In Mark 5, we read that after Jesus had crossed over in a boat from the country of the Gerasenes, He had a large crowd gather around so He stayed by the seashore (Mark 5:21). In this large crowd may have been many with dire needs. Yet they gathered around him and it seemed that was all they did. But that wasn’t the case of the synagogue official named Jairus: “He 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 on her, so that she will get well and live’” (Mark 5:22-23). Despite the large crowd, Jairus came up, possibly making his way through the thick crowd, to earnestly implore Jesus to follow him home to heal his daughter. Jesus obliged and a large crowd followed him as well (Mark 5:24).
Jesus did not love Jairus and his daughter more than He loved the large crowd because He came to die for all mankind (Mark 10:45, John 3:16). Yet Jairus, a single person, was able to “pull Jesus away” from the many, although some of them may have had similar or severe needs than he did. And multitudes, I believe mostly from that same large crowd simply followed along (cf. Mark 5:24). Here is wisdom: As long as we are only spectators, even in the manifest presence of the Lord, we will hardly benefit from His great power and goodness. The Lord knows our needs even before we ask Him (Matthew 6:7-8) but He still commands us to ask (Matthew 7:7). It is those who ask who are guaranteed to receive, and those who seek and knock also have the assurance to find and have doors opened to them (Matthew 7:8). But spectators and those who expect to move God by pity, and not by His Word, will hardly receive from the Lord.
There was still another, on that same day, who had a better response than Jairus. She didn’t come to Jesus with a troubled heart or fear. She put her faith in Jesus, and thereby kept saying that if she touched Jesus’ garments she will be made well (Mark 5:25-28). She acted on her faith, despite the many obstacles, and immediately received healing from a disease that had been incurable (Mark 5:29). Her faith was so remarkable and pleasing to Jesus that He stopped and acknowledged it while He was still on His way to Jairus’ house with the crowd following. It was not the seriousness of her problem that got her Jesus’ attention, neither was her healing initiated because Jesus was heavily anointed, but because of her faith: “Daughter, your faith has made you well” (Mark 5:34).
So, there is the crowd, Jairus, and the woman who released her faith by her continual confession and corresponding action, touching Jesus’ garment. Who would you rather be? For from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent (in faith) take it by force (cf. Matthew 11:12).
Kwadwo Omari, PhD
December 14, 2021
A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be discipled to grow in the ways of God. You can also email me ([email protected]) and I will be happy to grow together with you in Christ.