October 2019
October 2019
“Do not fear, only believe.” Mark
5.36 (NRSV)
“Do not be afraid; only have faith” Mark 5.36 (NEB)
The words “Do not fear, only believe” or “Do
not be afraid, only have faith” were initially spoken to a local religious
leader (Jewish) named Jairus. He had begged Jesus to help him because his
daughter was very ill: she was ‘at death’s door’.
Jesus sets off for Jairus’s house. As they go,
there is the encounter with the woman who touches his garment and is healed of
her bleeding. While Jesus is commending the faith that has cured her, men come
running from the house to break the news to Jairus: “Your daughter is dead; why
trouble the Rabbi (i.e. Jesus) further?” Jesus immediately says to Jairus “Do
not fear, only believe” or “Do not be afraid; only have faith”.
Jesus exercises
his power as God to reverse the course of nature, to restore life and health to
those suffering from sickness and even the dead. We can imagine the wonder and
joy of those who saw and experienced the divine power of Christ the healer but we
need more – we need faith. All of us, at some time, face moments of fear, or despair or
horror. Whenever we do so, these words of Jesus, I AM, are for us. If necessary
we can repeat them over and over again until we have ‘taken them on board’:
“Do not fear, only believe”.
It has been said that fear is like a
dark cloud or thick fog which cuts us off from I AM as surely as a switch cuts
off the electric current.
Therefore, when we are afraid we have
to turn to this Word “Do not fear, only believe”, spoken to us by I AM, and put
our trust in Him and His Word. When we do so then His love, wisdom and power is
able to flow into us, bringing His peace.
When Jesus says: “Only have faith”, He
is telling us that we are to have faith in Him; that His word is true; we are
to have faith that, whatever happens to us, He will carry us through it; faith
that in the end, however terrible the present is, everything will be alright. Faith
comes to us, as a gift, as and when we put ourselves completely in the hands of
our Lord and Saviour I AM.