Only Believe

Mark 5:36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

Jairus’ life came quickly to a crashing halt. News arrived that his little daughter had died. She was his precious darling and the apple of his eye. This man who had devoted his life to serving God was certainly devastated. Death had come uninvited into his home and claimed his most prized treasure. Being a ruler of the local synagogue he had access to the finest doctors but none had the necessary answers nor help for his daughter’s illness. 

His only hope, however thin, was from the controversial carpenter from Galilee who was gaining quite a reputation of being a healer and a miracle worker. Yet, now his little hope had vanished. He fervently tried to reach Jesus in time to bring this healer to his ailing princess, but his time ran out. Now she was dead. There would be no healing and there would be no rejoicing, only mourning. Jairus had faith that Jesus could heal but his faith ended there. His situation was now impossible. 

If only he could have realized that with God all things are possible, and that as he stood at the feet of Jesus he stood in the presence of God Himself. Jairus’ problem was not that his daughter had died, but that he had placed a limit on his faith and with this limited faith fears soon overwhelmed him. Therefore, the merciful Christ encouraged him to not be afraid, but only believe. Jairus did believe and his faith was rewarded with the resurrection of his daughter by the Resurrection and the Life personified. Never place a limit on the limitless Christ.