Why not me?

When Christopher Reeve was thrown from his horse and broke his neck in 1995, many people wondered how such a tragedy could befall a famous actor like him. Christopher response was something along the lines of "why not me?" His point was that anyone can suffer. Suffering is not reserved only for the poor, the outcast, the sinner. Everyone suffers at some point in our lives.

This point was driven home to me when reading through Mark 5. Suffering is universal – rich and poor encounter it. Just because we have social status like Jairus (the leader of the Synagogue) doesn’t preclude us from suffering. 

This is the one thing that Covid has also shown us. People from all walks of life have suffered and even died – doctors, lawyers, teachers, pastors, clerks, the homeless etc.

It is interesting that we somehow think that the rich don’t encounter trials and difficulties – but we are wrong. We were watching the movie about the life of Steve Jobs the other evening –he was the founder of Apple. This is what he said towards the end of his life, as he was dying of Cancer.

Steve Jobs - “At this moment, lying on the bed, sick and remembering all my life, I realize that all my recognition and wealth that I have is meaningless in the face of imminent death… In other eyes, my life is the essence of success, but aside from work, I have a little joy.”

As we go through our own periods of trials and testing let us remember we are not alone. Others can relate to us and certainly God is with us. 

Mark 5:22-23 - Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.”  So Jesus went with him.

Living in Grace

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Daughter

When Jesus called the unnamed woman in Mark 5, 'daughter', he was giving her way much more than she could have dreamed of. 

He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” - Mark 5:34

From being a nobody - an outcast - someone lost in the crowd, she is now called a “daughter of the living God.” She is given a new name and with that she is given her dignity back.

This is a profound reality for all of us, because there are some days when we feel lost among the billions of people on our planet. We wonder if anyone cares. We may even question if God cares. Today's scripture brings hope to all of us. 

God does care for us.

We are all his sons and daughters.

Living in Grace

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I call you "Daughter!"

                                                        

Carrying on with yesterday's story from Mark 5, which includes the unnamed woman who had been suffering with a Haemorrhage for 12 years, we note something remarkable....

Although she has not been given a name (by Mark) she would have obviously had her own name. Jesus knows that she is a person of value, and despite her suffering, Jesus calls her by a new name in this powerful account.

Jesus calls her 'Daughter', which may seem like a generic term to most of us, but for this woman it would have been life-changing. Not only was she excluded from worship (for at least 12 years), but she was yet to encounter the Messiah. This moment, brings her physical healing and the beautiful gift of becoming a child of God.

Isaiah 62:2 -"The nations will see your vindication, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow."

Thought: Sometimes we have to go through trials and suffering to truly discover that we are valued and loved by God. God knows our names and he calls us to be a part of his family.

Living in Grace

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Trying to understand Jesus

                                        

When we read through the accounts of Jesus we may not initially understand what he was up to. For example, this week I was sharing around Mark 5 (the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years) and how when she had received healing by touching Jesus's cloak, Jesus wanted to know who had touched him. At first glance it may seem that Jesus is drawing attention to this unnamed woman that could be embarrassing for her - I mean, why not simply let her go home and enjoy her moment?

The reason why Jesus wants to know who has touched his cloak is not for his sake, but rather for her sake. As David Smith suggests: "she would have lost the chief blessing of her life" if she had simple melted back into the crowd. Jesus understood that she needed more than physical healing only - she needed to know the PEACE of God upon her life and this is what he gives to her. Remember his words?

"Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from her suffering." (Mark 5:34)

Thought: Jesus's ways may not make sense to us at times, but do we trust that He has our best interests at heart?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Holding hands

Holding hands with someone is usually a sign of a close relationship. We hold hands with loved ones, spouses, children and even in church communities. But, have you ever thought about 'holding hands' with God? In this intriguing quote we read...

..."The purpose of prayer is not primarily to move the hand of God but rather to hold the hand of God." - Jon Courson.

Following on from my post yesterday, I think this is another helpful way of viewing our prayer life. If I could imagine my prayer as a space of intimacy with God, then holding the hand of God would seem more appropriate that trying to twist God's hand to my personal needs.

What do you think?

Mark 5:41 - "Holding her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!”

Living in Grace
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