“Do Not Fear, Only Believe”
By: Kelley Hinson
MARK CHAPTER 5
What do we do when we don’t have the answer and can’t see where we are headed? When life gets to “lifing” and the circumstances we are enduring prove to be more than we can handle. In the Gospel of Mark there are different stories of how Jesus goes against the opposition and shows a faithful believer that no matter what comes against them, faith, and Jesus, are what prevails.
Mark 5:1-20
This passage shows His power as the Son of God by ridding the man of the unclean spirit. The demon possessed man had been tormenting those around him, and could no longer be bound. When Jesus arrived, he immediately recognized who had just stepped out of the boat. “Legion”, knowing who he was facing, fell on his face and begged for mercy, “And crying out with a loud voice, he said, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God, do not torment me."‘ For He was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”. The people in this narrative fear His power and ask Him to leave them, not understanding that God in the flesh was standing right there in front of them. The demon possessed man wanted to stay with Jesus, but Jesus commanded him , “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” Some get it, and some don’t. It’s not about those that don’t, it’s about keeping yours when faced with them.
Mark 5:21-34
The next passage shows how faith can propel you forward in your relationship with Jesus. This woman had been suffering for years with a condition that had made her an outcast, where everyone shunned her, were disgusted with her, and denied her access to their community. She had heard about Jesus and in faith she reached out. “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.”, and she was right because immediately the flow of blood stopped and she felt the healing that faith gave her. Jesus felt this happen as well and stopped, “Who touched my garments?” To some, it would have been that, “uh-oh, I’m in trouble” moment, and that’s how it was for her. She, in fear and trembling, “fell down before him and told him the whole truth”, about what she had done, but instead of receiving the punishment like she received from others all of these years, she received compassion, love, and praise for her faith. “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” Because of her faith, she found love, compassion, belonging, wholeness, and restoration in Jesus.
Mark 5:35-42
The original story started with a man named Jairus who was a ruler in the synagogue. The same synagogue who was trying to shut Jesus up. This man however believed in Jesus and pursued His help for his dying daughter (see verses 22-23). Someone from Jairus’s house came out to meet him to tell him that his daughter was dead and there was no longer a need to “trouble” the teacher. What they didn’t realize was Jesus was not just any teacher, He was the Son of the Almighty God. Jesus overheard what they told him and told Jairus, “Do not fear, only believe.” In other words, don’t listen to them, FOLLOW ME. Jesus went to the his house along with Peter, James, and John, and when they reached the house there were people dissolved in grief and “weeping and wailing loudly”. “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” I can imagine the looks Jesus got from the people, and just as you would expect, they laughed at Him. Undeterred, Jesus took the child’s parents, James, John, and Peter, and went up to the child’s room. “Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi, “ which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Immediately the girl got up and everyone there was “overcome with amazement.” Jesus didn’t want the news of this spread. He told them not to tell anyone, only give her something to eat.
There are times when we need to quit trying to understand and give up picking apart every aspect of what faith in Jesus means. Quit obsessing over what others think or what others would do. We need to only have peace in the gift of Jesus. Purse Him in faith of who He is, not in who others make Him out to be. These people Jesus reached, received love, compassion, and an increase in faith, in the life giving transformative power of the Son of God. They knew who Jesus is and pursued Him diligently…boldly…against everyone who came against them and their faith and hope in Jesus. Demons recognize His power, and fear Him. Why can’t we believe in the same way? Why do we continuously dismiss Him in our lives and shut Him out? Why don’t we recognize His power, when we have His grace and don’t have to beg for it? We are given this gift freely by the grace of God through this same man that makes demons tremble. “DO NOT FEAR, ONLY BELIEVE.” Think about your personal faith today as you go about “lifing” today. Invite Him into your day, your mind, and your heart.
