×

From crisis to faith

After a crisis, you see the world differently. That’s what we’re told. Whether it’s the death of a child, termination from one’s lifelong vocation, recovering from a stroke, or spared from death in a serious automobile accident.

More importantly, a crisis helps you to see God’s Word differently. That God is not a vindictive overlord, nor is He some selfish deity who “needed another angel in heaven” as so often heard at the funeral home. He is not the author of disease, decay, death, suffering, sin, and sorrow. Instead, He is the author of life in all its fullness. He even promises everlasting life. His plans for us are only for our good, not for harm.

The Gospel of Mark includes all sorts of miracle stories. In chapter 5, Mark uses a favorite “sandwich” technique: beginning one story, then inserting a second before finishing the first.

Both stories are about women in distress. One is an older woman who had an issue of blood for 12 years. The other? A young girl who had lived only as long as the older woman had been bleeding. The older woman was considered continually unclean by those who knew about her menstrual difficulties. The young girl’s corpse was regarded as impure. Jesus not only negates, He overcomes the causes of impurity. Even death itself.

On the way to heal one woman, Jesus is delayed by the needs of the other. Both women are in a desperate predicament, yet the first healing makes the second a moot point. Too late. While Jesus is delayed, Jairus’ daughter dies. A remedy is close, but not quite on time. But transcending the fear and desperation is faith. Faith that grasps hold of and believes the words of Jesus: “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

Amazement is not the same as faith. Jesus does not “wow” people into God’s kingdom. None of us can be impressed enough to believe in Jesus. Believing leads to seeing; seeing does not always lead to believing. Jesus’ mission is to proclaim the good news of the kingdom. That in Him alone is there repentance, forgiveness of sins, and life everlasting. His miracles simply testify to the authenticity of His powerful Word. They confirm His message.

To Jairus’ daughter, Jesus spoke words of life: ‘Talitha koum” (“Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). And “straightway” she stood up and began to walk around. Jesus instructed that she be fed and then silenced them all, as He often did the demons, to tell no one what happened. Jesus will define Himself on His own terms. He will not fit into our preconceived notions and expectations about what we think He should be.

The story of Jairus’ daughter points to something that all who have faith in Jesus will one day personally experience. On that Day, this powerful word will again be heard, “Talitha koum.” Interestingly, most of the discussion about the after life in the New Testament is not about heaven. It is about the resurrection. It is the Christian’s great hope. It is the final proof that death has lost its dominion.

Until that Day, we live by faith. Faith in Christ’s word and work. Renewing all creation, Jesus is preparing us to return to the life God originally designed for us.

Sometimes it takes a crisis to see God’s Word as the only foundation we can trust. We’ll find it is more than sufficient!

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today