The Sixth Week of Easter: From FEAR to HOPE

STEP ONE: BREATHE

Take a deep, cleansing breath. Allow the air to fill your lungs and expand your body. Exhale and empty yourself into the room. Repeat three times - once for the one who Created you, once for the Incarnate One who walks beside you, and once for the Spirit whose life fills your being.

STEP TWO: DWELL IN WORD

“Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” So he went with him.

And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak...””

— Mark 5: 22-27

“FEAR NOT” - Imagine Hope

This week’s text has two stories. First it begins with Jairus, a synagogue leader, seeking out Jesus in hopes of healing for his ill daughter. Then as we’re on our way to Jairus’ house with the rest of the crowd, something that feels totally unrelated happens. A woman who has a condition seriously limiting her quality of life touches Jesus’ garment and is healed. Jesus knows something has occurred, so stops to figure it out. During that delay, Jairus receives word that his daughter has died.

One way to read this is that the middle story is simply there to increase the tension about whether or not Jesus will reach the little girl in time. Or that it’s an example of how things happen in the middle of a goal.

But there’s more to it than that, it’s intercalation. Which is the term for when you start with one story, insert a different story in the middle, and then go back to the first story to finish it. But most people, including myself, just refer to it as a sandwich story. That the story in the middle tells you things about the “bread” of the story, and the bread of the story tells you things about the middle filling.

It can make for a powerful meditation to consider what’s the same between the stories and what’s in contrast. For examples of contrasts, you have a man of high standing in the community versus a woman with low standing, who was supposed to stay outside of the community if she was bleeding. There’s one who asks for help and one who doesn’t. For examples of connection, the woman has been bleeding for 12 years and the ill girl is twelve years old. Both the woman and the girl are called daughter. I encourage you to spend some time considering what else connects and contrasts.

As you ponder the contrasts in the lives of Jairus, his daughter, and the woman in the, one thing is clear - that Jesus cares for them all, regardless of the differences. That Jesus’ healing is for all. That no one is dismissed because the other matters more, instead all three are claimed by our God.

Particularly in times of anxiety everything can feel like shortage. Not enough toilet paper, not enough masks, not enough soup, not enough medicine, etc. In that anxiety we worry that God has limits too - that there’s only so much love, grace, healing, hope, and salvation - and that if we don’t get there first, if we don’t prove we’re worthy, we’ll go without.

The truth is, not only is there enough with Jesus, but there is abundance. For all. There is no worthiness clause in the fine print. It is for all. Even death cannot stop God’s abundance in Christ.

STEP THREE: PRAY

God of abundance, there are times when I am filled with anxious doubts that I may not have enough. Calm my fears. Remind me that your love knows no bounds. Let me find in your grace, hope for this day. Amen.

Today’s devotion is by Pastor Meredith McGrath.