Editors note: This devotional is taken from the archives of Gospel of Mark, chapter 5.

Quiet Times (Psalm  25, Proverbs 25, and Mark 5:35-42)

“While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler.  "Your daughter is dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher any more?" Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe." (Mark 5:35-36, NIV)

Observations:

I asked myself who are the characters involved.

I asked myself what the role of the ‘men from the house of Jairus was’.

They came to Jairus, the synagogue ruler who was with Jesus to tell him, “Your daughter is dead, why bother the teacher anymore?"

I asked myself what could have been going through the mind of Jairus when he heard the words, “Your daughter is dead, why bother the teacher anymore.”

Jairus could have thought what had happened few minutes ago with his encounter with Jesus:

“Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and 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." (Mark 5:22-24, NIV)

Jairus would have been in so much pain and agony after hearing the words from the men regarding his daughter. It would have been that much more painful to him because He knew it was God’s will to heal his little dying daughter when he saw Jesus, fell at His feet and pleaded earnestly with Jesus which is equivalent to praying to Jesus regarding his little daughter who was dying, and received an answer from Jesus. Jesus was willing to go with Jairus to his house to heal his little daughter who was dying.

Emotions could be rolling like a blazing thunder through his mind thinking, this cannot be happening because he was so sure it was God’s will to heal his little daughter. If it was God’s will then she could not have died. He was still with Jesus and knew that Jesus was going to his house. Now he is told not to bother with the teacher anymore because the men were telling him indirectly it was not God’s will to heal his daughter.

As a human being it could have made him wonder and doubt, was it really God’s will to heal my little dying daughter or not. Because if it was, she would not have died like the men had told him.

Whatever may have been going through his mind, Jesus would have known about it and Jesus addressed Jairus, the synagogue ruler in front of the men who had told him the bad news.

I asked myself what the role of Jesus was.

Jesus was on his way to see Jairus’ little daughter who was dying. On the way, though he encountered a woman who wanted healing from Jesus. Jesus stopped to talk to the women addressed her as daughter, telling her to go in peace and how her faith had healed her from her disease.

Now after Jairus heard the tragic news about his little daughter, Jesus addresses him in front of the crowd by doing two things:

I asked myself what is the significance of Jesus ignoring the remarks of the men?

Jairus believed it was God’s will to have Jesus heal his daughter and he believed so much that he stuck with Jesus while Jesus was coming to his house. Now, people Jairus knew come to tell him figuratively it is not God’s will for your daughter to have lived so don’t bother the teacher anymore.

Jesus must have been annoyed with the men. Usually when someone is annoyed or not telling the truth, they are told to be ignored. Jesus tells Jairus to ignore the men in front of the crowd. In other words, Jesus is telling Jairus to believe what he believed all along after seeking Jesus in prayer. What Jesus wanted Jairus to believe was that it was in God’s will to see his little dying daughter better as he had believed regardless of what was happening around him and how the circumstances looked. This is evident by Jesus confirming to Jairus what he had come to believe by two declarative statements:

"Don’t be afraid and just believe!"

In other words, no matter how the situation looks around you, Jesus was telling him to have peace that his daughter will be alright! This is exciting to know.

Jairus did believe in what Jesus was telling him. This is evident because they proceed to the house of Jairus. Interestingly something happens after Jesus addresses Jairus regarding the men’s statement. This is evident by the following verse.

“He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James.” (Mark 5:27)

Interpretation:

I asked myself the significance of what Jesus did.

The men had just told Jairus in the front of the crowd that his daughter was dead and there was no pointing bothering Jesus now. However, Jairus continued to believe in God’s Will to heal his daughter but I do not think anyone else believed that. They might have been giving contradictory messages so Jesus did not let them go with Him.

 God is not an Author of confusion and the people must have been causing confusion to Jairus and what he had believed so Jesus told him, 'Do not to be afraid just believe' what he had come to believe regarding God’s will. Now Jesus goes with him to his house with only three disciples.

^“When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, "Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was.” (Mark 5:38-40, NIV)                            

I asked myself the significance of the phrase, “After he put them all out”.

I found it very significant what Jesus did. Jesus had just come to Jairus’ house after assuring Jairus of God’s will to heal his daughter as he had believed. Jesus had also kept everyone else away who were speaking messages of confusion to Jairus because God is not an Author of confusion. Now once again, Jairus is being given mixed messages by those in the house when Jesus addressed everyone there. Since they did not believe and were causing confusion, Jesus ‘put them all out’ and only took with Him those who believed and had peace that Jesus would confirm God’s will to Jairus. This is evident by the verse: “he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was.”

I asked myself the significance of what had happened.

What came to my mind was timing. Jairus had believed that it was God’s will to have his daughter healed when Jesus went with him after he had prayed and pleaded with Jesus. Later, he became very confused when he heard figuratively it was not God’s will to heal his daughter since she was dead now and no point bothering Jesus, by the men that came! There is a conflict going on in him now. For he thought one thing and something else had happened.

 What he had truly believed to be from God seemed impossible now because of the message he heard that was conflicting with what he had believed. But if it was God’s Will as he had believed then it should happen. When Jairus is confused and troubled, Jesus tells him to ignore those giving him contradictory messages, did not allow people giving contradictory messages, and put away people from the house who were giving him contradictory messages. Instead, Jesus told him not to be afraid and believe what he had believed all along about God’s Will giving him peace. He did believe.

However what he had come to believe as God’s will regarding healing did not happen as he expected it too. Jairus had expected Jesus to come and heal his little dying daughter. She had not died yet when he expected a healing for her. God’s will was to heal her but not from what Jairus had expected healing from. Jairus expected healing from her sickness but Jesus had healed her from her coma or deep sleep that only Jesus could wake her up from. This is evidenced by:

^“He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" ). Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.” (Mark 5:41-42, NIV)

Jesus’ timing was perfect timing. Between the time Jesus had decided to go to Jairus house and the time he had healed her daughter different things had happened. People got to see a woman being healed from a disease she had for 12 years, people got to see Jesus tell Jairus not to be afraid but believe what he had come to believe after seeking Jesus. Now, people are astonished because in God’s timing, Jairus daughter was raised from her deep sleep. If Jesus had come any earlier and healed his daughter, it would not have been as astonishing.

So, I saw God’s will and God’s timing in this passage. It was God’s will to heal his daughter but it was in God’s timing and in His ways that she was healed.

I ask you now dear friend, whose timing are you following?

Dear friend, we learned from this passage that Jairus believed in God’s will for his dying little daughter which was supposed to be healing for her while she was alive. However, as we know that is not exactly what had happened! What Jairus believed to be God’s will occurred but it happened in a different way! Jairus daughter was healed after she died and what Jairus had believed came to pass but it was in God’s timing and His way.

Jairus did not follow what the men had told him but continued to follow Jesus and His timing. That is exciting to know friend. Many times when we sense God’s will for something, we could be so excited and thrilled. When there are obstacles hindering that will, we can become confused. But our Lord is not an author of confusion. If you believe in something to be God’s will for your life, and go out in faith, He will rectify the situation so you will have blessings His way.

It is not important just to know God’s will for an area of your life but also know His timing and rest in Him. When His will and timing are perfect, what we believe to be God’s Will shall come to pass.

In every situation, God’s will and timing need to be aligned. Friend, whatever God’s will for us is, He will give us His peace and we can go on. We cannot expect God to speak to us immediately too for He expects us to do our part in faith and wait on Him. Usually through circumstances or communication (His Word, His Spirit through prayer and fasting or through His people), He reveals His will in careers, academics, or relationships and any other situation you are faced with.

May you rest in the Lord and find peace in Him knowing He loves you so much and cares for you.

“Timing Is Messiah’s Involvement Nurturing Graciously!” (T.I.M.I.N.G)

Pray this prayer if you want to come to Jesus Christ and let Him work in your life. This is a similar to the prayer the person at church prayed.

Dear Jesus, I do not know everything about you. I still have a lot of questions but I heard how you heal people. I need your spiritual healing and need  you to transplant yourself into my life. I am so sorry for my sin. My sin has separated me from you. There is nothing I can do on my own to earn your forgiveness but you give it to me in your grace. Thank you so much Jesus. I now come and say, I am so sorry for my all sin. I confess to you my sin and repent of my sin. Help me please Jesus and transform my life in your timing. Please forgive me of my sin and cleanse me with your cleansing blood. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Thank you so much Jesus. Please come into my heart Jesus and make my heart your home. Live in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home! Thank you Jesus for living in me and helping me to live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life! Thank you for your forgiveness and grace. I gotta tell somebody what you did for me Jesus. Before I even do that, I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you Jesus for being my Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and answered me! Thank you Jesus that I am yours! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Friend you may feel something or may not feeling anything but do not go by your feelings. When you ask Jesus to come into your life, He will and does. He will take over from here as you depend on the Lord and let Him work in you and through you! This is exciting friend! May each one that came to know Jesus be filled with His Holy Spirit forever more and those that know Jesus come to know Him more and more! Amen!

Get yourself involved in a campus Bible study, fellowship, and most of all find a Bible believing church and be involved to grow in your Christian walk with the Lord. They all need to be supplements for your own precious time with the Lord in prayer and meditating on His Word. If you need a Bible, please let me know!

As the movie DaVinci Code opens across the theaters this May 19, 2006, which speaks against the church and most importantly degrades the Name of Jesus Christ, we need to make ourselves available to speak the truth to the falsity presented in the movie and the novel. If you plan to watch the movie or have read the book and have questions or your faith seems to be shaken, please email me or give me a call at 412-720-4579 so we can discuss the false claims in the book that are presented as fact even though the book itself and the movie is presented as fiction. May the Lord bless you and guide you!

If you need anyone to talk to, pray with, or study the Bible with this Spring or Summer of 2006, you can email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com or call me at 412-720-4579. Please do not hesitate. One-one Bible studies can be so powerful to because the Holy Spirit is still in the midst.

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

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