Read: Mark 5:21-43
Some have referred to this portion of Mark as the Saint Jude chapter. Saint Jude is the Catholic patron saint of hopeless causes. We have a woman with an “issue of blood” she has endured for twelve years, and a twelve-year-old girl who is on death’s door—two hopeless causes. Even Dr. Google would come up empty. These are two stories of letting go and holding on.
TWO HOPELESS CAUSES
According to Leviticus 15:19-27, the bleeding disorder made the woman ritually unclean. A person coming into physical contact with such a person would also become unclean. As a result, for twelve years this woman endured isolation from society, worship services, and family. Debilitated, she was taken to the cleaners with doctors’ fees. The only hope left was the name she had heard: Jesus. Throwing caution to the winds, she tried to hide in the crowd yet get close enough to touch His robe. Can you imagine her fear when Jesus asked the mob, “Who touched my robe?” Jesus wanted to find her, not to rebuke her but to make personal contact with her. She needed to know that it was her faith in Him, not her superstitious belief, that had caused God to heal her.
The other hopeless cause is the little girl at death’s door. Jairus, her father, discarded his dignity and social standing, fell at Jesus’ feet, and begged for help.Why was his public declaration such a big deal? He belonged to the Jewish synagogue rulers. This group daily harassed Jesus as a heretic. At his wits’ end, Jairus jettisoned all dignity and pride and begged Jesus to help his daughter. Jairus realized he had no other option.
THEY LET GO OF THE PAST
Two individuals, the woman and Jairus, brought their hopeless causes to Jesus. The woman discarded religious law proscribing that she would pollute anyone she touched. Jairus discarded social and religious standing. They both let go of their previous solutions and grasped onto the only Savior, Jesus Christ.
REACHING OUT WHEN DESPERATE
People reach out to unusual things when they are desperate. We had a friend who once followed the televangelist Peter Popoff. Our friend requested Popoff’s “Miracle Water,” which was offered “for free”. And, of course, each delivery came with requests for money with the note: “Remember, you must sow the largest bill you have or the largest check you can write.” For a time, our friend possessed a lot of Popoff merchandise and a smaller checking account.
He was desperate and thought that by giving a few bucks and praying real hard, riches and blessings would be his. This is quite different from letting go and relying on Jesus, and Jesus alone. Our friend wanted God, but on his own terms.
NEVER TOO LATE TO RUN TO JESUS
If you are breathing, it is never too late to run to Jesus. Bryce Morgan writes: “Maybe you are feeling like it’s too late to see change in your own life. Too late to find relief and to know hope. Past the deadline to really make a difference. Too late to be free and to start again. The kind of faith we’re talking about here is not trusting that our needs will be met. This faith is the belief that all of our needs will be met alone by Jesus Christ according to His will. It is first and foremost a belief that Christ is sufficient.”
Have you truly let go of everything and held onto Christ alone?
Click to listen to Ryan Dobson’s story.