Jesus Speaks Shalom To Despair And Hopelessness

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This is part three of a three part series.

Make sure to go back and read part one and part two to catch up with us here.

The Blessing Of Restoration

Jesus had a habit of turning expectations upside down. The story of the Woman With The Issue Of Blood is one that's near and dear to my heart, but it drew me close to Jesus. I knew what it felt like to be an outcast, to literally be seen as dirty. I desperately needed hope that the future wasn't just more of what today held.

This is a three-part series. So in part 1 I looked at the social and political and geographical context of this story. What information would the original audience have known that the writer wouldn't have felt the need to include? For instance, if I tell you a farmer friend went to the nearest town 37km away, you would automatically assume that friend had driven a vehicle there -- not walked. I wouldn't have to tell you that.

The second post in the series looked at the questions I had after reading the story of the Woman With The Issue Of Blood. When we know a story well, we not only lose our initial wonder, but we accept things that might not make sense, so we looked at five or so questions I had of the text.

Now you're caught up. If you haven't read this story found in Mark 5:21-43 go do that now.

What Do We Know Of Jairus?

This is of course, a story of two different interactions with Jesus. That's easy to overlook. We've looked at the woman in the story, but what about the synagogue official with the sick daughter?

What does a synagogue official do? Vine's dictionary defines the job as "'the administrative official,' with the duty of preserving order and inviting persons to read or speak in the assembly."

They're well-respected servants, administrators, and this idea of "preserving order" is interesting as one is held accountable in Acts for allowing Paul to speak in the synagogue and causing chaos. Outside of this story of Jairus, there are 3 other mentions of a synagogue official (ruler of the synagogue in KJV): Luke 13:14; Acts 18:8; Acts 18:17. Perhaps like Crispus (who came to follow Christ through Paul's preaching in the synagogue in Corinth), Jairus is a follower of Christ? If not before this story takes place, perhaps afterwards.

One source I spoke with brought forward the comparison of Jairus with Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Joseph and Nicodemus were both members of the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem and kept their faith in Christ secret, but both eventually outed themselves as Christ followers - likely with significant social consequences. It would make sense that Jairus believed secretly, but the text doesn't tell us one way or the other.

Rabbit Trail -- What Was The Sanhedrin?

The Sanhedrin was comprised of Pharisees (which included elders and rabbis who served as judges and teachers), Levites (priests), and ordinary Jews whose families had a pure lineage such that their daughters were allowed to marry priests (source here). Each town had their own Sanhedrin (court), with a Greater Sanhedrin located in Jerusalem whose laws and decrees were binding on the whole nation.

Jesus had previously spoken in the synagogue in Capernaum (see Mark 1: 21-26 for one example), so Jairus and Jesus would have been known to each other -- at the very least.

Jesus Stops The Jairus Ambulance

I would expect that Jairus hoped Jesus would respond with some urgency. Afterall, he'd taken a big risk socially by asking Jesus to heal his daughter. We’re not told, but I don’t think it’s a stretch to think that Jairus risked his prestigious job by appealing to Jesus. It doesn’t seem to me like something Jairus did without having exhausted all other options.

And then Jesus stops to hear this poor woman's story. He could do that later, couldn't he? He could always come back and find her, her affliction wasn’t urgent.

And then the news reaches them, while Jesus is still speaking to the woman, that Jairus’ twelve-year-old daughter is dead. It was all for nothing, then.

But Jesus insists they continue to his house. Just believe, Jairus is told. I'd have wondered what I was supposed to believe in? She’s gone, there’s nothing more to be done.

At Jairus’ house, the professional mourners have already gathered outside the home. Perhaps these were plans he'd already made in preparation should the worst happen. Would Jesus have gotten there in time if he hadn't stopped? Jairus would never know.

The mourners mock Jesus. They know what a dead body looks like. They know all the songs that need to be sung, the prayers that need to be said. To enter a roofed house or even a room with a dead body made one unclean. But Jesus enters with his three closest Talmidim and Jairus, and he calls the girl awake.

Joy!! Astonishment. Confusion. Elation.

But don't tell anyone, Jesus says. Put yourself in Jairus' sandals for a moment. He's publicly talked with and walked with Jesus, asking for help for his daughter. The mourners were already at the house, the new had spread that far at least. Jesus' own Talmidim (his disciples) were present inside and outside the house.

Now the girl is eating and standing and walking around. There would be no keeping a lid on this. If Jairus' career wasn't over before this, it certainly would be now - but he had his daughter back. His family restored.

From Death And Chaos To Shalom and Calm

Jesus brought shalom to a woman's despair and hopelessness. Jesus brought calm to a man's fear for his family. Jesus is the answer to the chaos around us. Faith is accessible to everyone -- not just faith in what might happen, or what you hope will happen -- but faith in what God will do, even if it ends up looking a little different than you'd pictured.

The woman was restored to community, to public worship, potentially back to her family. The young girl was restored to her father, her family remained whole -- and more than that, a girl of twelve was on the cusp of adulthood. To die without having children was seen as a great disappointment, but that potential blessing was no longer set aside.

A Cursory Reading Without Any Knowledge Of The Bible Proved To Be Life-Giving

So, if I could go back and speak to that troubled 17yo girl, sitting alone in her room afraid to sleep because of the nightmares, I would say she absolutely got it right. This is a story about the democratization of faith, in so far that there's no pedigree, qualification, degree, or letter of recommendation needed. All that is needed is faith for a new hope, and a different future. And that faith is free to any who ask for it.

I'd give her the biggest hug and assure her that Jesus DID see her, just as he saw that woman on the street that day. He spent time with her, heard her story. He SAW her. He restored her to community, and I would lean my shoulder into hers and promise that in Jesus there is community. A community of believers who over the years will lift her up in prayer, stand at her side, encourage her to pursue her passions, and there will even be a precious few who will sit with her when she's hurting and wipe away her tears.

What Do I Take Away From Story Today?

· What most speaks to me about this story is that Jesus saw the woman who suffered equally with the influential man. There's a tradition in some modern churches that imply (covertly or overtly) that a woman’s faith or suffering, her education, the value in training and discipling her, is somehow less important than a man’s suffering, discipleship, ministry, or education. Jesus treated these two, both with valid concerns, equally.

· I love that Jesus elevated the woman’s value, her self-esteem, by simply listening and acknowledging her suffering. It cost him nothing but a few moments and some compassion. OOoof. That’s a hard one. Jesus didn’t gaslight her that others suffer more. He didn’t quote from the Old Testament as a way to dismiss her concerns. He didn’t criticize her for not turning to him sooner. She sought him out and he was there with healing and comfort and shelter. I love that.

· It was a teaching moment for me to see Jesus pause to listen to the woman’s story, even though Jairus’ request was, temporally, more urgent. Sometimes I may be the woman, and sometimes I may be Jairus – and I have to trust that Jesus will attend to my prayers in His perfect timing. Patience is something I continually work at but struggle with.

· I was encouraged that Jesus responded immediately to Jairus’ plea, even though Jairus perhaps had hidden his faith out of fear for his job. He didn’t have to ‘earn’ Christ’s attention or explain.

· I was challenged when Jesus told Jairus to keep believing, even though his daughter was gone. When I’m discouraged, when I take a hit, it’s hard in that moment to see God working in my life or my heart. Particularly when the outcome is outside my influence or control. We have to choose to trust and believe that God is working to further His kingdom, even if we’re facing the consequences of another’s actions (sinful or not, intentional or unintentional).

· Jesus saw, heard, had compassion on Jairus, the women, and the daughter in this story -- in his own way, in his own timing. Jesus praises one for her faith, and reminds the other to keep believing.

That seems so passive, doesn’t it? We should have to DO something, or do something MORE. We like to have some illusion of control over things, but Jesus reminds us all we need to DO is have faith. And not just any faith, not just faith in your preferred outcome; but faith that God will act and your pain will be used to further His Kingdom.

Questions For Discipleship

I like to pause after a study to ask myself: so what? I have acquired all this knowledge, but God’s been challenging me that hoarding knowledge is no better than the servant who took their master’s talents and buried it. How am I to apply that knowledge to my daily life? How does this/should this affect me day-to-day; mature my faith?

Grab a journal or open a fresh document on your device, and write out your answers to some or all of these questions. Get together with another believer, or a group, and see what insights of theirs might help you grow in your faith.

Which character in this story do you most identify with? Whose experience or emotions seem to closely mirror something you’ve endured, or an emotion you’ve struggled to accept or listen to? What encouragement did you receive from this story?

Both the woman and Jairus are praised for their faith. "Your faith has healed you..." and "Do not be afraid any longer, only believe." The NASB has a footnote for the word "believe" that says "or keep believing" which is an interesting nuance. What advice/encouragement would you give to someone who has been earnestly praying in desperation but whose prayers seem to go unanswered? If there's an answered prayer in your own life, what would it look like to take your own advice?

There are likely some in your church who are afflicted with issues beyond their control that make fellowship with them difficult (shut-ins, chronic illness, those with mental health issues, disabilities, children with disabilities or chronic illnesses, those in hospital). How can you, this week, make an effort to help one of them, or a group of them, feel included and seen and valued? What tangible help can you provide this week?

Nothing these two people could DO would aid in their problem. All of their human fixes were failures. Should faith be a last resort? Their faith delivered the outcome they wanted, but what can we do today to practice making our faith and belief in Christ our first step instead of the last one?

Have you ever faced a circumstance or season where admitting your faith in Christ caused problems for you in your job? Maybe you faced ridicule, outright criticism, or even discrimination? What advice would you give those facing something similar to Jairus? Would standing strong and declaring your faith be worth the social (or even economic) cost?