Jump Start # 2832

Mark 5:23 “and entreated Him earnestly, saying, ‘My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on here, that she may get well and live.”

W. J. Ross died in 1910. He is buried in Kentucky. A pretty common story except for his tombstone. Buried in the Rock Spring Cemetery, Ross’ stone reads, “Saved by Jesus, but murdered by the church.” The story behind this is that when Ross died, his father wanted to hold the funeral at the Baptist church they attended. The church was holding a revival at that time and refused to have the funeral held there. Ross’ father was so upset with the church that he put on his son’s stone that infamous inscription, “murdered by the church.”

But, I expect this isn’t the only time someone was murdered by the church. In fact, religious history of Europe during the reformation reveals many that were killed by the church. Being labeled a heretic was a sure sign of instant trouble and often death.

Even in modern times, there have been many murdered by the church. It wasn’t physical death, but it was the death of their faith and their conviction and commitment. I expect most that leave the church disgusted and angry, do so not because of the way the Lord treated them, but by the abuse and neglect from each other.

There are some serious lessons for us here:

First, the way we treat each other has deep implications that can spread through generations. This works both ways, positive and negatively. Have you noticed how many times fellowship and relational principles are found in the letters to the churches in the N.T.? Getting along and getting along well is important. Attitudes, grace, and forgiveness can help smooth the bumps in life and the times we irritate one another. Take cheap shots verbally at each other is nothing more than drive by shooting that leaves our emotions wounded and our faith shaken. You may say something and think nothing about it ever again, the person you said it to may remember those words for next four decades.

Second, some people look for a green light for wrong behavior. They get upset when a group of believers side with the Lord rather than them. We don’t get to do whatever we feel like. We don’t get to pick and choose what commands we will follow. That is not the spirit nor the attitude of a disciple of Jesus. It’s easy to blame the church when it’s us who are to blame. One can say that the church killed them, but the truth is, they killed themselves by the choices that they made. Guilty people and those that support them often get upset with a church when discipline is practiced. All the church is doing is what God told them to. We tend to point our fingers at the wrong group. It’s the guilty that we ought to be upset with. Why won’t you walk in the steps of the Lord? That’s the question to be asked.

Third, I assume the leaders at that Baptist church in 1910 thought preaching in a revival was much more important than stopping things for a funeral. I can just hear someone saying, “Let the dead bury the dead.” There are times when one can think that his needs are greater than your needs. I expect Jarius felt that way. His daughter was dying. As Mark 5 tells the story, it’s a 911 situation. Hurry, for she’s about to die. As Jesus heads that way, the woman with the issue of blood touches Jesus from behind. She’s cured. But that’s not enough. Jesus has to talk with her. A conversation goes on, all the while, life is slipping out of a little girl. How easily Jesus could have told the woman with the issue of blood to wait there and He’d be back in an hour. She had her disease for more than a decade. Waiting one more hour wouldn’t matter. How easily Jesus could have healed the dying girl without even being there. But none of those things took place. This unnamed woman was just as important as the needs of a synagogue official. His name is given to us. His status is given to us. But that doesn’t make him more important than this woman. Sometimes we think everyone ought to stop what they are doing and tend to my needs. I come first. Burying someone or preaching, I’d pick preaching.

Fourth, all the people that were involved in the story of Ross are now dead. Yet, his stone still tells of the anger his family felt. And, that’s what often happens to us. Years after a church split, no one remembers why and the people involved pass away, yet no bridges are built to reconcile and no attempts are made to iron out differences. We can leave scars upon our family and our congregations that will last for a lot longer than we do. Letting things go and a whole lot of grace and forgiveness will do us all well. In our times, no one would know the story of Ross and being “murdered by the church,” had his tombstone not said what it did. Maybe there are some things that you have etched upon the stone of your heart that you need to remove. Someone hurt you. Someone was unkind to you. Someone wasn’t very “Christian” towards you. You can carve that in stone so it will always be there, or you can let it go. Our hurts can be very much like Ross’ tombstone. We keep returning to the grave of those pains and sorrows and we never heal. It’s time to remove the stone and stop visiting that grave. You’ll feel better and you’ll find that forgiveness is a key that unlocks a door. Once you unlock it, you discover that you were the prisoner all along.

Murdered by the church—that sure is a statement that sticks with a person. Let’s do all we can so that people will say that they were helped by the church. Or, they were encouraged by the church. Or, they were made better by the church. Or, they came to know the Lord through the church. Killing folks is not the business of the church.

Roger

Jump Start # 841

Mark 5:23 “And implored Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is a the point of death; please come and lay your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.”

The events of Mark 5 are some of the most action packed and emotion filled sections of the Gospel. I love this chapter. Jesus and the disciples had crossed the sea. A large crowd was waiting for Him. A synagogue official, Jairus, fell at the feet of Jesus. He begs for Jesus to come to his home. His twelve year old daughter is dying. This is a 911 moment. Before Jesus can get there, He is interrupted by the woman with an issue of blood. A conversation takes place. Time is ticking. Word comes with the worst news. It’s too late. The little girl died. The messengers lack faith. Don’t trouble the teacher any more. They feel that even Jesus cannot do anything. Jesus goes to the home. He raises the girl from the dead. There is much rejoicing. Jesus again shows that He is God.

There are two remarkable steps of faith in this section.

• First, the synagogue official reaching out to Jesus is remarkable. Most synagogue officials argued, fussed and debated Jesus. They didn’t like Jesus healing people in their synagogues on the Sabbath day. They didn’t like what Jesus was claiming. Yet, now, all that is tossed out the window. I have seen similar things. A family that has no time or interests in God, the Bible or what is going on down at the church house, suddenly calls for the preacher because mama is in ICU. There is a problem so great, that they want to reach out to God. Find God. Go to God. They don’t want their fishing buddy. The guy at the bar isn’t called. It’s someone who knows God. Sometimes it is that depth of problems that will bring us back to what we know is right. The prodigal came to his senses when he was hungry, friendless and desiring pig food. It was at that time that he came home.

A dose of bad news, hard times, scraping the bottom is what it takes to get some to come to their senses. We hate seeing that, but if it brings them to God, that is good. This official in Mark 5 may not have even been in the crowd if his 12 year old was out playing and having fun with friends. Instead, she dying in bed and that softened and changed his heart. Those that fuss at doctrine have a different story when it’s a matter of life or death.

• Second, this official has heard enough, seen enough to know the kind of person that Jesus was and what He could do. He speaks words of faith, “…lay your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.” He was certain Jesus could do this. He spoke words of faith.

Faith is knowing. Faith is assurance. Faith is positive. Faith is exclamation points, not question marks. Faith. He had it. Jesus come. Jesus touch her. She will live. He knew.  Our prayers ought to be spoken with faith, not uncertainty. Our words need to be sprinkled with confidence and faith, not questions.

It is sad that it takes a 911 event to change some people. You’d hope that if they knew, they would toss out their pride and their feelings and accept what God says. Many never do that. What happens to those who don’t have a dying daughter? They live denying Jesus, going along with everyone else.

Others, when they do have a 911 event, get angry and blame God. Instead of drawing near, they pull away. Human emotions and how we react and respond can be very complicated. So much is based upon what we know deep inside.

I wonder what happened after this? What became of that 12 year old girl? What became of Jairus? Did he become a disciple and follow Jesus? I hoped he did. Jesus saved his world. In an instant, tears of grief became tears of joy. The lifeless dead girl, sat up and was well. God was praised. Jesus left yet another reason for people to believe in Him. We are left with an incredible illustration of the caring Jesus. When asked to come, He went.

Years later Peter wrote, “casting all your anxiety upon Him for He cares for you.” He cares. He always does. He cares, when we don’t. He continues to care when we seemingly only have interest because of a need. He cares when others doubt. God cares.

This day God cares for you. He is interested in your heart, your allegiance, and your faith. We are interested in our waist line, our bank account, and who wins the game. We tend to stay in the shallow things of life. Yet, God doesn’t give up on us. We pray and He is there. He is patient with us. He continues to put people in our life that reminds us, shows us and helps us. Sometimes we don’t see that. He is always ready to accept us, restore us, build us, lead us and mold us into His image. He’s ready. He’s watching.

God cares…even for you.

Roger