Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).
Jairus, an official of the local synagogue, arrived, and when he saw Jesus, he threw himself down at his feet and begged him earnestly, “My little daughter is very sick. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live!” … [Later] some messengers came from Jairus’ house and told him, “Your daughter has died. Why bother the Teacher any longer?” Jesus paid no attention to what they said, but told him, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.” (Mark 5, GNT)
This is an amazing story, as in it we find Jesus solves a totally impossible crisis. I don’t know what it is about my life, but I am always having problems which I find impossible. But I serve a powerful God, a God of the impossible. I like to boast about my God: my God is the greatest God in the world. There is no God like Him. Yes, there are many religions. There are thousands of religions in the world. A few years ago, I went to India; I found out they worship and incalculable number of different gods. The trouble is, they are all dead. What is the point of worshipping a dead god? Why worship a dead God? Our God is alive. Hallelujah! Jesus isn’t dead, He is alive. He is a prayer-answering God.
“Don’t be afraid, only believe”
In the story, Jesus arrived in a town on the shore of a lake, when suddenly a religious leader from the synagogue came, fell at His feet and said, “I’ve got a problem”. I find it interesting that the first thing Jairus did upon seeing Jesus was to throw himself down at His feet; this was an act of worship: we also need to worship our way into the very presence of God, acknowledging His greatness and splendor. He began to plead with Jesus, “Jesus, help me!” He kept crying out, “Help me!” I can imagine he was holding on to the feet of Jesus: as Jesus was trying to walk, this man is holding onto the feet of Jesus saying, “I’m not going to let go, I refuse to let go, my daughter is dying: my daughter, she is dying! Help me! Heal her!” - We also need to learn the lesson of persistence in prayer. Jesus said, “OK”. The man then said, “Lay Your hands on her, come to my house, and she will be healed.” Look at this man: I wish people were like this today; he said, “Just lay Your hands on her and she will be healed. I know she will be healed. If you will come and touch her, a miracle will happen. She WILL be healed.”
Through Jesus we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. …Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 5:2; 12:12)
‘Faith’ used by kind permission www.vinesong.com