To Ignore Or Not To Ignore---Which Will It Be?

Mama taught me to not ignore people. "If you do," she said, "People will think your a snob. No son of mine is going to be uppity and a snob."

The Dictionary defines the word ignore  as To refuse to pay attention to /  to disregard.

In other words, Mama said that if I ignored someone, I was being rude. This type of behavior would reflect on my upbringing. Well, what it Jesus told you to ignore someone? Would you? Would Jesus really act like this? Maybe.....

I was digging around in the Bible this afternoon and came across a story I've read a bazillion times yet never really thought about a particular part of it before. Mark Chapter 5 tells the story of a man named  Jairus and a predicament he found himself in. Jairus was  a leader of his local synagogue. In other words, Ol' Jairus had himself a reputation of being a stand up fellow. He made sure that he did everything decent and in order. He crossed the "T's" that needed crossing and dotted the "i's" that needed dotting. He was a man of his word and if you talked with his neighbors, they probably had nice things to say about ol' Jairus.  Trouble was that Jairus was all proper and prim on the outside, looking all religious, but on the inside, he was probably just like everyone else. Had some doubts.....Had some fears......had good days and bad days....There were times he probably wanted to quit the synagogue and go off to be a fisherman, but remained a leader of the synagogue out of duty to his family and friends.  After all, Jairus had a reputation to uphold.

As it is with life, sometimes we find ourselves in situations that truly bring out the "REAL" us. Not the one that we let people see, but the one that comes out when we go home and shut the door. Jairus was about to find himself laying aside his reputation in order to save his daughter. Trouble has a way of clearing away everything that isn't important. A daughter who becomes sick, to the point of death will cause a father to take extreme steps to save them.  Such was the incident that came to this man named Jairus.

In Mark 5, we see Jesus standing on the shore of a lake teaching a crowd who had gathered to listen to him.

Out of the crowd stepped Jairus. He fell at Jesus' feet. He didn't bow...he didn't kneel...Jairus collapsed at the feet of Jesus pleading with Jesus to heal his daughter. Jairus had laid aside his pride, his position in the community and was prostrate at the feet of Jesus pleading for the life of his daughter.  Wonder what his neighbors thought when they saw Jairus at the feet of Jesus? Sometimes life drives us to our knees where we find mercy and grace at the feet of Jesus.

Verse 24 says that Jesus went with him. Don't you know that Jairus was tickled pink that this Jesus was going to his house to heal his daughter. Jairus had heard all the stories of how Jesus had healed others....those who were blind, demonized, crippled, mentally ill, those with epilepsy.....it didn't seem to matter what he disease was, this Jesus was being used by God, his Father,  to bring healing.Things began to look up for Jairus as the trip to his house would not take long. But somewhere along the way, Jesus got sidetracked by a woman who needed healing. Jairus waited patiently for Jesus to finish. Part of him wanted to remind Jesus that he had come to him before the woman had, but he held his piece. Finally upon completion of the woman being healed, Jesus and Jairus turned to continue on their journey when Jairus saw something that made his heart fall. Messengers from his own household were approaching.

Mark 5:35 reads: While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from Jairus's home with the message, "Your daughter is dead. There is no use troubling the Teacher now."

Jairus heard the words, but they didn't truly register with him. Daughter...............dead............don't bother the Teacher......
Jairus's heart sank and he felt the hot tears welling up in his eyes as the grief seemed to roll over him like a tidal wave. Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see that it was Jesus. We read in Verse 36-- But Jesus ignored their comments and said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid, just trust me."

I love this! Jesus told Jairus to not listen to the messengers. Why? Did they lie? No! They brought the truth. The daughter was dead. Herein we see the real power and love that Jesus possesses for humanity. Jesus rejected and turned away from the messengers and told Jairus to not be afraid but rely on, lean on, cling to the hope that He would continue to journey as He'd promised Jairus, the end result being the ultimate healing. The bringing back of life to an individual who had succumbed to death.

What is it you are facing today in your life that keeps whispering the same message in your ear....."There is no use in troubling Jesus now."  Maybe yon't believe that Jesus is who He truly claims to be and will do what He has assured you He is capable of doing. Jesus isn't stopped or deterred by public opinion. He tells you to trust in Him. Trust in Him today no matter what the situation looks like. Remember that the truth of the matter was that the little girl was dead. This truth concerning her death did not deter Jesus one bit. Which tells me that when we approach Jesus, like Jairus did, and when we ask of Him, He will carry through on His word. That is a comfort that I can lean on every day. I think this is called living by faith. NO matter what my eyes tell me....no matter what my mind may tell me...........no matter what those around me may tell me......Jesus always tops the message of the enemy by saying....."Don't be afraid..........just trust me!"

I think I will....

How 'bout you?

God on you.....

mb