Mark 5:36 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Mark 5:36

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Christ says to him, ‘Don't be afraid. Don't think that nothing can be done. Don't fear that your daughter is now finally dead. Don't feel all the scorn you'll get for continuing to come with me, when people see that I'm coming to heal her. Only believe. Hold on to your belief that Christ is God, that he came from heaven, that he died on Calvary for sinners like me, that I may come to him, that he will change me and save me. Hold on, believe, trust me. Jairus was tempted to think that the situation was now too hard for the Lord to deal with. His faith must overcome this obstacle and see Christ as greater than he had ever seen him before. This is what Christ encourages him to do. He had believed that he could come and heal his daughter at the point of death, but now he must believe that he can raise her from the dead. The sign that he believes will be that his fears are subdued enough for him to continue to believe and to hope that she will live again.

Application

The sort of fear Christ speaks of is a fear that comes from doubting that God will or can help us. The Lord assures him by these words that the situation has not become too difficult for him to help. But Jesus speaks comfort, ‘Be not afraid, only believe’ - present continuous – go on believing. The trouble with us is that we do both. We believe but we fear too, or we believe and we doubt. ‘I want to come to Christ but probably nothing will happen.’ Doubt and fear mingle at the same time. But we must not doubt. We must do him the honour of trusting him simply to do as he has said.

Our fears oppose our faith, and our faith opposes our fears. Faith does not invent a Christ for us, but it shows us a Christ who is already there, and is more wonderful than we have ever dared believe before.

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Mark 5:36 Commentary and Bible Study