But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
Mark 5:33-34
Mark 5:33-34
This whole chapter is ordinary people in need telling Jesus their story to get their great needs met. Jesus was interested. After the big event of her healing, Jesus turned to the crowd, demanding that the one who “touched” Him tell who happened. It was then that we all learned about her story. We found that her affliction had gone for twelve years, that she had spent all her money, and that her only hope was Jesus.
The same is true for the stories that surround hers. The demoniac among the tombs had his story told. For who knows how long he lived in the graveyard. He was uncontrollable; breaking iron chains, desecrating the graves by running through them crying out in torment and cutting himself. When the others returned he was in his right mind sharing his life with Jesus.
Jairus, the ruler of the local synagogue, came to Jesus with his story. His daughter was very sick. He was a good leader who served the people. He fell at Jesus feet (something Jews didn’t do) asking Jesus to come and save her. Then on the way, Jesus stopped to talk to the woman who had been healed by touching Him. Time slipped away as Jesus lingered, then bad news came. “Don’t bother Jesus, she is dead.” Jesus encourages the father to remain hopeful. He goes along with Jairus to his house and heals the daughter.
All three stories are here because Jesus took the time to invest in these people. He did not just minister to them as anonymous, faceless successes in His ministry. They were individuals. He cared for each one.
Ministry isn’t just a duty. It is personal. We need to find out peoples’ story. Like Jesus, we are interested in the person – beyond the meeting of their need.
Jesus, help me love those around me enough to find out what their story is. Thanks for setting the good example. Thanks for letting me know their stories. Help me to find more stories that end with You healing them. Maybe it would be better to say stories that begin with You healing them.
Listening with Him,
Pastor Jason
I think the challenge for me, is to make sure that I value the story enough to give opportunity for people to tell it... even on a Sunday morning. My tendency is to attempt to orchestrate a wonderful service of worship and have a good teaching out of the word. Jesus just taught in the midst of all the stories happening. I pray that I can learn to trust Him to teach in the midst of the stories that He is speaking in the midst of the lives of those I pastor. I'm learning... ever so slowly to make time for the stories to be told on Sunday morning. Instead of a side show, I need Jesus to be the center of it all.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's hard to let go of the program you've worked so hard on sometimes. But it is what people need to know you really care. I struggle with this too.
ReplyDelete