“Do Not Fear, Only Believe” – MARK 5:35-43

Jesus was looking for faith. The gospels consistently call out for people to consider the evidence presented and believe. But is that it? Should we understand that a faith-generating event such as raising a twelve year-old girl from death is teaching us how we are saved? Many people point to such passages as “proof” that souls are saved upon belief in Jesus Christ.

The reality is that the purpose of the gospel is to convince people that Jesus is the Christ, and such miracles were intended to convince men like Jairus of this truth.

The Jews were being called away from Moses and unto Jesus, and Jesus said, “Do not fear, only believe”. Remember, it was Jairus who came to Jesus seeking this miracle (5:23). Is Jesus setting out to save his soul or save his daughter so that faith can lead to the saving of his soul?

There was a wavering of faith in Jairus’ house (5:35), and some tried to convince him not to “trouble” Jesus. I cannot even imagine the sick feeling that must come when a parent learns of a child’s death. A struggle of faith ensued between Jesus and those in Jairus’ house. Jesus offered hope where none should have existed. The little girl was dead. Jesus was not looking for full faith, just a mustard seed faith. The question confronting Jairus was “Can He really do this?” If He cannot, then it is not earth-shattering. Jesus would simply be like all of the other teachers – none of them could raise people from death either. But, IF only He could raise her…

Jesus was scorned with faithless arrows when He said she was merely sleeping. “Why would He torture the grieving father with false hope?”, they must have thought. Those who scorned Him were sent out, and those with but a mustard seed faith went in to the little girl. The raising of this girl was intended to strengthen the faith of those in that room and create faith in those who read and hear this wonderful story.

It is a mistake to glean from this story that adequate faith on our part will produce a similar miracle for us. Jesus is not a magician in a traveling road show. So, what is the point?

While it is legitimate to point out that faith came first and then the miracle (just like in salvation), that focus misses the deeper point. Even though the girl was raised from death by the Son of God who proclaims Himself the Resurrection and the Life, this is not a “salvation from sin” story. In fact, her soul was imperiled by the fact that she was brought back into this world of temptation. The girl was dead when Jesus entered the room and alive when He walked out. Fear had been replaced by joy and doubt had been replaced by faith. Only the Son of God could do that. If these things are true and we believe, then we are compelled to read on – in faith – to hear what we must do.

Since that girl’s resurrection is not for us, what does Jesus have that is for us?