February 29
Mark 5 21-43
Interruptions
"One of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at His feet and kept begging Him, 'My little daughter is at death's door. Come and lay Your hands on her so she can get well and live." Mark 5:22-23 (HCSB)
"At once Jesus realized in Himself that power had gone out from Him. He turned around in the crowd and said, 'Who touched My robes?' Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came with fear and trembling, fell down before Him, and told Him the whole truth." Mark 5:30, 33 (HCSB)
Our days are filled with interruptions. You begin your morning getting ready and your husband can't find the shirt he wants to wear. You find it for him and then start putting on your makeup when your little girl comes in crying because she forgot to do part of her homework and she needs your help. You help her quickly and by then you don't have time to finish your makeup so you grab your makeup bag and head out the door. After dropping off the kids at school you head to work and run in the bathroom to finish getting ready when a coworker comes in telling you about problems she is having in her marriage. You listen and offer some advice. By the time you get to your desk, you are running behind and don't have time to prepare for the important zoom meeting you have so you have to wing it. Sound familiar? Whether it is phone calls, text messages, a friend or family member who needs help, or a flat tire, we deal with interruptions every day. The question isn't whether we will have interruptions to our schedules and plans but how we will deal with them when they come.
In our reading today, Jesus gives us the perfect example. He did not get flustered. He did not get upset or angry. Jesus had had a very busy day. He had cast a legion of demons out of a man and sent them into a herd of pigs. Then He got into a boat and went to the other side of the lake where a crowd of people met Him. One of the Jewish leaders was in the crowd and asked Him to come to his house to heal his little girl. Jesus had compassion on the man and followed him, but on the way there, a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years was in the crowd. She was considered unclean and wasn't supposed to touch anyone. It is likely that no one had touched her since she became ill. She believed that if she only touched Jesus' robe, she would be healed. She was desperate. This was her last hope. And it worked! As soon as she touched the hem of His robe, she was instantly healed. She was hoping to sneak off into the crowd, but then Jesus stopped. He felt the power leave Him and asked who had touched Him. She must have been scared that He would take it back, or that He would condemn her, but she fell at His feet and told Him what had happened. He had compassion on her. He saw her and told her to go in peace and be free from her affliction. Then He turned back to the Jewish leader, but people had come from his house to tell him that his daughter had died. Jesus followed him to his house where he raised the little girl from the dead.
Jesus must have been tired. It had been a long day filled with lots of people who needed Him. It would have been reasonable for Him to tell the people that He needed to take a break. But He didn't. He took the time to help a grieving father and a woman who was sick and outcast. It is important to note that He did not heal everyone He met. There were multitudes around Him all the time demanding His time and wanting miracles from Him. He was led by His Father to do the things He was supposed to do while He was here. He only had 3 short years of ministry. He had to be intentional. He had to keep His mind focused on the big picture. That is what He expects of us as well. The Holy Spirit will lead us to do the things we need to do. We cannot meet every need we see and we aren't supposed to. The only way that we can manage interruptions in our life is to stay in communication with our Father through the power of the Holy Spirit. He will give us the power and strength to meet the demands on us that are from Him. He will give us the wisdom to know what we need to do. Some interruptions are inevitable, but we don't have to let them overwhelm and frustrate us. With His leading we can use the interruptions as opportunities to really see the people around us and understand their needs. Jesus' priority was always people. If we want to be salt and light in the world, that has to be our priority as well. They will know we are Christians by our love.
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