mark 5:38

She does touch his cloak. She is healed. Jesus stops the entourage and insists on knowing who was healed. She comes forward, falls to her feet, and "told him the whole truth." (Mark 5:33) A private healing moment turns into an invitation to share her story with the masses.

"Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." v. 34

Jairus witnesses the entire encounter. Meanwhile, men from his home show up with bad news.

"Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher any more?" v. 35

Why bother?

They speak with finality. Without hope.

Ignoring their report, Jesus speaks words of his own to Jairus,

"Don't be afraid; just believe." v. 36

At this point, Jesus gets rid of the crowd and only brings three of his disciples with him. At the house, a different crowd greets them...crying, wailing, mourning. A people with no hope. They laugh at Jesus when he tells them there is no need for tears...the child is merely asleep.

They laugh at Jesus.

He clears the house of everyone but the girl's parents, himself, and Peter, James and John. To their complete astonishment (v. 42), he heals the child. Afterwards he gives them strict orders not to tell anyone about it. (v. 43).

I have been puzzling over the contrast in these two healings.

Why is it that some encounters with Jesus strengthen our faith and invite us to share our story in the context of community?

Why is it that other encounters with Jesus are meant to strengthen our faith but only in the privacy of our relationship with Him?

And I've been thinking about the two distinctly different communities where the healings took place:

1. A group of people who expected miracles from Jesus. They were open and waiting for Jesus to act. They were hungry with hope. They believed the impossible was possible with Jesus in their midst.

2. A group of people who expected nothing from Jesus. They were close-minded and without hope. Instead of clinging to the truth Jesus spoke; they laughed in his face.

Why are some groups more expectant of Jesus showing up and moving in a powerful way than others?
And how do I, as a member of the community, contribute to that expectation that Jesus will move?

I want to live my life as if I expect Him to move. I want to live my life as if I believe He is moving right now.

Help me, Jesus.