#Don’t Be Afraid

Just Believe

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I’ve been reading the book of Mark again. I love reading about Jesus. Reading the Gospels keep you focussed on the important things, the wonder, the joy, the sacrifice, the love.

Mark skips Jesus’ first thirty years to get straight into His ministry time, His purpose – Son of God, Son of Man. Jesus preaches, teaches, heals, performs miracles, forgives, calls disciples… It is wonderful.

But very early in the picture, we see that some are not impressed with paralysed men walking, blind eyes being opened, or demon-possessed people set free. In fact, they are incensed, angry, indignant (2:7,16, 24; 3:2, 6, 22).

Go figure!

Oh, the crowds loved Jesus. Disciples followed. Towns and villages were transformed, but the Pharisees, teachers of the law, were unimpressed. Jesus healed on the Sabbath! Agh! How dare He! He told a man to stretch out his hand to be healed. How evil! He forgave someone. Who does He think He is?

Religious rules, forgetting the heart of the good news, pride, lording it over others, position, traditions… all these can silence the beautiful, the holy, the incredible.

But God!

One of the synagogue leaders, Jairus, had a terrible situation. His little girl was dying. I don’t think it’s a stretch to imagine Jairus as one of these detractors of Jesus, alongside the Pharisees.

Until now.

It’s amazing how desperation, hopelessness, and love for your own, can shift wrong thinking, pride, stubborn beliefs.

And so, Jairus approached Jesus. Not with pride, but humility, falling at Jesus’ feet. He pleaded earnestly, eyes and heart pouring out repentance (in my mind), along with faith and belief –

‘My little daughter is dying. Please come and

put your hand on her so that she will be healed and live.”

Matthew 5:23

There is no scolding, no reprimand from Jesus. Just a willing, compassionate heart to do as Jairus asked.

Jairus must have felt relieved, hopeful.

And then a test. A woman who had been bleeding for many years interrupts Jairus’ miracle. ‘Hinders’ Jesus from the task at hand. Delays the opportunity, the miracle.

Perhaps Jairus is too scared to hurry Jesus, concerned he may lose the opportunity if he complains or makes demands. But his heart must have been racing. He watched Jesus’ love and tenderness, His compassion and power as this lady, a Jewish woman, broke those very rules Jairus burdened the people with. (She was not meant to be in the crowd while bleeding.) He watched her treasured and blessed by Jesus, healed, made whole, congratulated –

“Daughter, your faith has healed you.

Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Mark 5:34.

As synagogue leader, Jairus could possibly have had her punished for even being there, removed the delay. But he didn’t. Perhaps he remembered the true calling of the priests, the joy and prayer and Presence of God that was meant to be in the House of God, the hope that should have been found by the people in the synagogue. Instead of rules. Perhaps this woman’s miracle gave hope for his own!

And then the news.

“Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore?”

Mark 5:35

I might be reading too much into this, but I imagine these folk were not impressed when Jairus told them he was seeking Jesus out. It’s like they were almost glad the daughter died so that Jesus could not heal her and so receive more attention and praise.

Such a lack of compassion. Heartless.

But Jesus hears them.

Without even looking at them, Jesus tells Jairus,

“Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

Mark 5:36

These words are some of the most powerful we should have in our memory bank, our heart, our mouth.

Jesus’ instructions to Jairus are the most powerful, important words this man will ever hear.

I hear so much more than those few words. I imagine Jesus saying, ‘Will you trust Me? Will you believe Me, believe in Me? Will you follow and obey, correct your faulty and religious thinking? Will you serve the people instead of lord it over them? Will you remember who your Father God is, and His heart of love and compassion for His people?’

Jairus believed.

As they came to the home, the wailers were in full flight.

Those who heard Jesus’ next words, “The child is not dead, but asleep,” laughed at Him – in front of their friend and leader whose daughter had just died. What?!

So, Jesus sent them away and said –

“Little girl, I say to you, get up!”

Mark 5:41

This twelve-year-old girl stood up and walked around. The people were astonished. Yes!

Incredible.

“Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

Blessings,

Jenni

Covenant of Love

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Don’t Be Afraid #14

I’ve been reading the book of Nehemiah. It’s a wonderful testimony of God at work in His people, and of people responding with courage and faith to fulfill what God has put on their hearts. Here is a story of shock, mourning, fasting and weeping, repentance and action. And that’s just the introduction!

Nehemiah stepped out in faith to seek the king’s favour to go and repair the walls of Jerusalem. He was in exile, serving under King Artaxerxes. Even though he was afraid, he acted on his convictions – perhaps in a similar way Esther sought favour with King Xerxes, not knowing whether she would live or die (Esther 4:15-5:3).

Faith doesn’t come without feelings. Nehemiah said, ‘I was very much afraid.’ But it didn’t stop him. He ‘did it afraid’ (Nehemiah 2:2). He did it with faith stirred in his heart, and the ‘covenant of love’ as a reminder, not only to himself, but to the God to whom he prayed (1:5).

This covenant of love is a foundation from which everything springs from. We can stake our lives on it! We can have confidence in this God of love.

A secretive, night-time reconnaissance revealed the extent of the damage, and Nehemiah discussed it, and his plan, with officials, priests and other Jews the following day. They answered him with an encouraging, “Let us start rebuilding.”

Just like that. They said yes, and then went to work. Oh, to be as faithful to the ‘yes’ I give Jesus.

Of course, they are very quickly mocked and ridiculed. But Nehemiah is also quick to answer. ‘The God of Heaven will give us success,’ he declared, and then rebuked them with a reminder of their non-covenant status (2:20). Ouch!

I think we need to be a bit like that these days. Christians are mocked and ridiculed quite regularly. Some have been taken to court for standing up for their faith. Others have lost jobs. And many saints in various nations have lost their lives. May we have the courage to stand firm in our faith and speak up when needed. May we remember the God of Covenant to whom we belong as well as King David, while still a shepherd boy, did. He was quick to speak to Goliath with such covenant-language:

“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the Name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands…”

1 Samuel 17:45-46

David then described, quite graphically, what he would do to Goliath. And he did! David knew the God of Covenant and dared to make his own challenge against a man, a giant, much more experienced and much more threatening than himself, because he trusted his God. Size wasn’t the issue. The covenant was.

This is the kind of brave I want to be.

So, Nehemiah and the people had the walls half built (4:6) when the two men reappeared to threaten, ridicule and mock, yet again. Oh, and they added name calling. That seems to be the way these days, too. If those who hate you can’t defeat you, they will call you names.

Jesus says to rejoice when people revile you and persecute you (Matthew 5:11-12). Now I’m not into persecution, and many have suffered immensely, but I am so over name-calling that to be called a ‘bigot’ (or similar) these days is almost tantamount to being called an authentic, Bible-believing Christian. We must learn to rejoice, because we are treading on enemy toes. Good.

The ‘two men’, Sanballat and Tobiah, called on some additional help against the Jews and their project. And they added extra anger to their repertoire of threats, plots and trouble. Stirred-up emotion is another ploy of the enemy against God’s people, too. But we are to stay calm and grounded in Him, not responding in kind, but in love, prayer, courage and action, led by Covenant and the Holy Spirit.

Now, the people were afraid. These were not idle threats. So, Nehemiah takes practical, protecting, and assuring action to keep the people safe, without stopping the work. Firstly, they prayed and posted guards day and night (4:9).

Prayer and Posts. This is what we are called to – to take up our posts, watchful and prayerful.

In Jerusalem, the exposed places were covered, the danger zones matched with swords, spears and bows. Nehemiah did all he could to look after the people.

We would do well to mimic this kind of love and care. The ‘work’ of God is important. But so, too, are people. We matter to God. Walls are for the people. If we can protect and encourage others against threats, let’s do it!

Nehemiah, having ‘looked things over’, stood and declared:

“Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

Nehemiah 4:14

We are covenant people who trust our awesome God. We will be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9). Help us, Lord.

Blessings. Jenni xx

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