Serving Bread

In chapter 5 of Mark, Jesus confronts three people with three ailments that has dehumanized them. The demoniac is isolated from community and has been overcome by a legion of demons. The woman has been unclean and bleeding for 12 years and the little girl is on her death bed. Each of these characters is not able to enjoy life to the fullest. And when Jesus comes into their lives, everything changes. Jesus has power over the demonic and over death. Jesus has power to restore people into community and empower them to witness.

Though as readers we may be inspired and overjoyed by the power of Jesus, that’s not the case for the people who experienced the stories first-hand. The demoniac’s neighbors begged Jesus to leave town (and they succeeded at kicking him out of the neighborhood). The disciples tried to dismiss the power of the healing claiming that what Jesus felt was the pressing of the crowd, and Jairus’s friends and neighbors mocked Jesus for believing that the little girl could be revived.

Jesus has power and domain over things that we don’t think he does. We may see hopelessness, but Jesus sees more. Like all three of these characters, we have to recognize our vulnerability and areas where we feel most dehumanized. And like these three characters, we have to believe that Jesus can do more. Like his words to Jairus, he exhorts us to not fear, but believe (Mark 5.36). The demoniac believed while his neighbors feared. And the woman, though feared, she did muster up courage to believe that Jesus can heal her.

Lord, give me faith in the areas where I’m tempted to fear and not believe that you can do more. Jesus, do more!