”When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with.” Mark 5.21-24
These days I am traveling a lot. Each week I drive to Truett Seminary in Waco where I am helping build the Wesley House of Studies. It’s a wonderful work, one in which the Lord is blessing. But sometimes during my travels I fit in another trip to a church or meet with pastors or prospective students. I have a trip within a trip. It’s usually very productive but sometimes exhausting. One trip during the week is enough but a trip with a trip tends to be a little much.
When I read this passage in Mark 5, I read about Jesus’ trip within a trip — or miracle on the way to a miracle. He first gets stopped by Jairus who is asking Jesus to come and heal his daughter. You know the story. His daughter is dying and so this synagogue leader, earnestly pleads to put his “hands on her so that she will be healed and live.”
Yet before Jesus can make his way to Jairus’ daughter, he is interrupted by another daughter of the faith, a grown woman who has been bleeding for twelve years. She touches Jesus which truly stops him in his tracks. (I will share more about this story in a subsequent blog entry.)
So while on his way to a miracle, Jesus is deterred to perform another miracle, even without his knowledge. He has an unexpected trip within a trip. Going to do the initial work God has called him to accomplish while something unexpected comes up and Jesus is gracious enough to meet the need along the way.
Now if you are the father of the dying girl, you might not be so pleased that the Master is stopping. If it was my child, I would want Jesus to hurry without delay. But as we will read later in this story, God takes care of both needs – bringing healing, restoration and life to both circumstances.
What’s my point? It’s two fold: 1) Jesus goes where he is needed, and 2) Jesus performs the work that God has called him to do. Which suggests that we too should go where we are most needed and do what God is asking us to do — even if it is multiple trips or takes extra time out of our day.
Just as Jesus went to do the work of God, so shall we. Now we know it is God who brings about the results and the power. We are simply messengers of his loving grace and mercy.
Are you prepared to go wherever God sends you? Are you ready to devote time to carry out the Lord’s work, even if it surpasses your expectations?
“O Lord God, you are faithful. Thank you Jesus for your loving kindness. Come now, Holy Spirit, and fill me with your grace. Help me know that you are guiding me even when I turn away. Restore me to your care. Use me as you will. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen