Faith and Fear--Mark 5

From the Preacher's Desk: Faith and Fear

If you are following the January Bible Reading Challenge, then this past Thursday you should have read from Mark 5.  On his way to heal the daughter of Jairus, a ruler of a synagogue, Jesus encountered yet another person in need of help.  A woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years decided that enough was enough, and she was ready to do something about her terrible situation.  But what to do?  She had no money, for she had already spent all she had trying to get better.  She had been to doctors who had run tests and had even tried experimental treatments, but she just kept getting worse and worse.  Jesus was her last hope.  But how to get help from him?

Herein, though, lies the first twist to the story.  This woman, whose name we do not even know, did not look to Jesus in desperation.  As a matter of fact, as she thought about what to do, she never said "maybe," as in "maybe Jesus can do something," or "maybe I can get a little better."  No, if her hope in Jesus was a hope of desperation, she would have stopped Jesus in the middle of the street and probably acted kind of like Naaman did with Elisha, thinking Jesus should call upon the name of God, wave his hands around, and put on a show.  Instead, this humble, faith-full woman said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well" (Mark 5:28 NKJV).  The only "maybe" she had was wondering whether or not she would be able to do what she needed to do!

There was nothing at all wrong with her faith.  As a matter of fact, Jesus would proclaimed to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well" (Mark 5:34).  His power healed her, but through her faith.  Or I suppose you could just as well say that her faith healed her, but through His power.  Regardless, without her faith, determination, and action she would not have been healed.  And herein lies the second twist to the story, for with the woman's faith came a measure of fear.  She wasn't afraid because she had gotten what she needed, that is, because she had been healed, nor was she afraid that she had done something wrong, but her faith had brought with it a measure of accountability.  She knew what she had done and she knew what her faith had done.  Now, because of her faith and because her faith worked, it was time for that faith to be brought out into the open.  And I don't care who you are, that can be a little bit frightening.

Faith is going to bring some fear.  There will be times when you are going to fear that you do not have enough faith.  When that happens, are you willing to ask?  The disciples would tell Jesus, "Increase our faith" (Luke 17:5).  In Mark 9: 24, the father of a child possess with a devil is going to tell Jesus, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"  Don't let fear keep you from asking.  Too often, though, it is not faith in God that is lacking, but faith in your ability to act upon your faith that is lacking.  As with this woman, it is not Divine power that you are afraid will fall short, but your own power.  It is entirely likely that this woman was terrified from start to finish, but she did it.  James says that if any lack wisdom, let him ask for it, but with this caveat: "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting!" (James 1:5-6a).  How will you do that?  The Hebrews writer says you have to run your own race, but keep looking to Jesus to get you through (Hebrews 12:1-2).

What happens when your faith is there, your strength to act is there, it all comes together as it should, and your faith has worked?  Very rarely will this be the end of your fear, or the end of your need for faith.  This woman's faith and fear led her to falling down at the feet of Jesus and confessing what she had done.  What started out as a humble action on her part was brought before the entire crowd!  Her faith now had the opportunity to impact everyone who was there and even you today as you read about her.  Faith working will often bring with it the chance for even more to be done, and faith working will very rarely be an end of any story, but will be the opening of doors for many other opportunities.

Don't be afraid of those opportunities.  The story in Mark 5 ends with Jesus telling this woman, "Go in peace" (vs. 34).  Where did she go?  What did she do?  Whose faith was helped because she had let her faith overcome her fears?  Faith has gotten you to where you are today, will bring you to where you need to be--if you let it, and will allow you to depart in peace to where you need to go next--again, if you let it.  So let your faith work, let the fears that may come with your faith be overcome, and get ready to go in peace.